One day (1985) I made an interesting discovery for myself - a night prayer. I don’t remember, either I read it somewhere, or I got up at night and decided to pray, but I liked it very much. Prayer flowed easily, with concentration, and at the same time I felt great, so that I didn’t even think about sleep. Moreover, the day after the night prayer was calm and spiritual. I think if I had kept the night prayer, then there would be no need for so many daytime prayers, which I read for several hours every day.
And it happened like this. I was reading Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov’s book and I came across a passage where a disciple complains to an elder that, contrary to his worldly habits, now, having become a monk, he prays little, cannot get up to pray at night, fasts little in food, etc. . To this, the elder answered him that the main thing for him now is humility and what he has now achieved (i.e., a frank confession of his poverty before the elder) is higher than all his spiritual exploits that he did while in the world.
If so, I thought; since humility is above everything that I do, then I will not get up for night prayers either. (By the way, Bishop Ignatius in the preface to this book warns that it is intended for monks and may not be useful to the layman, and may even be harmful to him. It is a pity that I did not heed this warning.)
At that moment, my little daughter came up to me and, covering my eyes with her hand, said: "Leave this reading. My eyes will hurt." It was a sign. But I stuck to my decision. And in vain. Because Now I understand that it was a mistake. There is nothing better for prayer than the night. The Lord consecrated her for this with His nightly prayers. It is precisely to get up, waking up from sleep, and pray according to the disposition of the heart. And now, it’s interesting: it used to be left to sleep for some 20 minutes - you lie down, instantly fall asleep, then, waking up, you feel completely asleep, as if you slept all night. And this is not once or twice, but constantly. Then I heard this from another person - exactly the same effect from night prayer. And the power of night prayer is incomparable to daytime prayer. Once, a confessor told me about this (about the power of night prayer) after I read “Our Father” and “Virgin Mary” three times at night for him; (At the same time, I did not tell him anything about my nightly prayer for him), how he found out about this, one can only guess.

Reviews

I myself can concentrate, alas, only at night, when everyone is asleep. Even in the temple there is no such uplift of the soul. And there is one more thing - I am ashamed of my faith, or what? I cannot sincerely be baptized and pray when someone from my family looks, is present, even a one and a half year old daughter. And when one and no one interferes and there are no more cases ahead - then the soul opens up.

By the way, I wanted to ask you about Communion. Tell me, where did people get the idea that it is necessary to eat bread and drink wine? And what is this Sacrament of the Lord? What if Jesus spoke allegorically? It was I who had such doubts - I am preparing for Communion with fasting now, I read the canons yesterday, I was inspired, and then I suddenly thought - where did this come from? After all, Christ, it seems, did not directly say ... Here the Apostle Paul in the 1st Epistle to the Corinthians also says, but somehow it’s not 100% clear to me. Maybe you mean the usual meal again? Or is the meaning allegorical, as in a parable?
How should one prepare for Communion in general, and what thoughts should one have during it?

You are ashamed of your faith, perhaps for two reasons. First, he has not yet come to repentance for all his sins. When you come to contrition of heart, you are ready to confess your sins from the roof of the house in front of everyone, just to receive forgiveness in them. Consider which of them you have not yet confessed before the Lord. The most significant of them: grieving God by unbelief in Him; grieving God with unbelief that He is one God, living in three Persons: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; grieving God with unbelief in His Son, Jesus Christ; chagrin inflicted on your wife, mother, father, child, a person who trusted you, chagrin of God through sins against himself: drunkenness, drugs, etc. In any church, a priest can help you with this (also in relation to any other Holy Sacrament of the Church). The second reason, perhaps, is that I'm not used to it yet.

About the Holy Mystery of Communion of the true Body and Blood of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ speaks here (I.6,32-63) directly, without allegories.
Yes, this is incomprehensible to the human mind, for God's mercy is bottomless. Many of the disciples of Jesus Christ, infected with rationalism, departed from Him precisely because, having no doubts about “non-figurativeness of speech”, they could not contain this in their minds (I.6,66). But after all, even His apostles Jesus warned that they still "now cannot contain" everything that He says - "when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide them into all righteousness" (I.16,12-13).

The believer in Jesus Christ should accept it by faith.

Let me give an example of the following allegory. In order to prolong our biological existence, we absorb the biological life around us and, including it in ourselves, unite with it, considering this to be quite normal. So how much more it is necessary for us to connect with the Source of Life, as such, Jesus Christ, in order to give life to our spirit!

What a joy for us when we feel the love of our wife, the mother of our child, the love of our child, the love of a loved one! And what a joy it is that we are united with Love Himself-Jesus Christ, the reflection of which is this love of our closest relatives! It is He who loves us in them.
I think if we could fully comprehend this great joy, we would die of happiness.

"How should one prepare for Communion in general, and what thoughts would it be desirable to have during it?"

I think that the most important thing, after I thoroughly tested my conscience and repented in the sacrament of Confession before the Lord, having received through the priest the permission of sins and permission to take Communion, is the realization that now comes the great moment of my meeting with the Lord Himself, a meeting so close that He will enter into me and be already in me; to realize that the Lord Himself is looking forward to this moment and will be unspeakably glad of this union with me; to realize that this is the happiest moment of my life, which I have always dreamed about in various images, imagining the highest moment of happiness and which will allow me to enter the number of those about whom He said: "He who eats Me will live by Me" (I.6,57 ).

Having partake of the Holy Terrible and Life-Giving Mysteries of our Lord Jesus Christ, I thank Him for this inexpressible gift of His to me, I tell Him that I love Him and want to love Him even more. I ask Him to give me the strength to be faithful to this love for Him.
I thank the Most Pure Mother, His Most Holy Theotokos Mary, His Holiness and my Mother for this incomparable gift of union with Her Son and my God, I ask her to ask for me love and fidelity to Him and to Her, His Most Holy and our Mother.
After this, I try to be loving to everyone, especially to my wife and my relatives.
And may the Lord God Himself and our Savior Jesus Christ help us in this.

Search line: Psalter

Records found: 175

Tatyana

Tatyana, every Christian should read the prescribed morning and evening rule, which is in the prayer book. If you really want to pray after reading the akathist, you can read it. And if you want to aggravate your prayer rule (for example, read the canons, akathists, the Psalter, some other prayers daily), then it is better to consult with your confessor or the priest from whom you usually confess, and take a blessing for this work.

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

Hello, on January 1, our grandmother left us with my mother, and today I read that for a deceased person, relatives should read the Psalter for 40 days. If I'm not mistaken, then my relatives found a "reader", as they said, and she does it. Tell me, please, if my mother and I are reading an akathist for a deceased person for our grandmother, should we still read the Psalter according to our abilities every day, as much as we can, or should a “knowledgeable” person still do this? If it’s not difficult, please tell me, within 40 days, what we need to read and what to do, I’m just very worried about my grandmother and I want to help her soul with all my might, but because of my ignorance and because everyone says different things, I'm very afraid of hurting her! Is a blessing necessary for reading the Psalter, prayers for the grandmother, and also for all this? And also, please tell me, during what period of time I can not get married? Thank you very much for the help!

Ksyusha

Ksenia, of course, praying for her deceased relatives for us is a matter of love and a duty that family ties impose on us. Therefore, it will be much better if you pray yourself, without shifting this work onto someone else's shoulders. As for the question of what is better to read, then first of all, read the Psalter, and only then the canons and akathists. It is necessary to read the Psalter within 40 days, on the 3rd, 9th and 40th day, submit a note for the Liturgy in the church and order a memorial service. In addition, memorial meals are also served at home these days. There is no need for any special blessings for all this; this is a common thing for all Christians. With regard to marriage, after the end of the forty-day period, in principle, you can prepare for the wedding. The main thing in this matter is not to embarrass relatives and everyone, as some may be upset that too little time has passed since the death of their grandmother, and now there is fun in the yard.

hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Hello. Sorry for such a question, what to do, what prayers, to read the Psalter for the godfather, who died, 40 days have not passed yet. And how to do it better so that his soul goes to heaven? He led a sinful life, but he loved his children very much, his mother, father, relatives, he was a very cheerful, cheerful person, but he himself led a sinful life, was a local authority, and left through the fault of another person, for whom he stood up, and is it possible should he go to heaven? And can we godchildren see him in the next world?

Olga, you need to read the canon for the one who died and the Psalter, at least a few kathismas a day. On the kathisma, where “Glory” is written, you need to say the following: “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen,” then “Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah. Glory to Thee, O God" (three times). After that, remember the repose of your godfather and continue reading like this: “Lord, have mercy” (thrice), “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen,” and then continue to read the kathisma.

hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Is it possible to light candles at night while reading a prayer for the departed?

Tamara

You can, Tamara, but, as has been repeatedly said on the site lately, they usually don’t pray for the dead at night because of human impressionability. However, this, of course, does not apply to such a case if you read the Psalter or canons about the deceased around the clock in the first 40 days after death.

hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Hello, after the death of my father, I began to read the Psalter. As far as time allowed, I read it in the morning and in the evening. In addition, in the evening I read it in front of the mirror, where I have icons. A few days later, after the evening readings, all sorts of troubles began to happen to me (at work, quarrels with relatives). A person who lives with me in the same apartment could not sleep for several nights, due to the fact that something was present (he says that he saw demons). Since then, in the evenings, I stopped reading the Psalter, sanctified the dwelling with holy water and incense, and everything returned to normal. In this regard, I have a question: 1. Is it possible to read the Psalter late in the evening, after 21.00? 2. Is it possible to pray in front of a mirror (without looking into it) and place icons on the table in front of the mirror?

Oleg

Oleg, in general, according to tradition, they don’t pray for the dead in the evening because of human impressionability. The fact that some troubles began to happen to you and your flatmates indicates that you, apparently, pray very little in your life. As for the questions concerning the mirror, there is nothing mystical or harmful in the mirror itself, it’s just that people sometimes have the wrong attitude towards mirrors, and demons, knowing this, can use it. It is better to place the icons not on the table, not near the mirrors, but in the place set for them - on the shelf in the red corner.

hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Hello. My friend had an accident and is in a critical condition in the hospital. She is involved in charity throughout the Chelyabinsk region: Natalya Kuznetsova, director of the 74RU TV channel, took a girl from an orphanage two weeks ago. Tell me, please, what can be done for her, besides health notes? What prayers to read? I can organize a collective prayer, tell me which one. Thanks!

Oksana

Oksana, best of all - submit notes about her to the Liturgy more often, this is the greatest spiritual help to a person. And besides, order prayers for health. As for other prayers, you can read the Psalter about her at home and commemorate her health at the Glories.

hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Hello! December 14 is my dad's 40 days. On this day, we read the Psalter at home. I would like to go to the cemetery and order a memorial service for the same day. The reader said that we should go to the cemetery after there was 1 memorial table. How to do it right so that there is no fuss?

Elena.

Usually such "readers" with their own strange traditions just make such a fuss. Go to church the day before, order a commemoration for the Liturgy on the 14th, in the morning you can go to perform a memorial service at the cemetery, read the Psalter in the afternoon, and arrange a commemoration in the evening.

Deacon Ilya Kokin

Hello, I ask you to clarify whether it is possible to read the Psalter to help a loved one? She is going through a very difficult time in her life right now. And one more thing - should you read all the kathismas in a row (as I do), or only those psalms that are recommended in difficult circumstances?

Anna Pavlovna

Hello Anna Pavlovna. You can read the Psalter, praying for a loved one, for this it is good to ask for the blessing of a confessor. The reading of psalms especially chosen for the circumstances is justified when a person carries out a lot of prayer work, in addition to the morning and evening rule, he reads the holy Gospel and the Psalter separately, and wants to pray especially in his difficult life circumstances. Then a psalm suitable for the right occasion will strengthen him. When we pray for someone, it is good to simply read the Psalms in a row, as they are arranged in the book, as you do. After all, our love, which is manifested in prayer work, is important, and not that the psalm is "recommended in difficult circumstances." May the Lord strengthen you in your prayer!

Priest Sergiy Osipov

Hello. On November 15, my mother died suddenly. After the funeral, she began to read the Psalter to help her soul. Now they tell me that it is impossible to read the Psalter without a blessing. If you really need to take a blessing, then please bless me. I read the Psalter in Russian, and the prayers in Church Slavonic. Is it possible so?

Evgenia

Eugene, do not be embarrassed, as you read the Psalter, read it. It is not necessary to take a blessing to read the psalter for the dead. Take blessings on other occasions. You can read in Russian. Do not forget to go to church and pray there too, confess yourself and take communion. With God.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Hello! My dad died on December 4, I would like to order the Indestructible Psalter for him for 9 days. Tell me, please, is it possible to order it up to 40 days and is it possible to order in a convent to pray for a man? Thanks!

Marina

Marina, it makes no difference in which monastery you ask to pray for a man, in a female or male monastery. In all monasteries they pray for all Orthodox Christians. For 9 and 40 days, you must first of all pray in the church yourself and serve a memorial service. The indestructible Psalter can also be ordered, preferably up to 40 days.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Hello. The other day I bought a Psalter with a parallel translation into Russian, is it possible to read it like this, read it completely once in Church Slavonic, and read it completely in Russian the next time? I really liked reading in Russian, because the text is understandable, but I have seen many times on the Internet that priests still insist on reading in Church Slavonic, but from not understanding what I am reading, the desire to read the Psalter disappears very quickly. Tell me something.

Andrey

Andrei, of course, it is better to read prayers and the Psalter in Church Slavonic. As a knowledge and understanding, you can read Russian. I think that after some time you will fully understand the Church Slavonic language with the translation. So read in Russian for now, but I'm sure that over time you yourself will want to switch only to Church Slavonic.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Hello! Tell me, please, I read the Psalter in ordinary light, without lamps or candles. Is it a sin? I'm very worried. Waiting for an answer.

Anton

Anton, while reading the Psalter, it’s good to light a candle at home, but if this is not possible, then it’s okay - this is not a sin, the main thing is the prayer itself.

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Good evening! Please tell me, is it possible to read an akathist for saints during fasting?

Denis

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Good day. Something strange is happening to me. Every time I order for myself the requirements for health (magpie, Psalter), I observe strange things. During the 40 days of such remembrances, misfortunes, problems, tears, illnesses, accompanied by failures especially fall on me. How do you explain this from your point of view? Thank you very much for your reply.

Alexandra

I think you can explain it this way, Alexandra: the enemy of the human race is angry that they are praying for you, and takes revenge as best he can. But the causes of these phenomena must still be sought not in him, since he is always the same, invariably evil, but precisely in the changes in his spiritual state.

hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Hello. The problem is that I am tormented by guilt, although my relatives say that I am not to blame for anything. My mom had breast cancer for 12 years. I remember when I was still 10 years old, I found out that she was going to have an operation, everything went well then, but after a while the disease began to progress, and all these 10 years she was on periodic treatment (chemotherapy). During this time I entered the medical faculty, studied. Of course, I tried to somehow help her around the house, not upset her, we had a good relationship. She then even got a job, tired. And six months ago, she started having memory problems, somehow we didn’t attach much importance to this, but still, when she went to the doctor again for treatment, she ended up in intensive care, she was diagnosed with multiple secondary metastases in the brain . We were all in shock. I immediately began to try to find a solution to this problem: I turned to neurosurgeons in the city in the hope that they would help her, I read that the operations were effective. But they refused, they were afraid that it would not work out, they did not want to take responsibility. Then I started calling clinics in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kyiv. And in Moscow they gave the answer: come and see. I came there myself, defended the queues, agreed with the doctor, she advised the clinic. I brought my mother to Moscow. They tried to get her treated faster. And so she underwent surgery, she went on the mend, she was discharged and we arrived home. She lived with us at home for a month, but then abruptly, in 2 days, she completely lost her strength and died in her sleep. Before that, an ambulance came, I asked them to help, to do something, but they said that was all. I did not believe until the last, I was so hoping that everything would be fine! And now 2 months have passed, and I am still tormented by guilt, maybe I could do something else for her, because no one expected such a result, they gave a forecast for six months, or even more. What should I do? How to pray for a little relief?

Irina

Irina, do not blame yourself beyond measure. You did everything you could for your mother. But God alone decides when to take us to eternity. Believe only that God takes a person when he needs it. Now you need to go to confession in order to remove this heavy burden from yourself. Go to church more often, order magpies, requiems, psalms for your mother. Prayer will comfort you and bring your mother eternal rest with God. Help you Lord!

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

Good health, father! Question about reading the Psalms. If I just want to read 1 psalm a day for myself, do I need to read prayers before and after reading the psalm? And in what cases, and what prayers are read? Question about charity. If I give alms not from a pure heart, but for the sake of the future destiny of my soul, does such alms count?

Alexy

Alexey, when reading the Psalter, prayers are read only once - before the start of reading (prayers are indicated in the Psalter). You don't need to read them every time. As you read the Psalter in full, so again you need to read the prayers again. After reading the kathisma, prayers are read only for the dead, these prayers are not read for health. Giving alms is very beneficial for us: "Charity saves from death and covers many sins." Not everyone can give alms from a pure heart, and this must also be brought up in oneself. It is very good that you donate at all, and this is also useful and is counted as a good deed: "Let every giving be good."

Hieromonk Viktorin (Aseev)

Hello! Tell me, please, is it possible to order an indestructible Psalter for a person in the event that he drinks and goes crazy, up to psychological disorders? This man is cursing my family for what I believe to be delusions and addiction to alcohol. Since then, my family has gone through continuous failures: ruin, illness, accidents ... Although before that everything was fine. I pray myself, I put candles, I ordered a magpie for my father ... Does it make sense to order an indestructible Psalter for this person and for my entire family?

In the last 3 weeks, 2 people have approached me with a request to teach them how to pray. I was a little surprised (although pleased) because I do not have any kind of clergy or religious education, so it is strange that they asked me such a question. But in fact, these people simply did not even know who to ask such questions, and the need of the soul for prayer was ripe.

I do not own dignity and education, but I will share my experience with pleasure. My knowledge of the prayer rule is based on what my spiritual mentor recommended to me and on those lectures of the holy fathers that I listened to. I will try to explain everything as simply as possible. So, if you are interested in information of this kind, then welcome under cat. If you have any questions on the topic - welcome to the comments; questions about "how I, a person with 2 higher educations, believe in aboriginal fairy tales", please do not send :)

What do I need?
Select a corner in your home in which you will have icons. Icons should not be nailed to the wall, it is better that they stand on something (a shelf or stand). Be sure to purchase the icon of Jesus Christ and the Most Holy Theotokos, and the faces of other saints - if desired. By the way, as a rule, very kind grandmothers work in church stalls, who will gladly answer all your questions. Just come during the day, when there is no service and few people, and ask you to tell more about the icons that you like.

What is the best way to pray?
It is best to pray standing, in front of the icons, with a straight back. Place your hands in a boat near your chest. During prayer, the eyes can be kept both closed and open. With open eyes, you will be able to see the icons, in which there is actually so much purity and light that sometimes it is simply impossible to take your eyes off. With closed eyes, you are immersed in a certain meditation, so it is more convenient to focus on prayer. So the choice is yours. If possible, read the prayers out loud. If not, whisper. Most likely, during prayer, your mind will constantly disappear and you will think about something else. It's okay, it happens to everyone, especially at first. Just keep track of these moments and return your thoughts and heart to prayer.

When is the best time to pray?
You need to read prayers in the morning and in the evening. Take a shower in the morning, brush your teeth, and only then proceed to prayer. In the evening, it is best to read prayers before going to bed. Before reading prayers, you need to say "In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit" three times and at the same time cross yourself three times. With the same words (also three times) it is necessary to end the prayer rule.

What prayers to read
There are 2 options here. The first one is complete and most correct. All prayers are read 3 times. Perhaps, at first glance, the list of prayers seems too long and the prayers themselves too, but in fact, reading all the prayers three times takes 15 minutes. The second option is a short one, mainly for those who have little time or who are just starting to pray and a large number of prayers scares them a little. It takes about 1.5 minutes. So, how much time a day to devote to prayer - half an hour or 3 minutes, everyone decides for himself. God will accept both options :)) I also highly recommend turning to God and the saints in your own words every time after prayers. You can talk about your problems and experiences, about what weighs on your heart. You can talk about dreams and ask for mercy. But remember, you can ask for anything and for anyone, but not material goods.

1 option:

  • Prayer to the Holy Trinity
  • Prayer to the Holy Spirit
  • Trisagion
  • Our Father
  • Virgin Mary, rejoice
  • Prayer to the Holy Cross of the Lord
  • Psalm 90 ("Alive in the help of the Most High")
  • Prayer to the Guardian Angel
  • Prayer to the Mother of God
  • Prayer for the dead
  • Symbol of faith.

    Option 2:

  • Our Father - 3 times
  • Virgin Mary, rejoice - 3 times
  • Creed - 1 time.

    Below is the text of all the prayers. By the way, prayers to the Guardian Angel, the Mother of God and for the departed, you can pick up others, those that you like best. A lot of them. Can be found on the Internet or in the Prayer Book (A prayer book can be bought at any church).

    Prayer to the Holy Trinity
    Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Lord, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name's sake.

    Prayer to the Holy Spirit
    Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of Truth, Who is everywhere and fills everything, Treasury of the good and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Blessed, our souls.

    Trisagion
    Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (It is read three times, with the sign of the cross and a bow from the waist).
    Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

    Our Father
    Our Father, Who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us our daily bread today; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

    Virgin Mary, rejoice
    Virgin Mother of God, rejoice, Blessed Mary, the Lord is with you: blessed are you in women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, as if the Savior gave birth to our souls.

    Prayer to the Holy Cross of the Lord
    (with this prayer, Father Anatoly in the film "The Island" casts out the demon from the daughter of Admiral Tikhon. Yesterday we watched it with our parents)
    Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee from His presence. As the smoke disappears, let them disappear; as wax melts from the face of fire, so let the demons perish from the face of those who love God, and are marked by the sign of the cross, and say in joy: Rejoice, Most Pure and Life-giving Cross of the Lord, drive away the demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, crucified on you, descended into hell, and who corrected the power of the devil, and gave us His Honorable Cross to you to drive away every adversary. O Most Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord! Help me with the Holy Lady Virgin Mother of God, and with all the saints forever. Amen.

    Psalm 90 ("Alive in the help of the Most High")
    Alive in the help of the Most High, in the blood of the God of Heaven will settle. The Lord says: Thou art my intercessor and my refuge, my God, and I trust in Him. As if He will deliver you from the net of the hunter, and from the rebellious word, His splash will overshadow you, and under His wings you hope: His truth will be your weapon. Do not be afraid of the fear of the night, from the arrow flying in the days, from the things in the darkness of the transient, from the scum, and the demon of the afternoon. A thousand will fall from your country, and darkness at your right hand, but it will not come close to you, both look at your eyes, and see the reward of sinners. As you, O Lord, are my hope, the Most High have laid down your refuge. Evil will not come to you, and the wound will not approach your body, as if by His Angel a commandment about you, save you in all your ways. They will take you in their hands, but not when you stumble your foot on a stone, step on the asp and the basilisk, and cross the lion and the serpent. For I have trusted in Me, and I will deliver, and I will cover, and, as I know My name. He will call to Me, and I will hear him: I am with him in sorrow, I will crush him, and I will glorify him, I will fulfill him with long life, and I will show him My salvation.

    Prayer to the Guardian Angel
    Angel of God, my holy guardian, given to me from God from heaven to keep. I diligently pray to you: enlighten me today, and save me from all evil, guide me to a good deed and direct me to the path of salvation.

    Prayer to the Mother of God
    What to pray to You, what to ask of You? You see everything, you know Itself, look into my soul and give her what she needs. You, who have endured everything, overcome everything, you will understand everything. You, who raised the Child in a manger and accepted Him with Your hands from the Cross, You alone know the whole height of joy, all the oppression of grief. You, who received the whole human race as an adoption, look at me with maternal care. Lead me from the shadows of sin to Your Son. I see a tear that irrigated Your face. It's over me You shed it and let it wash away the traces of my sins. Here I have come, I am standing, I am waiting for Your response, oh Mother of God, oh All-Singing, oh Lady! I don't ask for anything, I just stand before You. Only my heart, a poor human heart, exhausted in anguish for truth, I throw at Your clean feet, Lady! May all who call upon You reach the eternal day with You and bow down before You face to face.

    For the departed
    For the sake of the precious blood of Jesus, save, Heavenly Father, our dear departed ones and let them return through the holy angels to the hearth of Your eternal love. Mother of God, Comforter of poor souls, and you, Angels and Archangels, ask for them! Give them back. Lord, for I myself cannot, for the good they have done me. In the name of Jesus - forgiveness and mercy

    Symbol of faith
    I believe in one God the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, Whom all was. For us for the sake of man and for our sake of salvation, he descended from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became human. Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And resurrected on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And the packs of the future with glory to judge the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord of Life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen.

    • Current page: 3 (total book has 12 pages) [accessible reading excerpt: 8 pages]

    About prayer

    How to pray for those who are unknown, whether they are alive?

    “You will not be mistaken if you pray as for the living, because with God everyone is alive. All but heretics and apostates. It's the dead" (Elder Nectarius of Optina).21
    Soulful Teachings of the Venerable Optina Elders. Edition of the Svyato-Vvedenskaya Optina Hermitage, 2007.


    Laymen are allowed to read prayers from the Trebnik, except for priests and deacons. For example, there are such distant places where there is no church; there, the faithful themselves perform an incomplete funeral, that is, they sing stichera, read the canon, the Apostle, but do not read the Gospel, the prayer of absolution, do not say the exclamations and litanies of the priest and deacon. They even perform services in this way; for example, they serve not mass, but lunch.


    Is it possible to eat at night after twelve o'clock for those who work the night shift? Do they need to read prayers "for the coming sleep"?

    If necessary, you can eat, and it’s good to pray, at least briefly. Prayer will never hurt, but it will also save you from temptations.


    After Communion at home, I recited prayers of thanksgiving, suddenly a neighbor came in, a conversation began, and I told her that I had just been to church, I took communion, and now I read prayers of thanksgiving, and immediately after her departure, it became unpleasant in my soul, as if grace had departed from me . Why could this happen?


    This happened because you had to keep your good deed, your prayer, a secret, but you opened it, and thereby destroyed it. Because, as it were, grace departed and a mournful, unpleasant feeling took over. The enemy of salvation often inspires to go to someone from the temple or sends a person with empty talk in order to take away 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 until I finish praying?

    It is necessary to leave prayer (for love is higher than prayer), accept acquaintances, and having let them go, end your 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 its constant daily fulfillment. If necessary, it is reduced. You must have such a rule that it does not exceed your strength and 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 the desire to see angels or feel the suffering of Jesus Christ?

    Many saints forbid imagining the Lord. fathers, in particular Saint Simeon the New Theologian and Saint Theophan the Recluse. Saint Simeon the New Theologian speaks of three types of prayer, and prayer with imagination is not permitted as the 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, keeps divine thoughts in his soul, imagines the blessings of heaven, the ranks of angels and the abodes of saints, and briefly, everything heard in the Divine Scriptures, collects in his mind, and then discusses it during prayer, in vain to heaven, and thereby moves his soul to the lust and love of God, and sometimes even draws tears and cries (then 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 - (the one who prays 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 vouchsafe him to always be in such a work. And this (i.e., thinking this way about this type of prayer) is a sign of delusion: for good is no longer good when it does not happen in a good way and as it should ...
    From what we have said, every reasonable person can understand what harm comes from this first way of attention and prayer (if you consider it the last limit of perfection in prayer). But if it happens that one of those who uses this image does not suffer any of the evils that we have heard about, due to cohabitation with the brethren (because they are especially affected by those who live in solitude), then he will still spend his whole life without succeeding. (in the spiritual life)." (St. Simeon the New Theologian. Word 68, about the three images of attention and prayer // Words of the Monk Simeon the New Theologian, vol. 2. M .: Rule of Faith, 2002).


    But sometimes, because of the invasion of blasphemous thoughts, you cannot look at the icon! How then to pray?

    “So that thoughts hinder you less, you can only look at the icons from time to time,” says St. Ambrose of Optinsky, - but we must know that icons are only for external eyes, and therefore, standing in prayer, we must remember that we stand before God. In no case should one imagine an icon in the mind. 23
    Lives of the Venerable Elders of the Optina Hermitage. Holy Trinity Monastery. Printshop of St. Job of Pochaev. Jordanville, New York. 1992.


    Is it possible to 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 in public transport?

    When you make a non-prayer rule, then you can pray in any position, but when you make a rule, it’s sinful to lean on and sit without need. 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. In public transport it is better to read the Psalter.


    Do spiritually wise people advise engaging in the Jesus Prayer on their own, and if so, to what extent?

    It is very useful and salutary to engage in the Jesus Prayer orally, usually, but it is possible to engage in a smart-hearted prayer only with the guidance of experienced elders and with St. books about the Jesus Prayer, and most importantly, do not seek anything through it, except for mercy.


    But what use can there be from the Jesus Prayer if I pronounce it only with my lips, without understanding what I am saying, my mind keeps running to the side?

    “You don’t understand,” said the Optina Elder Macarius, “but the demons understand and tremble. Calm down and keep on praying.” 24
    Soulful Teachings of the Venerable Optina Elders.


    “Do not believe your flesh, which threatens you with failure during prayer: it is lying. If you begin to pray, you will see that the flesh will become your obedient slave. Prayer will revive her. Always remember that the flesh is false" (Saint John of Kronstadt).25
    St. rights. John of Kronstadt. My life in Christ. Word 1556.


    How is it better to pray, one or two, three of us?

    Saint John of Kronstadt said: “The Lord loves and listens more to prayer when we pray not alone and not from ourselves and not for ourselves alone, but together, from everyone and for everyone.” 26
    St. rights. John of Kronstadt. In the world of prayer Conciliarity of Prayer. Commissioned by the Holy Euphrosyne Monastery in Polotsk. SPb., 1991.


    What to do on a holiday if you cannot go to the temple and cannot read spiritual books?

    Pray at home, even when lying down, because 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 Athos Fr. Arseny writes: "This is the same as prayer." 27
    Elder Paisius Svyatogorsky. Saint Arsenius of Cappadocia. Holy mountain. No year.


    Why are the same prayers repeated so often in the church? It's like, "Lord, have mercy."

    “And why do we repeat and quicken our breathing? It is necessary, it excites and sustains our lives. For the same, frequent prayers are also needed ... And really, what does it mean: “Lord, have mercy”? This is the cry of the guilty and condemned to death, asking for mercy from an irritated justice. This is the cry of a penitent, expressing a firm intention to improve and start a new life, befitting a Christian. This is the cry of a sinner who himself is ready to have mercy on others, as one who has had infinite mercy and mercy from God, the Judge of his deeds. (Saint John of Kronstadt).28
    St. rights. John of Kronstadt. My life 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 the heart in the Holy Spirit. From what?

    “Because, praying according to 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 immediately settle in your heart. world, transcend all mind(Philippians 4:7). In church prayers there is an enumeration of sins, but not all, and often those very ones are not mentioned, with which we have bound ourselves. One must by all means enumerate them in prayer with a clear consciousness of their importance, with a feeling of humility and with heartfelt contrition. That is why in the evening prayers it is said when listing sins: either this or that was done by the evil, that is, it is left to our will to mention these or other sins ” (Saint John of Kronstadt).29
    St. rights. John of Kronstadt. In the world of prayer Repentance in prayer.


    At Baptism 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 to pray, I shed tears. What's this? Purification?

    Tears in the temple can indeed be 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, and I am in a hurry to work or to the beginning of the service in the temple?

    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 it on the road.


    It is possible, if the soul requires.


    Is it possible to read the canon of repentance on holidays, Christmas time, Bright Week, if you have committed a sin?

    According to the rules of the Church, in the days of Bright Week, according to the charter, penitential canons are not supposed to be read. Prayers of repentance during fasting are enough, and the committed sin is cleansed at confession. On these days, it is better to try not to sin.


    Is it possible to bow to the ground at home prayer on Christmas time, holidays, Bright Weeks, if you have sinned and your conscience does not allow you to pray standing up?

    We must try to live according to the charter of the Church 30
    See Lenten triode. On Holy and Great Wednesday evening.

    Which cancels prostrations on the ground these days, but kneeling can also be allowed in home prayer.


    Is it possible to replace morning and evening prayers with the reading of 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 charters, but to follow the church. Canons and akathists are read in free time; Reading the Psalter is also recommended.


    Tell me, please, which saint to turn to so that there is peace in the soul and finally happiness comes to our house and our desire with our son is fulfilled - 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 a righteous man 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 turns to all of us with a request that we be kind, loving, humble, etc., but we often do not even want to hear about this, but we ourselves ask Him to help us. And it also happens like this: 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 sorrows overtake us again; and in the days of peace and happiness, it’s as if we don’t need Him. You can apply with a request for the fulfillment of your desires to many saints, to the Mother of God, to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, but for this it would be desirable for you to get acquainted with the Gospel, where our dogma is stated; 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 already with a warm, heartfelt prayer from your whole heart.


    What saints should be prayed to and what kind of icon is needed for the bees to multiply?

    In the Treasury there is a special prayer for the blessing of the hives (“Where the bees stand ...”) and another prayer: “Blessing the swarms of bees planted in the new hive ...” These prayers are read by the priest. So, if you have the opportunity, you need to invite him to consecrate your hives. If this is not possible, then you can read the following prayer: “God, with human labor and dumb animals, knowing goodness, and by Your unspeakable mercy of seven bees, the fruits and deeds to our needs are used by teaching, we humbly pray to Your Majesty: bless this bee to gain the human race I multiply, supplying them, nourishing them, yes, everyone trust in Your majesty and Your immeasurable bounty, work hard in the care of these animals, you will be able to perceive the rich fruits of your labors, and the heavenly blessing will be fulfilled in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Him 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, cry, my body vibrates. Why is that?

    You can only get an answer to this question from an experienced confessor after a detailed confession. In absentia such questions are not solved.


    Is it true that you first need to read a prayer and only then cross yourself? Or maybe 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 prayer.


    Is it good to pray for offenders?

    The Lord is pleased to pray for those who offend us, and therefore we need to pray for them.


    What saints to pray for those who offend?

    For those who offend, it is necessary to serve a moleben to Archdeacon Stephen and light candles to the holy Apostle John the Theologian and St. Seraphim ordered to put candles behind the throne for health and salvation. The ascetic George the Recluse wrote: “Order to remember those who are at war with you in churches for health, God will glorify the cause of your good heart before 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.: Ark, 2007.


    Can you please explain what prayers are included in the Treasury?

    Requirements are different. There is a Small Breed, there is a Big Breed. The Treasury of Peter the Grave is one of the most complete. In Trebniki there are a wide variety of rites and prayers: the rite of the Funeral Service, Baptism, Confession, Communion at home, prayers for the consecration of icons, church utensils, bells, for the expulsion of dark forces, as well as chastises, prayers for the consecration of the house, stove, beehives, against invasion insects, etc. This is only a small list of prayers found in the Treasury.


    Is there a prayer against sleep?

    Is such a prayer necessary? After all, sleep restores strength, and excessive stress can lead to a breakdown, exhaustion of the nervous system, and even mental illness. Here is a recommendation for insomnia: for this you need to read the Jesus prayer “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice ...” and others.


    In the prayer books, in the Ribbon there are prayers with which we turn to the Lord. And sometimes I just sort of mentally talk to Him (in my own words). Is this allowed? Or maybe this is not pleasing to the Lord, and I should not do this?


    Is it possible to pray without a prayer book and a Psalter at all?

    Without reading the Psalter or the prayer book, we cannot. This heats up the heart, just as the fire that is weakening in the furnace is strengthened by throwing firewood. But when the heart flares up and some feeling takes possession of the whole soul, then you should stop reading and pray with your prayer. St. Theophan the Recluse speaks of this. 32
    Rev. Nicodemus the Holy Mountain. Invisible curse. Part 1, Ch. 48-49. Saint Theophan the Recluse translated this book into Russian.


    I myself do not know Russian, by nationality - a Yakut, a disabled person. I am collecting medicinal herbs. I would like to know what prayers should be read at the same time, is there any literature?

    All prayers are good when they are prayed for good. You need to read short prayers: "Our Father ...", "Virgin Mother of God, rejoice ...", "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner" and others.


    It happens that a Christian on the occasion of a special holiday drank a little alcohol. It's time for evening prayer. Isn't it a sin to pray to God for the coming sleep in such, albeit a mild, degree of intoxication?

    Let your heart and conscience tell you what to do right.


    I would like to ask you for a prayer for abortion. I have already repented of this sin to the priest.

    Prayer for abortion is not handed out. This prayer is read by the priest at the request of the penitent directly.


    I would like to pray with tears, but it doesn’t always work out, we are connected with the world, we are distracted. We gather with the same believers, we sing cants. Maybe write at least one?

    Tears in prayer are a gift from God. The Church has always opposed artificial exaltations. The main thing in Orthodox prayer is the consciousness of sins and repentance for them. Prayer of repentance is the most correct. Kants are not used in church services. These chants are allowed to be sung at home; it's soul-saving. We read in the life of St. Demetrius of Rostov that the cantes were peta by his order in the last hours of his life. 33
    Life of St. 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 pronounce the name of the Lord your God in vain." The Law of God says: “When we need something, we must turn to God with prayer. You can pray to God everywhere: in the house, in the temple, and on the road. A Christian is obliged to pray daily, morning and evening, before and after meals, before and after every work. Is it possible to often repeat "Lord, bless, save"?

    In vain (that is, in vain) pronouncing the name of God is when we pronounce it without realizing it, in a proverb, with every little thing. Prayer to God is not in vain.


    What to do if it is impossible to cross yourself (hands are busy, etc.)?

    “The Jesus Prayer will replace the sign of the cross if for some reason it is impossible to place it” (Elder Nikon Optinsky).34


    Are bows to the ground in a church or at home necessary during a prayer service, or is there no need for heartfelt prayer?

    In the liturgical practice of the Church there is a special charter on prostrations. It is found in the Typicon, a book that is the Charter of Divine Services of the Orthodox Church. Prostrations to the ground there, in particular, are said to be performed after the transfer of the Holy Gifts, during Lenten services, in particular, during the reading of the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, and others. they are on Sundays. During home prayer, you can make earthly prostrations when your soul requires it.


    If I read prayers and a candle is not lit in front of the image, do my prayers reach our Lord Jesus Christ?

    A candle is a symbol of prayer. It's good when it glows 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 intelligibility of our prayers to God.


    Is it possible to replace morning and evening prayers with the reading of psalms, the Jesus Prayer, or something else?

    Saint Theophan the Recluse answered a similar question that there was no need to replace evening and morning prayers with anything. 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 cancel it. See St. Feofan. Spiritual Life Letters. M., 1897


    When is prayer considered a sin?

    “There is no greater sin,” taught St. Theophan the Recluse, “how to pray to God without fear, attention and reverence; pray with the tongue, and with the mind talk with the demons. 36
    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 reasoning,” Archimandrite Feofan Novoezersky advises us, “beware of accepting any extraneous thoughts; with a prohibition, speak 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
    Teachings of the elder Feofan Novoezersky. Publishing house of the Moscow Patriarchy, 1997


    What if you want to pray with bows?

    “When the desire comes to pray among the rule (or in general) with a special prayer and with bows, then there is no need to interfere with such a mood” (Rev. Ambrose of Optina).38
    Soulful Teachings of the Optina Elders.


    What are the signs of God's visitations in prayer, and which are of the enemy?

    During grace-filled appearances or visitations of God, there are good thoughts and feelings: joy, love for God and neighbor and even for enemies, humility, self-reproach, penitential feeling, contrition, compunction, peace of mind, peace to all, the desire for good and salvation for all. In the presence of enemies: pride, consciousness of one's own dignity, anger, hatred, cruelty, anxiety, embarrassment, doubt in the phenomenon.


    Is it possible for a worldly person to pray with a rosary?

    “About prayer with the rosary,” writes St. Theophan the Recluse, “I myself heard for the first time from a layman, and not from a monk. And many laymen and laywomen pray in this way. And we will need this. Only it is necessary to 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 keep your prayer home rule inexorably?

    Christians who do not keep the house rule are dead Christians. The rule of the house is the stimulator of spiritual strength, the guide to unceasing prayer.


    What to do when bad thoughts obsessively creep into your head during prayer?

    If, during prayer, bad thoughts obsessively stick to us, then they advise, leaving the reading of the prayer, to pray to God against thoughts, so that He will drive them away from us.


    Is it possible to pray for unbelieving bosses?

    “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” (Martyr Polycarp of Smyrna).40
    Shmch. Polycarp of Smyrna. Epistle to the Philippians // Writings of the Apostolic Men. M.: Amphora, 2007.


    Is it possible to pray in front of people?

    “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 Dorotheev Hermitage. M. - Riga, 1995.


    What is the best way to pray in case of insensibility?

    In case of insensibility, it is better to pray with short prayers.


    Is it good to pray for ascetics who have not yet been glorified on earth?

    Prayer is pleasing to God for those who have fallen asleep. Our prayer intercedes for them great glory and causes them to pray for us before the Lord.


    How is it necessary to stand in prayer?

    One should get up for prayer without relaxing the body, without stepping from one foot to the other and without leaning against a wall or a pillar. Hands should be kept decently folded, legs should be even and motionless, the head should not be turned to one side or the other, but bent slightly, the mind should not be scattered and thoughts should not be curious or distracted by lazy people who talk to each other and whisper, but in every possible way keep the eyes from absent-mindedness and soul, listening to the words of the prayer so that not a single word in it is idly missed. For if you accustom yourself to do this in this matter, you will soon succeed and reach a perfect man. At the end of the doxology, do not immediately start conversations with one or the other. Keep silence and move away from everyone. Keep silence with this thought: “What good can I say, being completely unclean and senseless and even unworthy to speak or hear anything, or be considered among the people” .42
    Rev. Simeon the New Theologian. A word about the beginning of life is very useful and saving // Twelve words in Russian. per. from Hellenic-Greek Ed. Kozelskaya Vvedenskaya Optina Desert. M., 1869.


    During prayer, is it possible to dwell on spiritual thoughts or thoughts about useful deeds?

    During prayer, one should oppose not only vain thoughts, but also all thoughts about spiritual and useful deeds that come untimely, but deepen and force oneself to read the prayer and think of God until they are completed.


    Is it wrong to pray in passing?

    “If anyone prays to God without fear, in passing, he invites the wrath of God, the exile of God. It is better for him not to pray at all than to pray somehow. There is no greater sin. Demons never attack so 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 when in need?

    When your head is also covered, do not leave prayer, but observe only that you do it not with neglect.


    Should one leave the reading of the Divine book in a prayerful mood?

    If your mind and heart experience a prayerful mood while reading the Holy Scriptures, then you remain in prayer until the prayerful mood ceases.


    Should one make prostrations beyond one's strength?

    God does not require from us a rule higher than our strength, and therefore consider your strength!


    Which saints should be prayed 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 ones.


    Does prayer before God have power if it is read without sympathy of the heart?

    Without sympathy of the heart, prayer is invalid.


    What does it mean to pray without ceasing?

    Praying always and unceasingly does not mean always reading psalms or written prayers - this is an impossible thing. For every Christian must do his work according to his calling; likewise, a burdened body requires rest by sleep, and so on. But it means that often in every undertaking you raise your mind and heart, and sigh to God and ask Him for mercy, help and intercession.


    Can you shorten your prayer home rule?

    You can, only if you need to. According to St. Theophan the Recluse, only those spiritually strengthened people are allowed to reduce the rule of prayer, and not to anyone who wants to get rid of prayer as soon as possible. Remember that he who threatens dogs with a stick irritates them against him, and the demons are irritated by the one who forces himself to pray often. 44
    “Before you asked an hour before the end of the rule. Not seeing the tricks of the enemy, I agreed to this. Now the enemy has sat down to you and suggested that you can shorten the prayer rule even more by adding needlework to it. Thus, your usual prayers were 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 finish the rule an hour earlier, then put it down and start it earlier. Letter 528, no. III.


    When I pray with others, can the inner movement of the soul be shown outwardly?

    If we pray in partnership with others, then it is enough for us to show the inner movement of the soul before God only with our mind and heart, not to take on a sad, tearful face and not to make any signs with our bodies that would show what is in our soul, so that others would not become honor us, and others, perhaps, make fun of us - through this we are subjected 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 face of the one who prays, and the sad voice, and shed tears, raise our hands to grief, and bow down to the ground.


    If the mind is distracted by prayer, what should one do?

    At a time when your mind is distracted, 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 to the ground at night, and if you feel sick, then bow at least three times. With these nightly bows and prayers, a person overcomes the devil, and in what he sins during the day, he gets rid of sin.


    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 the icons?

    Prayer is not the only one to be sure to stand in front of the icons in prayer. To keep the mind and heart turned and striving towards God is already prayer, no matter what position one is in, whether one is sitting, lying, or walking. The rule of home prayer in its own way: in the morning and in the evening before the icons, and this state of prayer is its own.


    What should I do if during the prayer rule I am distracted by windows passing by?

    When you're doing your home rule of prayer, pull down the curtain. And when you look out the window, then remember that you need to repent.


    When I pray, am I afraid?

    Consider the fear that occurs during prayer as a temptation from the enemy, who is trying to turn away from prayer everyone who wants to pray. When approaching prayer, shield yourself with the sign of the cross and continue to pray, and in time, by the grace of God, you will be delivered from this temptation if you become less angry with others and keep yourself from condemnation.


    What is the best time to pray?

    “Night is the best time for prayer,” writes St. Theophan the Recluse. “Especially at midnight.” 45
    St. Theophan the Recluse. Guide to Spiritual Life.

    And St. John Chrysostom says that the Lord especially bows to mercy with night prayers. 46
    Saint John Chrysostom. Discussion on the Benefits of Night Prayer. // I admonish you, beloved. Selected Conversations. M., 2009.


    What is a call?

    The urge is (the desire) to turn to God; it happens sometimes without a definite need, but only by a thirst for God. To what extent and in whatever form this urge manifests itself, one should never leave it unsatisfied, but immediately turn to prayer and pray in the position in which the urge found itself: if for work, then pray for it, if for reading - in the midst of it and pray, if while walking - walking and praying. But, of course, it is better and more fruitful to stand in a prayer place and take a prayer position, if possible. If this urge arises during 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 plead for yourself - beware that you will not plead for yourself if you do not pray for others” (St. Philaret of Moscow).47
    St. Philaret of Moscow. Word on the day of the wedding to the kingdom and the chrismation of the most pious Sovereign Emperor Alexander Pavlovich, 1823 // St. Philaret (Drozdov). Selected works, letters, memoirs. M.: Orthodox St. Tikhon Theological Institute, 2003.


    What to do so that the Lord hears prayer?

    If you wish to offer a pure prayer to God, then test your mind first and arrange it so that when you say: “Have mercy on me,” you will also be merciful to the one who implores you; when you say: “Remember not 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 that you were upset about. If you do not do this, 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 forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. If you forgive a person their sins, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you(Matthew 6:12, 14). And in the Gospel of Luke he says: Let go and they will let you go(Luke 6:37). And in another place he teaches his disciples to pray like this: And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every debtor our(Luke 11:4).


    How to get rid of the scattering of thoughts during prayer?

    Praying with your mouth, pray with your mind as well, that is, direct your mind in the power of the words of prayer. If, due to weakness or the pretense 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 fervor deepen your attention into prayer; always do this and you will reap the benefits. Constancy of mind and alertness attract special gifts of grace to the soul. 48
    Rev. Boniface of Theophany // Elder Councils of Some Domestic Ascetics of Piety in the 18th-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, have lunch, dinner, but it’s hard to give the Lord even ten minutes! It is the One who gives us everything.