"Pitfalls" of the prayer rule. Prayers that will definitely help When to read a prayer

Prayers that every Orthodox Christian should know: Our Father, Heavenly King, Prayer of thanksgiving, Invoking the help of the Holy Spirit for every good deed, The Most Holy Theotokos, May God rise again, the Life-giving Cross, The Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, The Most Holy Theotokos, For the pacification of those at war, For the sick, Living in help, Rev. Moses Murin, Creed, other daily prayers.

If you have anxiety in your soul and it seems to you that everything in life is not working out the way you want, or you don’t have enough strength and confidence to continue what you started, read these prayers. They will fill you with the energy of faith and prosperity, surround you with heavenly power and protect you from all adversity. They will give you strength and confidence.

Prayers that every Orthodox Christian should know.

Our Father

"Our Father who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done both on earth and in heaven; give us our daily bread this day; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive debtors ours; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

Heavenly King

Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Good One, our souls.

Prayer of thanksgiving(Thanksgiving for every good deed of God)

From time immemorial, believers have read this prayer not only when their deeds, through prayers to the Lord, ended successfully, but also glorifying the Almighty, and thanking Him for the very gift of life and constant care for the needs of each of us.

Troparion, tone 4:
Give thanks to Thy unworthy servants, O Lord, for Thy great good deeds upon us; we glorify Thee, bless, thank Thee, sing and magnify Thy compassion, and slavishly cry out to Thee in love: O our Benefactor, glory to Thee.

Kontakion, tone 3:
As a servant of indecency, having been honored with Your blessings and gifts, Master, we earnestly flow to You, giving thanks according to our strength, and glorifying You as the Benefactor and Creator, we cry out: Glory to You, All-Bountiful God.

Glory even now: Theotokos
Theotokos, Christian Helper, Your servants, having acquired Your intercession, cry out to You in gratitude: Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin Mother of God, and always deliver us from all our troubles with Your prayers, One who will soon intercede.

Invoking the help of the Holy Spirit for every good work

Troparion, Tone 4:
O God, Creator and Creator of all things, the works of our hands, begun for Thy glory, hasten to correct them with Thy blessing, and deliver us from all evil, for one is all-powerful and Lover of mankind.

Kontakion, Tone 3:
Quick to intercede and strong to help, present yourself to the grace of Thy power now, and bless and strengthen, and bring about the good work of Thy servants to accomplish the good work of Thy servants: for all that thou desirest, for the mighty God is able to do.

Holy Mother of God

“O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, Heavenly Queen, save and have mercy on us, Thy sinful servants; from vain slander and all misfortune, adversity and sudden death, have mercy in the daytime hours, morning and evening, and at all times save us - standing, sitting, on on every path that walks, on those sleeping at night, provide, intercede and cover, protect. Lady Theotokos, from all enemies visible and invisible, from every evil situation, in every place and at every time, be for us, O Blessed Mother, an insurmountable wall and strong intercession. always now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."

May God rise again

"May God rise again, and let His enemies be scattered, and let them flee from His face. As smoke disappears, let them disappear; as wax melts before the face of fire, so may demons perish from the presence of those who love God and signify themselves with the sign of the cross, and say in joy: Rejoice , Most Honest and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, drive away demons by the power of You, the cradled Lord Jesus Christ, who descended into hell and trampled upon the power of the devil, and gave us His Honest Cross to drive away every adversary. O Most Honorable and Life-giving Cross of the Lord! Help me with the Holy Our Lady the Virgin Mary and with all the saints forever. Amen."

Life-giving cross

“Protect me, Lord, by the power of Your Honest and Life-giving Cross, save me from all evil. Weaken, forgive, forgive, God, our sins, voluntary and involuntary, both in word and in deed, both in knowledge and not in ignorance, as day and night, both in mind and in thought, forgive us everything, as you are Good and Lover of Mankind. Forgive those who hate and offend us, O Lord, Lover of Mankind. Do good to those who do good. Grant to our brothers and relatives forgiveness and eternal life even for salvation. In weaknesses Visit those who are and grant healing. Rule the sea. Travel to those who travel. Grant remission of sins to those who serve and have mercy on us. Those who commanded us, the unworthy, to pray for them, have mercy according to Your great mercy. Remember, Lord, our fathers and brothers who have fallen before us and give them rest, where the light of Thy countenance abides. Remember, O Lord, our captive brothers, deliver them from every situation. Remember, O Lord, those who bear fruit and do good in Thy holy churches, give them the way to salvation through petition and eternal life. Remember, O Lord, us, the humble and sinners and unworthy Thy servants, and enlighten our minds with the light of Thy mind, and make us follow the path of Thy commandments, through the prayers of our Most Pure Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary and all Thy saints, for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen".

Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon

“O Great Saint of Christ and glorious healer, Great Martyr Panteleimon. With your soul in heaven, stand before the Throne of God, enjoy the tripartite glory of His glory, but rest in your holy body and face on earth in divine temples, and by the grace given to you from above, emanate various miracles. Look with your merciful eye on the people ahead and more honestly than your icon, praying and asking you for healing help and intercession, extend your warm prayers to the Lord our God and ask for forgiveness of sins for our souls. Behold, raise your voice of prayer to Him, in the Divine unapproachable glory with a contrite heart and a humble spirit for you, mercifully intercessor to the Lady and we call for a prayer book for us sinners. For you have received grace from Him to drive away illnesses and heal passions. We ask you, do not despise us unworthy who pray to you and demand your help; be a comforter to us in sorrows, a doctor in severe ailments to those who suffer, a giver of insight, with those who exist and babies in sorrow, the most prepared intercessor and healer, intercede for everyone, everything useful for salvation, as if by your prayers to the Lord God, having received grace and mercy, we glorify all the good sources and Gift-Giver of the One God in the Holy Trinity of the Glorious Father and Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever. Amen".

Holy Mother of God

“My Most Holy Lady Theotokos, through Your saints and all-powerful prayers, take away from me, Your humble and accursed servant, despondency, oblivion, foolishness, negligence and all nasty, evil and blasphemous thoughts.”

To pacify the warring

“O Lord, Lover of Mankind, King of the ages and Giver of good things, who destroyed the enmity of the mediastinum and gave peace to the human race, grant now peace to Thy servants, quickly instill Thy fear in them, establish love for each other, quench all strife, take away all disagreements and temptations. Like You "is our peace, we send up glory to You. To the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."

About those who are sick

Master, Almighty, Holy King, punish and do not kill, strengthen those who fall and raise those who have been cast down, correct the bodily sorrows of people, we pray to Thee, our God, Thy servant... visit the weak with Thy mercy, forgive him every sin, voluntary and involuntary. To him, Lord, send down Thy healing power from heaven, touch the body, extinguish the fire, steal away passion and all lurking infirmity, be the doctor of Thy servant, raise him from the sick bed and from the bed of bitterness, whole and all-perfect, grant him to Thy Church, pleasing and doing will. Yours, yours is, to have mercy and save us, our God, and to you we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen".

Alive in Help

“He who is alive, in the help of the Most High, will dwell in the shelter of the Heavenly God. He says to the Lord: My God is my intercessor and my refuge, and I trust in Him. For He will deliver you from the snare of hunters and from the words of rebellion; His blanket will cover you, under His wings you have trusted His truth will surround you with weapons. There will be no slaughter from the fear of the night, from the arrow that flies during the days, from things that come in darkness, from the clogs and the demon of the midday. A thousand will fall from your country, and darkness will be at your right hand, but it will not come close to you, otherwise Look into Your eyes and see the reward of sinners. For You, O Lord, are my hope; You have made the Most High your refuge. No evil will come to you, and no wound will come near your body, as He commanded His angels about you, to keep you in all your ways. On They will take you in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone, tread on the asp and the basilisk, and cross over the lion and the serpent. I am in his tribulation, I will destroy him and glorify him, I will fill him with long days, I will show him My salvation.”

Venerable Moses Murin

Oh, the great power of repentance! O immeasurable depth of God's mercy! You, Reverend Moses, were formerly a robber. You were horrified by your sins, grieved over them, and in repentance came to the monastery and there, in great lamentation over your iniquities and in difficult deeds, you spent your days until your death and received Christ’s grace of forgiveness and the gift of miracles. Oh, venerable one, from grave sins you have achieved wonderful virtues, help the slaves (name) who pray to you, who are drawn to destruction because they indulge in the immeasurable consumption of wine, harmful to the soul and body. Bow your merciful gaze upon them, do not reject them or despise them, but listen to them as they come running to you. Pray, holy Moses, the Lord Christ, that He, the Merciful, will not reject them, and may the devil not rejoice at their death, but may the Lord have mercy on these powerless and unfortunate (name), who were possessed by the destructive passion of drunkenness, for we are all God’s creations and redeemed by the Most Pure One By the blood of His Son. Hear, Reverend Moses, their prayer, drive away the devil from them, grant them the power to overcome their passion, help them, stretch out your hand, lead them from the slavery of passions and deliver them from wine drinking, so that they, renewed, in sobriety and a bright mind, will love abstinence and piety and eternally glorified the All-Good God, who always saves his creatures. Amen".

Symbol of faith

“I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible, in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, God the truth and from God the truth , born, not created, consubstantial with the Father, by whom all things were. For our sake, man and for our salvation came down from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate and suffered and was buried. And rose again on the third day according to the Scripture. And He ascended into heaven, sitting at the right hand of the Father. And again He will come with the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord Life-Giving, who proceeds from the Father. Who is worshiped with the Father and the Son and glorify the prophets who spoke. Into the 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 next century. Amen."

Prayer of spouses without children

“Hear us, Merciful and Almighty God, may Your grace be sent down through our prayer. Be merciful, Lord, to our prayer, remember Your law about the multiplication of the human race and be a merciful Patron, so that with Your help what You have established will be preserved. He created everything out of nothing and laid the foundation for everything that exists in the world - He created man in His image and with a high secret sanctified the union of marriage as a foreshadowing of the mystery of the unity of Christ with the Church. Look, O Merciful One, on us, Your servants, united in a marital union and begging for Your help , may Thy mercy be upon us, may we be fruitful and may we see the sons of our sons even to the third and fourth generation and to the desired old age, live and enter the Kingdom of Heaven by the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom all glory, honor and worship is due Holy Spirit forever. Amen."

Daily Prayers

When you wake up in the morning, mentally say the following words:
“In our hearts is the Lord God, in front is the Holy Spirit; help me with you to start, live and finish the day.”

When going on a long journey or just for some business, it’s good to mentally say:
"My angel, come with me: you are ahead, I am behind you." And the Guardian Angel will help you in any endeavor.

To improve your life, it is good to read the following prayer daily:
“Merciful Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ and the Power of the Holy Spirit, save, preserve and have mercy on me, the servant of God (name). Take away from me the damage, the evil eye and bodily pain forever. Merciful Lord, cast out the demon from me, the servant of God. Merciful Lord, heal me, God's servant (name). Amen."

If you are worried about your loved ones, say the following prayer until calm comes:
“Lord, save, preserve, have mercy (names of loved ones). Everything will be fine with them!”

Instructions

Icon of Jesus Christ. After death, the soul strives for its Father. Only now, burdened with sins, she does not always come to him. With prayers to the Lord, you can beg him to have mercy on the departed sinner. We must remember that there are no sinless people. Even if during his lifetime no one noticed anything bad about the deceased, then certainly no one knew his thoughts and secret affairs. The icon of Jesus Christ is the main decoration of any red corner. She is the first one before whom one should pray for the deceased, read the Psalter, the akathist “Everyone is alive with God.”

The icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the second obligatory decoration of the icon shelf. Jesus Christ, as the Son, listens to the requests and pleas of his mother. Actually, not only his own, but also all of humanity, which he once entrusted to her maternal care. You can and should read an akathist for the newly departed and pray for their pardon in the Kingdom of Heaven in front of the icon of the Mother of God. There are quite a few icons of the Mother of God, and in this case there is no special one here. However, they especially pray for the deceased before the “Helper of Sinners,” the “Quick to Hear.”

Very often, when faced with trouble or illness, we wonder who to pray for help. It is important to understand that in Orthodoxy all prayers are addressed to the Lord. Turning to the saints and the Mother of God for help, we ask them to pray for us before the Lord. In other words, we expect help from the Almighty; the saints support our prayers, strengthen and intensify them. However, according to tradition, for certain diseases, people most often turn to certain saints for intercession. The reason lies in the history of their earthly life, as well as in the history of healings associated with their intercession and help.

For the health and healing of oneself and one’s loved ones, it is customary to pray to the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as before the icons of the Most Holy Theotokos “Joy of All Who Sorrow” and “Healer.” Saint Panteleimon is considered one of the most revered healing saints. He was a doctor in his secular life, having been baptized and believing in Christ, he devoted his life to the selfless healing of the suffering. After his death, believers continue to turn to him for help.

For eye diseases and deterioration of vision, it is customary to pray in front of the “Kazan” icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The story of the discovery of this icon began precisely with the healing of two blind men. Also, with a request to restore vision, they often turn to Saint Longinus the Centurion. Longinus was one of the officers serving on Calvary at the foot of the crucifixion. He believed in Christ and recognized his divine essence. According to legend, it was Longinus who was the officer who pierced the Savior’s ribs with a spear and from the flowing blood received healing for his sore eyes.

Very often, married couples who are unable to have children turn to the patron saints for help. Prayers for the gift of children are addressed to Saints Joachim and Anna, the righteous parents of the Virgin Mary. For many years they themselves could not have offspring, and only after long and diligent prayers did they receive the good news about the upcoming birth of a long-awaited child. With the same misfortune, an endless stream of believers goes to the relics of the Matrona of Moscow, where they find consolation, support and very often the long-awaited good news about the upcoming birth of a baby.

And yet, when turning to the saints for help and intercession, the most important thing is not in front of which icon you ask for this help, the main thing is to apply with sincere faith and hope for healing.

Prayer at home is not much different from prayer in church. The only exception is that it is allowed to commemorate all people, without exception, regardless of their religious affiliation. In church it is customary to pray for “our own people” and only mentally, so as not to disturb others. You can pray out loud at home, provided that it does not annoy your relatives. You need to become fully dressed for prayer. It is advisable for women to have a scarf on their heads and wear a dress or skirt.

Why pray at home?

A conversation with the Lord can be conducted both in your own words and in ready-made “formulas” developed long before us by many generations of believers. Classic prayers are contained in the “Prayer Book” (“Canon”). You can buy it at any religious literature store. “Prayer books” can be short (containing the minimum necessary prayers), complete (intended for priests) and... ordinary (which contain everything that is needed for a true believer).

If you want to pray for real, pay attention to the fact that your “Prayer Book” contains:

*morning and evening (for bedtime) prayers;

*daily (before the beginning and end of any task, before and after eating food, etc.);

*canons by day of the week and “Canon of repentance to our Lord Jesus Christ”;

*akathists (“To our sweetest Lord Jesus Christ”, “To the Most Holy Theotokos”, etc.);

*“Following to Holy Communion...” and prayers read after it.

Modern “Prayer Books” are published in Church Slavonic and “Russian” languages, which reproduce Church Slavonic words in letters familiar to us. In both versions, accents are placed above the words.

For people unfamiliar with the Church Slavonic (Old Church Slavonic) language, it is better to pray according to the “Russian” “Prayer Book”.

Once the basic prayers have been mastered and perhaps even memorized, you can acquire a more “ancient” book. This is worth doing if only for the sake of the grace that comes from Church Slavonic words. It's difficult to explain, so just take my word for it.

In addition to the Prayer Book, you can purchase the Psalter for home prayer. In Orthodox practice, reading one hundred and fifty psalms must be done in a week. It is customary to read the Psalter twice during Lent. At “Slava...” there is a commemoration of the living and the dead. An Orthodox Christian can read the Psalter at the tomb of the deceased.

Reading the Psalter is a serious and responsible thing. Before you go, you should get permission from the priest.

Prayer Rule:

Each of us is at our own point on the long path to the Lord. Each of us has our own time and physical capabilities for prayer. Accordingly, there is no single prayer rule for everyone. Each person should pray as much as he can. How much exactly? This must be determined by the priest.

Ideally, each of us should definitely read morning and evening prayers. They are necessary to protect the soul during the day (morning) and night (evening) from evil forces and people. Those who start their working day very early or, conversely, finish it too late and do not have either the time or energy to read the entire morning or evening rule, can limit themselves to basic prayers: for example, in the morning read “Our Father”, “Have mercy on me” , God ..” (fiftieth psalm) and “Creed”, in the evening - the prayer of St. John Chrysostom, “May God rise ...” and “Everyday confession of sins.”

If you have free time and desire, you can read the corresponding canons every day: for example, on Monday you can pray to your Guardian Angel, Archangels and Angels, on Tuesday - John the Baptist, on Wednesday - the Most Holy Theotokos, etc. Reading the Psalter also depends on your capabilities, desires and time.

Prayer before and after meals is mandatory.

How to pray before communion?

The answer to this question is usually contained in the Prayer Book. We will just remind you: all prayers performed before Communion are read at home, on the eve of the sacrament. On the eve of Communion, you must attend the evening service, after which you can begin to pray with a calm soul. Before Communion you must read:

*“Following to Holy Communion...”;

*three canons: the repentant one, the Guardian Angel and the Most Holy Theotokos;

*one of the akathists;

*full evening prayers.

Home prayer is performed in front of the icons, standing, with the sign of the cross and bows from the waist. If desired, you can bow to the ground or pray on your knees.

During prayer, it is advisable not to be distracted by extraneous matters - telephone calls, a whistling kettle, flirting with pets.

If you are very tired and have a great desire to pray, you are allowed to pray while sitting. The Psalter, with the exception of the “Glory...” and the prayers closing the kathisma, is also read while sitting.

Despite the fact that prayer requires a certain concentration and attention, it is also useful to pray through strength. Our brain may not perceive what we read, but the soul will definitely hear everything and receive its portion of divine grace.

Human civilizations have always worshiped gods. One or more, but certainly omnipotent. As a rule, all the deities created by the human imagination had and still have a powerful character, and their attitude towards a person directly depends not only on his behavior, but also on the disposition of the spirit of the gods themselves. That is why seeking help from God, hoping for his favor is an ancient universal tradition that has become an unconscious habit. And although, understanding the illusory nature of these hopes, folk wisdom bequeathed to us, relying on God, not to make mistakes ourselves, the desire for protection and patronage from above has remained in our subconscious even today, in the age of scientific experiments and technical achievements.

By the way, it was this cognitive progress that not only did not refute, but also confirmed the assumptions about the existence of some higher power capable of influencing what is happening in the physical world. And he strengthened the faith of those people for whom faith in divine support has always been indisputable. For thousands of years, they turned their requests to the Almighty and received an answer in the form of symbolic clues, spiritual insight and even tangible help. Physicists and psychologists find it difficult to explain the mechanism of action of this process even today, at the current level of development of science. And people who know how to ask God for help are good-natured and willing to enlighten learned men.

How and why to turn to God.

To turn to the Almighty, there is a main way that is common to all religions and cultures - prayer. It begins with an internal monologue—an appeal to higher powers—and acquires verbal expression, voiced or spoken in the mind. There can be many forms and purposes of prayer, but most of them are strictly regulated and brought into line with the traditions of a particular religion. And, if we perceive prayer purely as a means of turning to God, communicating and uniting with him, then it is quite fair to consider it the result of the evolution of magical spells and communication with deities.

However, despite the antiquity of this form of appeal to the Almighty, not all people who sincerely believe in divine powers and even attend church know how to pray correctly. And the point is not even that, having heard the “wrong” prayer, God will be offended or angry. And the fact is that certain formulations and linguistic formulas allow the praying person to concentrate in the best possible way, bring together his mental and emotional efforts and direct their energy precisely in such a way as to obtain the desired response. Over the centuries, such speech structures subordinated to this goal have been honed.

Thus, prayer is, first of all, an internal desire and faith, and only then the expression of these feelings in words and actions. This is the desire of the soul, supported by the mind. But in practice, this appeal takes various forms, depending on the religious context, situation and personality of the believer:

1. Public or personal, depending on whether they are offered at liturgy in a church, with the participation of many parishioners, when the words of appeal to God are heard from the lips of a clergyman, or are read by a person alone, without outside help.

2. Verbal or mental, depending on whether the words of the prayer are spoken out loud (loudly, quietly or in a whisper), or in the imagination, read by the inner voice sounding in the head of the believer.

3. Petitionary, grateful or laudatory, depending on their content and the goals of the person praying. Moreover, modern psychologists and sociologists believe that all religions were created precisely for the purpose of asking and receiving. But the church has a different opinion: in the first place, at least officially, it puts prayers of praise, then prayers of gratitude, and only lastly allows parishioners to turn to God for help.

Any theory is dry and fruitless without practice. Especially the one that describes such subtle emotional impulses as turning to God. Therefore, prayers, for all their harmony, set out in prayer books and controlled by church ministers, have been and will remain a purely personal, even intimate phenomenon. Therefore, no one has the right to prohibit or limit your prayers in the form that is closer, more comfortable and more productive for you.

How to properly pray to God for help:

Sincere prayer, coming from the depths of the soul, truly has miraculous power. Religious people call this divine presence, practical psychologists call it visualization and realization. But, be that as it may, in order for this “mechanism” to work, you need to pray according to certain rules. They are very schematic and direct the power of thought rather than give specific instructions. Based on them, you can make sure whether you have prayed correctly until today and, if necessary, adjust your manner of addressing God:

1. Real prayer begins with an inner feeling of the need to communicate with God. You can experience this feeling at any time: while experiencing life's troubles or in complete well-being. The main thing is not to ignore your desire and feel it completely.

2. The second important condition for turning to God and/or asking for help is the presence of faith. God will not help anyone who doubts his existence. But that doesn't mean you won't get support. After all, God takes many forms and yet is one for all. The image in which he appears on icons is not similar to the form of perception of skeptics and scientists. They understand God as the focus of subtle matters and because of this understanding they receive a response. You also do not have to be a parishioner of a particular church in order to have in your soul your own idea of \u200b\u200bGod, whose care you trust and in whose power you believe.

3. Depending on what kind of God lives in your inner Universe, create conditions for prayer. Come to the temple during the service or at any other time, light a candle at home and stand in front of the icon or retire to a quiet room and close your eyes. All this is just an external environment, which, nevertheless, allows you to tune in to the right mood, leave aside all the worldly vanity and, realizing the importance of the moment, concentrate on prayer. Yogis, before connecting their thoughts with a higher power, take the Lotus position or do asanas; Western religions prescribe fasting. But even a prayer you say mentally while commuting to work on the subway has power. The path of your consciousness to God and its help do not depend on the interior or depth of the dungeon - but are directly related to your inner mood for prayer.

4. Before asking God for help, thank him. You probably have something to say “thank you” to him for: for your good health, for a new day, for peace in the camp and your family. Don't be like spoiled children who only ask their parents to satisfy their whims. Turn your gratitude to the Creator. It will help start a monologue and create the right mood, imbued with respect and humility.

5. After gratitude, ask God for forgiveness for your sins. Don't try to evade or hide some of them. By speaking to God, you open your soul to him and let him into it, that is, all your misdeeds are obvious to him. It is better to sincerely clear your conscience by repentance and earn His favor and your own peace of mind. Promise yourself and Him not to repeat previous mistakes.

6.You can address God the way you see and feel him. Most often, Christian prayers call it "God" and/or "Lord", and perhaps you will feel comfortable calling it that too.

7. During prayer, your matter should be in a position that will allow you to completely forget about it. In church, most people ask God for help while standing, some while sitting or kneeling. On this score, the clergy advise: “the prayer of a sitting person thinking about God is better than the prayer of a standing person thinking about his feet.” The meaning is probably clear to you: focus on your own strengths, state of health and habits in order to focus as much as possible on communication with the Lord.

8. Calm your breathing, take deep, measured breaths in and out. Before you start turning to God, take a deep breath and start a conversation with him.

9. Concentrate on one, most important desire, and ask for its fulfillment. There is no need to list everything that you would like and that you would not give up. The request must be strong, clear and specific. When thinking about it, imagine that it has already been completed.

10. Look up the text of the prayer in advance in a special prayer collection and remember, if not by heart, then the main content. Personal requests can be formulated in your own words, the main thing is to sincerely desire and believe in obtaining what you want. A sincere request expressed in your own words will reach God no worse than one memorized from books.

11. During prayer, not only feel, but also comprehend the desire. Your mind must understand the text of the prayer and analyze it.

12. When expressing a request for help, do it expressively. When you ask for forgiveness, lower your tone; when you thank, fill it with joy. Talk to God as if he is in front of you and listening carefully to your words.

13. After finishing the prayer, try to preserve in your soul the atmosphere that it created. Don’t rush to plunge into the hustle and bustle of life, give yourself at least a little time to comprehend and strengthen faith in divine help. Walk from the temple, do not argue or quarrel with anyone.

You can ask God for help, support and strength. But remember that in most cases he does not answer directly, but indirectly. He will give you what you don't want, with the opportunity to make it happen. But, if he thinks that you want something that will not benefit you, he may refuse to help. Therefore, ask not for material things, but for spiritual things. Pray for greater perseverance, confidence, and optimism. Do not miss the opportunity to fulfill your own desire, but do not forget that this will happen with God's help.

The life of a Christian believer is inextricably linked with the practice of prayer. The question of how to pray to God correctly is asked by both new Orthodox Christians and those who have been in the Church for a long time.

What is prayer and why do we need it?

According to the holy fathers, prayer is the mother of all virtues. This is the only way we can communicate with the Almighty. A distinctive feature of Christianity is that the Lord Jesus Christ is perceived as the Living God, as a Person to whom you can always turn and who will definitely hear.

Jesus Christ

God appeared to people through the incarnation of Jesus Christ, and it is through Christ that we discover Him for ourselves. Such a discovery is only possible through prayer.

Important! Prayer is a tool available to us for unity with God.

In everyday understanding, prayer is often considered either some kind of mystical conspiracy, or a way to beg God for something needed in earthly life. Both understandings are fundamentally wrong. The Holy Fathers often write that when turning to the Lord, it is best not to ask for anything at all, but simply to stand before Him and repent of your sins.

The purpose of Orthodox prayer is to establish a spiritual connection with the Almighty, to feel Him in your heart. The Lord knows all our needs and wants; He can satisfy them without our asking. Of course, it is not forbidden to ask God for some necessary worldly blessings, but you cannot get hung up on such an attitude and make it your goal.

Many new Christians often wonder why we need to pray if the Lord himself knows everything we need. This is true, and many saints in their appeals to God did not ask for anything earthly. You need to turn to the Almighty not in order to get something you want. The main goal is to connect with God, to be with Him every moment of your life.

When exactly can you pray?

The Bible contains the words of the Apostle Paul, who calls us to constant prayer. John the Theologian claims that you need to turn to Christ even more often than you take a breath. Thus, the ideal is when all human life turns into a constant presence before the Lord.

It is safe to say that many troubles occurred precisely because man forgot about the All-Seeing Lord. It is difficult to imagine a criminal committing a crime with the thought of Jesus crucified for his own sins.

Important! A person falls under the influence of sin precisely when he loses the memory of God.

Since modern people do not have the opportunity to be in prayer all day, they need to find a certain time for it. So, when waking up in the morning, even the busiest person can find a couple of minutes to stand in front of the icons and ask the Lord for blessings for the new day. During the day, you can repeat short prayers to yourself to the Mother of God, the Lord, your Guardian Angel. You can do this to yourself, completely unnoticed by others.

A special time is before bed. It is then that we need to look at the day we have lived, draw conclusions about how spiritually it was spent, and what we sinned about. Prayer before bed calms you down, eliminates the bustle of the past day, and sets you up for a quiet, peaceful sleep. We must remember to thank the Lord for all the good deeds during the day and for the fact that it was lived by us.

It may seem to a beginner that doing this requires a lot of time, and now everyone has it in short supply. In fact, no matter how fast the pace of our life is, there are always pauses in which we can remember God. Waiting for transport, queues, traffic jams and much more can be turned from irritating factors into a time when we raise our minds to Heaven.

What should the words of prayer be for God to hear them?

A common reason why people do not want to turn to God is ignorance of prayers or misunderstanding of complex church texts. In fact, for the Lord to hear us, He does not need any words at all. In the practice of church services, the Church Slavonic language is used, and the order of the service itself is strictly defined. However, at home, in your personal prayer, you can use completely different texts.

The words themselves do not have a defining meaning; these are not magical spells or spells. The basis of prayer that God hears is a person’s pure and open heart, directed towards Him. Therefore, personal prayer can be characterized by the following signs:

brevity;
simplicity;
sincerity;
attention;

It is very important during prayer not to scatter attention around, but to focus it on what is being said. This is not so easy to do, so at the beginning of your Christian life you can choose several short prayers that you can read with maximum attention, without being distracted by anything extraneous. Over time, acquiring skill, you can constantly expand and increase the rule.

Interesting! In the Gospel we see the image of a publican who saved his soul, whose prayer was extremely brief: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

Of course, there is a basic list of prayers that everyone who considers themselves an Orthodox Christian should know by heart. This is at least “Our Father”, “I Believe”, “Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice...”, Jesus Prayer. Knowing these texts by heart, you can call on heavenly powers for help in any situation.

Why do you need a prayer rule?

If the Almighty does not need words so much, then the question arises, why then were prayer rules and ready-made texts, moreover, often long and complex, invented? The Holy Fathers say that this is payment for our unrepentance and hardness of heart.

If a person could say the shortest prayer “Lord, have mercy” completely from the bottom of his heart, he would already be saved. But the fact is that we cannot pray so sincerely. And a person really needs consistency and a special routine of prayer.

A prayer rule is a list of texts that a person reads regularly. Most often, the rules from prayer books are taken as a basis, but you can also choose an individual list for each person. It is advisable to coordinate the list with your spiritual father or at least a priest who can give useful advice.

Following the prayer rule helps a person organize himself and build his life more clearly and plannedly. The rule will not always be given easily; the bustle of everyday life often leads to laziness, fatigue, and reluctance to pray. In this case, you need to try to overcome yourself, force yourself.

Important! There are words in the Gospel that the Kingdom of God is taken by force - we are not talking about physical strength, but about efforts to change one’s own life and old habits.

You need to choose a rule wisely, taking into account your spiritual capabilities. If a new Christian is given obedience to reading a rule that is too long, this will quickly lead to fatigue, boredom and inattention. A person will either begin to mechanically proofread texts, or will completely abandon such an activity.

On the other hand, it is not beneficial for a person who has been churched for a long time to impose too small and short rules on himself, as this will lead to relaxation in spiritual life. Whatever your rule, you should never forget that the main condition for a prayer that God hears is the sincere disposition of the heart of the one praying.

What is the difference between home and church prayer

Since an Orthodox Christian is called to constantly pray and can do this almost anywhere, many people ask why they need to pray in church. There is a certain difference between church prayer and personal prayer.

The Church was founded by our Lord Jesus Christ himself, so for a long time Orthodox Christians gathered in communities to glorify the Lord. Church conciliar prayer has great power, and there are many testimonies of believers about grace-filled help after services in the Church.

Church fellowship presupposes mandatory participation in divine services. How to pray so that God will hear? To do this, you need to come to the temple and try to understand the essence of the service. At first it may seem difficult, but over time everything will become clear. In addition, to help the beginning Christian, special books are published that explain everything that happens in the church. You can buy them in the icon shop.

Prayer by agreement - what is it?

In addition to ordinary personal and church prayers, in the practice of the Orthodox Church there is the concept of prayer by agreement. Its essence lies in the fact that at the same time different people read the same appeal to God or a saint. At the same time, people can be located in completely different parts of the world - it is not at all necessary to gather together.

Most often, this is done to help someone in extremely difficult or difficult life situations. For example, when a person is seriously ill, his loved ones can unite and together ask the Lord to grant healing to the sufferer. The power of such an appeal is great, since, in the words of the Lord himself, “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them.”

On the other hand, one cannot consider such an appeal to the Almighty as some kind of ritual or way of fulfilling desires. As has already been said, the Lord knows all our needs very well, and if we ask for something, we must do it with trust in His holy will. Sometimes it happens that prayer does not bring the expected fruit for one simple reason - a person asks for something that is extremely unprofitable for his soul. In this case, it may seem that God is not answering the request. In fact, this is not so - God will definitely send us something that will benefit us.

Watch a video on how to pray to God correctly.

Jul 11, 2017 22:09 Administrator

When solving their vital questions, everyone can ask themselves the question: what is the right way for God to hear? Especially if the problem requires a quick solution or is vitally important to you. First of all, the right attitude and the person’s desire are important here. And in order to tune in to turning to God, you need to correctly formulate your question and begin prayer with pure thoughts.

How to tune in

First of all, you need to put your thoughts and feelings in order. Often, the solution to an important issue that is currently tormenting you is hindered by some sin or action, wishing harm to another, or condemning a person in a similar situation. For example, you condemned a friend who was left without a job and lives on his parents’ money, and after a few days or years you yourself were laid off. Or a woman condemned her friend for living with a married man, and after a while she herself fell into the same network. Therefore, if you are currently in an unpleasant situation for which you judged another person, you should think about why this happened, and mentally or financially ask for forgiveness from him, give him a gift, just something nice. This is one of the rules on how to pray correctly at home if you want God to hear you.

There is another circumstance that prevents the prayer from being heard by higher powers. This is often associated with a violation of cause-and-effect relationships or conscious adherence to a destructive pattern of behavior. For example, a woman who makes money through fornication may ask for a successful marriage without changing her behavior, or want to break up the family of a married person, especially if he is in a church marriage. As a rule, all the troubles of such a life will not disappear even after sincere prayer, unless you change your lifestyle. A striking example of such an appeal is the so-called blessing for theft or a request for the material well-being of a thief or bandit. God does not accept such prayers and may send punishment for bad behavior. So, if there is a serious sin, it is better to repent of it, stop doing what you shouldn’t, and try to reconsider your own behavior.

Well, the third reason that can interfere with successful prayer is insincerity in words, wishing someone harm, or a karmic moment that you need to experience. But how to pray correctly at home so that God hears? To do this, you need to confess your sins, wish good to evil people and your enemies, and tune in to prayer. It is not advisable to drink alcohol, smoke or have sex before it. Also, don’t talk too much, especially about unimportant things. It is best to read prayers in the evening, in front of the icon and light a candle. Then your prayer will be heard. And, of course, you should not pray while doing household chores or during a break between everyday activities.

How to pray

How to pray correctly at home so that God hears? Show sincerity, do not wish harm to anyone in your prayers, and try to be patient if the result does not come quickly. Remember that God hears any prayer, but does not answer it to everyone and not always. Therefore, you need to sincerely believe in God’s help and try to wait for it. Perhaps you will receive it tomorrow or in six months or a year. , then there will definitely be a result.

How to pray correctly, and what is prayer? This is a verbal appeal to the Lord, in which requests and laudatory speeches are made. Just as blood is important for the body, so it is for the soul; whoever does not make conversions is dead in soul. Saying the words of prayer, they glorify the greatness of God, thank him for his mercy, ask for satisfaction of needs and forgiveness of sins. Therefore, behind the content of the prayer there are laudatory, grateful and petitionary. Also external - in the walls of the house in front of the icons, and internal - produced in religious buildings. When praying at home, in front of an icon, you need to turn to God verbally, at the same time apply the banner of the cross, and worship the icons. The Christian faith involves praying three times a day.

In the morning, as gratitude for the night we survived and asking for blessings for the coming day.

During the day, before and after meals, starting and finishing work.

In the evening, when you go to bed, pray with gratitude about your day and your ability to survive the night.

Inner prayer is accessible only to a few who have achieved perfection and received a special gift of prayer, that is, to ministers of the church; it is performed without bodily movements.

How to pray correctly in church, in front of an icon?

In the temple, everyone who comes performs the prayer verbally and putting their hearts in, glorifying the Creator of all living things, this is the place of God’s home, in which he is closer to all those who pray. The meager prayer of one is filled by the faith of another and is complemented by the lips of a clergyman and singers. The behavior of parishioners in the temple should correspond to the location; behave quietly, reverently, surrendering to prayer.

Have you ever paid attention to the shape of the buildings of temples and churches? It is no coincidence that their design is made in an oblong, cross-shaped or round shape. An elongated structure in churches, as a symbol of Noah’s saving ark, a structure made with a cross is a symbol of the fact that the church received its beginning and strength through the cross, a round building means eternity and invincibility.

To reproduce prayer within the walls of the temple, there are certain recommendations.

Before you begin, prepare yourself mentally, stand silently for a while, with your eyes closed, until your scattered thoughts come together and feel the silence.
Imagine yourself in front of the face of God to whom you are turning.
Pray with strong faith, that's the only way it will make sense.
Pronounce the address with humility and repentance for sins.
Ask for earthly needs, faith, love, hope, humility, spiritual wisdom, devotion to the will of God, do not pray for wealth, power and fame.
You need to pray only by forgiving your enemies, otherwise, if you have not forgiven, you yourself will not be forgiven.

Also, turning to God, you can pray for another person, while simply mentioning his name in the saying in the context of who he is in relation to you, and after the phrase - servant of God (name).

How to pray for the dead correctly?

In the Christian faith there is no darkness of death, but only rest, dormition in the hope of the joy of the morning of resurrection, that is, rebirth in a new appearance. There is the concept of a second death, more terrible than the death of the body - the death of the soul, therefore we pray for the peace of the soul and body that have left earthly life. To console the relatives and peace of mind of the deceased, the Psalter is read, mainly by church employees; after the burial, a liturgy must be ordered; the magpie will be performed by the priest within forty days, while the soul of the dead seeks refuge. You can come to the temple on your own and honor the deceased, take with you a donation for those in need, it could be bread, sugar, sunflower oil, cereals, leave what you brought on the alms table. Icons in temples for the deceased, as a rule, they are placed separately from the rest; they are distinguished by the rectangular shape of the candlestick. Buy candles, light them and put them in a candlestick, write a note for the repose, with the name of the deceased, and leave them in a box; if it’s difficult to navigate, contact the employees, they will not refuse help. When praying, say the name of the one remembering, ask for the repose of the soul and the eternal kingdom. You need to pray on certain memorial days, otherwise you will disturb the soul of the deceased unnecessarily.

May your prayers be heard, your thoughts pure, and your souls live forever.

What is prayer and why do we need it?

Jesus Christ

God appeared to people through the incarnation of Jesus Christ, and it is through Christ that we discover Him for ourselves. Such a discovery is only possible through prayer.

Important! Prayer is a tool available to us for unity with God.

Read about prayers of repentance:

When exactly can you pray?

Important! A person falls under the influence of sin precisely when he loses the memory of God.

What should the words of prayer be for God to hear them?

brevity;
simplicity;
sincerity;
attention;

Interesting! In the Gospel we see the image of a publican who saved his soul, whose prayer was extremely brief: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

Of course, there is a basic list of prayers that everyone who considers themselves an Orthodox Christian should know by heart. This is at least “Our Father”, “I Believe”, “O Mother of God, Virgin, Rejoice...”, Jesus Prayer. Knowing these texts by heart, you can call on the Heavenly Forces for help in any situation.

Why do you need a prayer rule?

About some prayer rules:

Schema nun Antonia's prayer rule about murdered babies

Important! There are words in the Gospel that the Kingdom of God is taken by force - we are not talking about physical strength, but about efforts to change one’s own life and old habits.

What is the difference between home and church prayer

Prayer by agreement - what is it?

Watch a video on how to pray to God correctly.

The rector of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Saratov, Hegumen Pachomius (Bruskov), answers questions about the personal prayer rule of a Christian.

Prayer is the free appeal of a person’s soul to God. How to correlate this freedom with the obligation to read the rule even when you clearly don’t want to do it?

Freedom is not permissiveness. A person is designed in such a way that if he allows himself to relax, it can be very difficult to return to his previous state. In hagiographic literature there are many examples of ascetics abandoning their prayer rule for the sake of showing love to visiting brothers. 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 and were constantly in prayer. When we feel that we do not want to pray, this is a banal temptation, and not a manifestation of freedom.

The rule supports a person in a spiritually developed state; it should not depend on the momentary mood. If a person abandons the prayer rule, he very quickly becomes relaxed.

In addition, it should be remembered that when a person communicates with God, the enemy of our salvation always strives to come between them. And not allowing him to do this is not a restriction of personal 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: “Rising from sleep, before doing any other thing, 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 a person’s mind is not yet occupied with any thoughts. And evening prayers should be read before bedtime, after any business. In these prayers, sleep is compared with death, bed with a deathbed. And it’s strange, after talking about death, to go watch TV or communicate with relatives.

Any prayer rule is based 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 may be exceptions to any rule based on some unforeseen circumstances.

What else, besides morning and evening prayers, can be included in a layman’s prayer rule?

A layman’s rule can include quite a variety of prayers and rites. This could be various canons, akathists, reading the Holy Scriptures or Psalms, bows, the Jesus Prayer. In addition, the rule should include a brief or more detailed commemoration of the health and repose of loved ones. In monastic practice, there is a custom to include the reading of patristic literature in the rule. 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 can be read regardless of mood, fatigue, or other cardiac movements. And if a person 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 a blessing, begin to read canons and akathists in addition to the prayer rule?

Of course it can. But if he not only read the prayer according to the desire of his heart, but thereby increases his constant prayer rule, it is better to ask the confessor for a blessing. The priest, looking from the outside, will assess his condition correctly: whether such an increase will benefit him. If a Christian regularly confesses and monitors his inner life, such a change in his rule will, one way or another, affect 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 do not sleep, is it necessary to read evening and morning prayers?

We do not tie the morning and evening rule 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 have a pharisaical attitude towards the rule and read it at all costs, ignoring the meaning of the prayers. If you are not going to sleep, why ask for God's blessing to sleep? You can replace the morning or evening rule with other prayers or reading the Gospel.

Is it possible for a woman to read the prayer rule at home with her head uncovered?

- I think that it is better for a woman to perform the prayer rule in a headscarf. This cultivates humility in her and shows her obedience to the Church. After all, from the Holy Scriptures we learn that a woman covers her head not for those around her, but for the Angels (1 Cor. 11:10). This is a matter of personal piety. Of course, God doesn’t care whether you stand up for prayer with or without a scarf, but it is important for you.

How are the canons and the procedure for Holy Communion read: on one day the day before, or can their reading be divided over several days?

- You cannot approach the fulfillment of the prayer rule formally. A person must build his relationship with God himself, based on prayer preparation, health, free time, and practice of communication with his confessor.

Today, in preparation for Communion, a tradition has developed to read three canons: to the Lord, the Mother of God and the Guardian Angel, an akathist to the Savior or the Mother of God, and the following to Holy Communion. I think it is better to read the entire rule on one day before Communion. But if it’s hard, you can spread 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 can’t take responsibility for something, strictly prescribe something to someone else, or say something you’re not sure about. When answering, one must 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 and the Holy Fathers. And if you are asked a question the answer to which you do not know, you should be advised to contact a priest or the patristic works.

I read the translation of some prayers into Russian. It turns out that before I put a completely different meaning into them. Should we strive for a common understanding, read translations, or can we understand prayers as our heart tells us?

Prayers should be understood as they are written. An analogy can be drawn with ordinary literature. We read the work and understand it in our own way. But it is always interesting to find out what meaning the author himself put into this work. Also the text of the prayer. The author has invested a special meaning in each of them. After all, we are not reading a conspiracy, but turning to God with a specific request or praise. You can recall the words of the Apostle Paul that it is better to say five words in an understandable language 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 to relate to 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 the more ancient canons, the stichera. They seem deeper and more insightful to me. But many people also like modern akathists for their simplicity.

If the Church has accepted prayers, you need to treat them with reverence, respect and try to find benefit for yourself. But understand that some modern prayers are not as high quality in content as the prayers compiled by ancient ascetics.

When a person writes a prayer for public use, he must understand what responsibility he takes on. He must have experience in prayer, but at the same time be well educated. All texts offered by modern prayer creators must be edited and strictly selected.

What is more important: finishing the rules at home or being on time for work?

- Go to work. If a person is going to church, then public prayer should come first. Although the fathers compared public and home prayer to the two wings of a bird. Just as a bird cannot fly with one wing, neither can a person. If he does not pray at home, but only goes to church, then, most likely, prayer will not work for him in church either. After all, he has no experience of personal communication with God. If a person only prays at home, but does not go to church, it means that he has no understanding of what the Church is. And without the Church there is no salvation.

How can a layman, if necessary, replace the service at home?

Today, a large amount of liturgical literature and various prayer books are published. If a layman cannot attend the service, he can read the morning and evening services and mass according to the canon.

Is it possible to read the rule while sitting?

The Apostle Paul writes: “Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is profitable” (1 Cor. 6:12). If you are tired or sick, you can sit down in Church while reading the house rules. But you should understand what you are guided by: pain, which prevents you from praying, or laziness. If the alternative to reading prayer while sitting is not doing it at all, it is, of course, better to read while sitting. If a person is seriously ill, you can even lie down. But if he is just tired or is overcome by laziness, he needs to overcome himself and get up. During services, the Charter regulates when you can stand or sit. For example, we listen to the reading of the Gospel and akathists while standing, but while reading kathismas, sedals, and teachings we sit down.

Every person at certain points in his life turns to God for help or advice. Therefore, it is necessary for everyone to know how to pray correctly at home so that God hears your words. Today, perhaps, the overwhelming majority of people are unsure that they are praying correctly, but sometimes you really want to hear the answer to the question posed.

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How to pray correctly at home so that God hears?

Behind every turn of fate Insurmountable difficulties or dangers may await us:

terrible diseases;
a lack of money;
uncertainty about the future;
fear for loved ones and relatives.

Few people manage to avoid such turns. All that remains for us is to pray to God, tell him about our troubles and ask for help. If you want to hear an answer and feel a helping hand, then it is necessary that the request be sincere and come from the depths of your heart.

Unfortunately, in modern times, prayer is resorted to only in the most extreme circumstances, in desperate need of support, protection or help. But it is worth remembering that prayer is not just a collection of interconnected words, and a conversation with God, so the monologue must come from the soul. Prayer is the only way to communicate with the Creator, which is why every person should know how to pray correctly.

In order to be heard, it is not at all necessary to conquer mountain peaks, travel to holy places or walk through caves; it is enough to believe strongly and sincerely. If God sees everything, then why do we need to go somewhere to turn to him?

But how to read prayers correctly in order to be heard? What can you ask from the Creator? You can make requests to the Almighty for anything. Exceptions are requests that entail grief, sadness and tears of other people.

Divine Prayer Book Today it contains an incredible variety of prayers that cover various life situations of a believer. These are the prayers:

As we said earlier, these prayers simply have no number. There are no number of words with which one can turn to our Savior, praying for help. Just remember that the Lord is lenient towards you, understand the seriousness of your appeal, assessing your unworthiness.

Even if you do not know the words of the prayer, but you approach the prayer with all sincerity and seriousness, then The Lord will not leave you and will definitely guide you on the right path.

I would also like to add that turning to the Almighty is not a panacea for all diseases and is not one of the magical rituals. Therefore, treat the request accordingly. Remember that God himself knows who is worthy of what in this life. You shouldn’t ask him to harm or punish someone, it’s sinful! Never ask him to commit injustice.

When exactly can you say prayers?

Modern man does not have the opportunity to read prayers all day, so you should set aside a certain time for this. Waking up in the morning, even the busiest person in life can stand in front of the icons for a few minutes and ask God for blessings for the coming day. Throughout the day, a person can silently repeat prayers to his Guardian Angel, Lord or Mother of God. You can address them silently so that people around you don’t notice.

It is worth noting that a special time is before bed. It is at this hour that you can reflect on how spiritual this day was, how you sinned. Turning to the Lord before bedtime calms you down, allows you to forget the bustle of the past day, tuning into a calm and quiet sleep. Don’t forget to thank the Lord for everything that happened to you during the day and that he lived it with you.

There are different ways to ask the Lord for help, no matter where you are - at home or in the temple. The icon will always have a positive effect.

How to ask for help in front of an icon? Which image is better to give preference to? If you have no idea how to read the prayer correctly and in front of which icon, then it is best to pray in front of the images of the Most Holy Theotokos and Jesus Christ. These prayers can be called “universal” because they help in any task or request.

The main components of home prayer books are the beginning and the end. It is necessary to contact the Saints and ask for help correctly by following these simple tips:

Prayer will be heard by the Lord if you follow the following rules:

What is the difference between church and home prayer?

An Orthodox Christian is called to pray constantly, doing it anywhere. Today, many people have a very reasonable question: why go to church to pray? There are certain differences between home and church prayer. Let's look at them.

The Church was founded by our Jesus Christ, therefore, thousands of years ago, Orthodox Christians gathered in communities to glorify the Lord. Church prayer has incredible power and there are many confirmations from believers about grace-filled help after a church service.

Church fellowship involves and mandatory participation in religious services. How to pray so that the Lord will hear? First of all, you need to visit the church and understand the essence of the service. At the very beginning, everything will seem incredibly difficult, almost incomprehensible, but after a while everything will become clearer in your heads. It is also worth noting that to help every beginning Christian, special literature is published that clarifies everything that happens in the church. You can buy them at any icon shop.

Prayer by agreement - what is it?

In addition to home and church prayers, in the practice of the Orthodox Church There is. Their essence lies in the fact that at the same time people read the same appeal to the Lord or Saint. However, it is worth noting that these people do not necessarily have to be nearby, they can be in different parts of the world, it does not matter.

In most cases, such acts are committed with the goal of helping loved ones in extremely difficult life situations. For example, when a person has a serious illness, his relatives gather and pray to the Lord to heal the sufferer. The power of this appeal is very great, because, in the words of God himself, “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them.”

But you should not consider this appeal as some kind of ritual that will fulfill all your desires. We have already said earlier that The Lord knows all our needs Therefore, when turning to Him for help, we must do so, trusting in His holy will. Sometimes it happens that prayers do not bring the desired fruit, but this does not mean that you are not heard, the reason is very simple - you are asking for something that will become extremely unhelpful for the state of your soul.

Summarizing all of the above, I would like to note that the main thing is not just to pray, but to be a truly sincere and believing person with pure thoughts and heart. We strongly recommend that you pray every day so that you are more likely to be heard by God. If you decide to start a righteous life, then you first need to cleanse yourself of all sins by taking communion and confessing. Before starting prayers, it is recommended to spend exactly nine days not only spiritually, but also physically, giving up meat.