How to pray, baptized, church rules and basic prayers. How to pray so that God hears your prayer

God, Theophan the Recluse gives in his message "Four words about prayer." It contains a precise explanation of how to turn to the Almighty and be heard by Him. The great Russian saint convinces that the presence of attributes that contribute to the prayer mood (icons, candles, bows) is not prayer itself, but only preparation for it.

It does not matter where the desire to talk with God found you: at home or in the field. Communication with the Creator is equally accessible everywhere. Man communicates with Him in his heart. If there is no possibility for

visit the temple as often as you would like, don't worry. Being interested in Christian topics, you will definitely understand how to pray at home.

In his explanations, Theophan the Recluse points out the importance of love in the soul of the one who prays. He calls it "the crown of Christian life", "a spiritual paradise".

Not knowing how to pray at home correctly, you can simply engage in "air shaking." The empty pronunciation of words, even if they are written in sacred books, will not give the believer anything: neither overcoming his passions, nor God's help.

In critical situations, a person cries out to the Lord, without thinking about whether he is in the church or not. And often help comes, the prayer is heard. To understand how to pray at home, you need to realize that in essence we always communicate with God, at any moment of our lives.

Therefore, there are no strict rules on how to pray at home correctly. The main thing is the fullness of the soul with love, faith and sincerity.

Nowadays, detailed explanations of who a person is and how

he can
to build your communication with God, gives the researcher-psychologist S. N. Lazarev. In his books, he convinces that the root cause of all the troubles of mankind is a small amount of love in the souls of our contemporaries. The works of Lazarev confirm the long-known
universal truths. They talk about how important the inner mood is. In his books, as well as in the instructions of the holy fathers, one can find detailed explanations on how to pray at home correctly.

However, the priests recommend that the layman pay attention to some technical points home prayer. Give advice on what to do if you can't focus on readable texts. Learn to think about the meaning of words. Give special importance

Sincere repentance.

In their opinion, the main purpose of prayer is to help in overcoming one's vices. A person must, in a sincere impulse, turn to the Creator and ask that sins be removed both from himself and from the human race. But without your own internal change automatic removal of sins is impossible. With the help of prayer, you need to realize your shortcomings and overcome them.

If the Christian tradition is close to a person, then it is better to ask in prayer not for yourself, but for your loved ones, thereby proving your philanthropy. The natural desire of any believer is to become like God. Therefore, it is so important not to be scattered over trifles, but to focus on the creation of good deeds.

It is important to understand that no matter what, we are still always heard by God, no matter where and at what time of the day we pray to Him.

Not everyone asks the question - how to pray correctly so that God hears? But if a person is interested in this topic, this is already good sign. Indeed, many mechanically repeat phrases, thinking that this is enough.

What is prayer

Many Orthodox ascetics of the faith repeated that the key to spiritual growth- fellowship with God. And it is possible through prayer and reading the Holy Scriptures. If the last lesson requires time and concentration, then a small prayer can be read anytime and anywhere. It is to the constant appeal to heaven that all the saints call the believers.

Unceasing prayer is an ideal that few can achieve. First you need to find a place in your schedule - it is advisable to do this in the morning. In the evening, many simply no longer have enough strength. And before the start of a busy day, no one bothers to take a blessing to work (“help me in my work, give me strength and patience”).

How to pray at home so that God hears, is it possible to say the words that come to mind? Of course, but you should not neglect the prayer book. The texts that are in it have been tested for centuries. But looking for some new formulations, especially on pseudo-spiritual sites, is a dangerous business. Such appeals, as a rule, incite a person to attitudes that are contrary to the Christian spirit, they also form an incorrect attitude towards God.

Feelings while praying

One should not look for special states during the appeal to heaven. Euphoria, thoughts about one's own holiness, Orthodox asceticism calls "charm" - this is a dangerous self-deception that leads to pride. Often he is sent by dark forces to steal the little that a person has managed to achieve.

Of course, a state of spiritual enlightenment is possible, but it is not worth looking for it intentionally. One should not pray for the sake of achieving some special "high". As a rule, prayer hard labour, which even experienced monks spoke about. Only through certain time it can start to bring joy, but not on schedule. Its purpose is the work of the soul, the increase of faith, the openness of the heart to the work of the Holy Spirit.

The senseless repeated repetition of certain sacred texts is not allowed. This is a technique deeply alien to Orthodoxy, which leads to severe consequences for the psyche.

What is the right way to say holy words?

In order for God to hear a prayer, one must try to comply with a number of conditions. These are not rituals at all, but reasonable requirements that follow from spiritual and psychological features person. For example, in order to properly adjust your mind, it is best for a Christian to have an icon before his eyes. No wonder the saints called Orthodox images windows into another reality. They help not to get carried away by their own fantasies, which turns prayer into dreams.

Today, many “effective” modern prayers go from hand to hand. Most of them have a very dubious spiritual value. The first sign is the wrong addressee of such an appeal. Christians can prayerfully cry out only to God, the Mother of God and the saints. If the text mentions "cheese earth", "sun", "fire" and so on, it cannot be used. Also, when reading, as a rule, some rituals are required. This should also arouse suspicion.

How to pray if you do not know the texts by heart? It is best to take a prayer book printed by an Orthodox publishing house. Many also acquire akathists, canons, the Psalter. The church service is held in a special language, but at home it is quite possible to pray as your heart tells you - this is communication in a free form, during which a person learns to formulate his requests.

They do not reach God and how to make requests to the Almighty. Learn how to pray at home, and how to properly ask for health for children.

Many people quite often wonder why their appeals to the Lord go unanswered. After all, it seems to them that they did everything right and do not understand why desires are not fulfilled and help (in their opinion) does not come. It is possible that in fact those who asked did not observe important points. Which? We will talk about this now.

How to make a request to God

Remember that each prayer ritual must begin with its own cleansing. To do this, you need to wake up in the morning and get out of bed, first of all, from the bottom of your heart, say “thank you” to the Lord for allowing you to spend a calm night and wake up in the morning. Express gratitude for the new day and what good it can bring.

Then go to wash, avoiding negativity or irritation. When you feel that you are in complete harmony with yourself, you should think about what kind of request for this moment time is the most relevant to you. Since it is not customary to disturb God over trifles in the Orthodox religion. Consider several options and choose the most urgent.

Remember that it is categorically impossible to ask the Lord for the death of your loved ones and punishment for offenders. It is believed that the Almighty himself will figure out when and whom to punish him. In the event that you decide to conduct the ceremony at home, this should be done at the icons placed in the so-called "red corner". If there are no sacred images, then you can pray, looking out the window at the sky.

How to pray at home

Prayers at home should place the main emphasis on the peaceful state in which they need to be during the ritual. You should light a candle and kneel, mentally asking for help from God, the Mother of God or that saint whose intercession you are counting on.

It is necessary to talk with the heavenly Lord with sincere feeling, not to rush and not to forget about prostrations. Thus, you will show the humility of your own pride and readiness to accept any will of the Almighty and his angels. After completing the ceremony and before leaving the house, you need to renounce Satan, who lies in wait for a person beyond the threshold with his temptations. Say: “Depart, enemy, with your pride and squander in the name of our Lord. Amen. Amen. Amen".

How to pray to God to hear

Those who wish to convey their requests to the heavenly Master should remember the prayer rule of the famous Saint Seraphim of Sarov. According to him, in the morning you need to wash yourself, cross yourself and say “Our Father” three times, a prayer to the Virgin and the Creed.

In the event that a person cannot remember a church text, Orthodoxy does not forbid praying in his own words. As they say in the message of St. Seraphim, if the words come from a pure heart, then they will certainly be heard. Especially if before that a person asked for health for all his loved ones, benefactors and even enemies.

Correct prayers for children

Exists a large number of prayer rules which are intended for different people. They vary depending on who is praying - a clergyman, a monk, an ordinary person, a man, a woman or a child.

In the event that parents pray for their children, they must observe the main rule - to repent of their sinful deeds, and only then proceed to ask for mercy for their children. famous expression, "the sins of the fathers fall on the children to the seventh generation" requires parents to try to take care of their spiritual perfection. Therefore, you first need to repent of the past and then, with pure thoughts, ask the Lord to send the child health, the ability to understand book wisdom, obedience, etc. It would also be appropriate to ask the Mother of God for intercession and read the appropriate prayer. Good luck and don't forget to press the buttons and

22.07.2015 09:15

Everyone wants to cleanse their house of negativity and protect themselves from illnesses and troubles in order to say with confidence: “my house is mine ...

How to prepare yourself for going to the temple. The temple is the house of God, heaven on earth, the place where the greatest Sacraments are performed. Therefore, it is necessary to always prepare for the acceptance of shrines, so that the Lord does not condemn us for negligence in communicating with the Great. Some retreats are possible with weakness, with the obligatory reproach of oneself.
Clothes, has great importance, the apostle Paul mentions this, commanding women to cover their heads without fail. He notes that a woman's covered head is a positive sign for angels, for it is a sign of modesty. It is not good to visit the temple in a short, bright skirt, in a defiantly open dress or in a tracksuit. Everything that forces others to pay attention to you and distracts from service and prayer is considered bad. A woman in trousers, in a temple, is also an unacceptable phenomenon. In the Bible, there is still an Old Testament prohibition for women to dress in men's clothing, and for men - in the feminine. Respect the feelings of believers, even if this is YOUR first visit to the temple.

In the morning, getting up from your bed, thank our Lord, who gave us the opportunity to spend the night in peace and extended our days for repentance. Slowly wash yourself, stand in front of the icon, light a lamp (necessarily from a candle), to give a prayerful spirit, bring your thoughts into silence and order, forgive everyone and only then start reading morning prayers from the prayer book. If you have time, read one chapter from the Gospel, one of the Acts of the Apostles, one kathisma from the Psalter, or one psalm. At the same time, it must be remembered that it is always better to read one prayer, with sincere feeling, than all prayers, with obsessive thought to complete as soon as possible. Before you leave, say a prayer - “I deny you, Satan, your pride and your service, and unite with You, Christ our God, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen". Then, cross yourself and calmly walk to the temple. On the street, cross the road in front of you, with a prayer: "Lord, bless my ways and save me from all evil." On the way to the temple, read a prayer to yourself: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."

* Rules for entering the temple.
Before entering the temple, cross yourself, bow three times, looking at the image of the Savior, and say to the first bow: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." second bow: "God, cleanse my sins and have mercy on me."
To the third: "I have sinned without number, Lord, forgive me."
Then, having done the same, having entered the doors of the temple, bow to both sides, say to yourself: "Forgive me, brothers and sisters."
* In the temple, it is correct to kiss the icons, as follows:
Kissing the holy icon of the Savior - you should kiss your feet,
Mother of God and the Saints - a hand,
and the miraculous image of the Savior and the head of St. John the Baptist - in sackcloths.
And remember!!! If you came to the service, then the Service must be defended from beginning to end. Service is not a duty, but a sacrifice to God.
NOTE: - if you do not have the strength to stand the whole service, then you can sit, because as St. Philaret of Moscow said: “It is better to think about God while sitting than about standing legs.”
However, while reading the Gospel it is necessary to stand!!!

HOW TO BE BAPTIZED CORRECTLY.
The sign of the cross is performed in the following way.
We fold our fingers right hand: large, index and middle - together (pinch), ring and little fingers - bending together, press to the palm of your hand.

Three folded fingers mean our faith in God, worshiped in the Trinity, and two fingers - faith in Jesus Christ as true God and true Man. Then, with the tips of three folded fingers, we touch the forehead to sanctify our thoughts; belly to sanctify our body; right and left shoulder to sanctify the works of our hands. Thus we depict the cross on ourselves.

After that we make a bow. Bows are waist and earth. The waist bow consists in tilting the upper body forward after making the sign of the cross. When bowing to the ground, the believer kneels, bending down, touches the floor with his forehead and then gets up.

Regarding what kind of bows and when to make, there are certain extensive church rules. For example, prostrations are not performed during the period from the Easter holiday to the day of the Holy Trinity, as well as on Sundays and on the days of great holidays.

To be baptized without prostrations: 1. In the middle of the Six Psalms on "Alleluia" three times.
2. At the beginning, "I believe."
3. On leave "Christ, our true God."
4. At the beginning of the reading of the Holy Scriptures: the Gospel, the Apostle and proverbs.

Baptized with a bow:
1. At the entrance to the temple and at the exit from it - three times.
2. At each petition of the litany, after the singing of “Lord, have mercy,” “Give, Lord,” “Thee, Lord.”
3. At the exclamation of the priest, giving glory to the Holy Trinity.
4. At the exclamations “Take, eat”, “Drink everything from her”, “Yours from Yours”.
5. At the words "Most honorable Cherub."
6. At each word “bow down”, “worship”, “fall down”.
7. During the words “Alleluia”, “Holy God” and “Come, let us worship” and with the exclamation “Glory to Thee, Christ God”, before the dismissal - three times.
8. On the canon on the 1st and 9th odes at the first invocation to the Lord, the Mother of God or the saints.
9. After each stichera (moreover, the kliros that finishes singing is baptized).
10. On the lithium after each of the first three petitions of the litany - 3 bows, after the other two - one each.

Baptized with a bow to the ground:
1. Fasting at the entrance to the temple and at the exit from it - 3 times.
2. In fasting after each chorus to the song of the Theotokos "We magnify you."
3. At the beginning of the singing "It is worthy and righteous to eat."
4. After "We'll sing to you."
5. After "It is worthy to eat" or Zadostoynik.
6. At the exclamation: "And vouchsafe us, Lord."
7. When taking out the Holy Gifts, at the words "Come with the fear of God and faith", and the second time - at the words "Always, now and forever."
8. In great post, at Great Compline, while singing "Most Holy Lady" - on every verse; while singing "Our Lady of the Virgin, rejoice" and so on. Three prostrations are performed at Lenten Vespers.
9. In fasting, while praying "Lord and Master of my life."
10. In fasting at the final chant: "Remember me, Lord, when you come into Your Kingdom." Only 3 earthly bows.

Belt bow without the sign of the cross
1. At the words of the priest "Peace to all"
2. "God bless you"
3. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ",
4. "And let there be mercies of the Great God" and
5. At the words of the deacon, “And forever and ever” (after the exclamation of the priest “For thou art holy, our God” before the singing of the Trisagion).

You are not supposed to be baptized.
1. During the psalms.
2. Generally while singing.
3. During litanies, to that kliros who sings the litanian refrains
4. You need to be baptized and bow down at the end of the singing, and not at all at the last words.

Prostrations are not allowed.
On Sundays, on the days from the Nativity of Christ to Baptism, from Easter to Pentecost, on the feast of the Transfiguration and Exaltation (on this day there are three earthly bows to the Cross). Bows stop from the evening entrance before the feast to “Vouchify, Lord” at Vespers on the very day of the feast.

ICONS IN THE HOUSE
Savior Not Made by Hands

Icon is a Greek word and is translated as “image”. Holy Scripture says that Jesus Christ himself was the first to give people His visible image.
Ruled during the earthly life of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the Syrian city of Edessa, King Abgar was seriously ill with leprosy. Having learned that in Palestine, there is a great "prophet and miracle worker" Jesus, who teaches about the Kingdom of God and heals any diseases in people, Abgar believed in Him, and sent his court painter Ananias to give Jesus the letter of Abgar, asking for healing and repentance. In addition, he ordered the painter to paint a portrait of Jesus. But the artist failed to make a portrait, "because of the shining brilliance of His face." To help him, the Lord himself came. He took a piece of fabric and applied it to His Divine face, which is why His divine image was imprinted on the fabric by the power of grace. Having received this Holy Icon, the first icon created by the Lord Himself, Abgar venerated it with faith and received healing for his faith.
This miraculous image was given the name - *Savior Not Made by Hands*.

The purpose of the icon
The main purpose of the icon is to help people rise above worldly fuss, to assist in prayer. “An icon is an embodied prayer. It is created in prayer and for the sake of prayer, the driving force of which is love for God, striving for Him as perfect Beauty.
The icon is called upon to awaken in the future before it the spiritual need to pray, to bow down to God in repentance, to seek consolation in sorrows and prayers.

What icons should be in the house of an Orthodox Christian
At home, it is imperative to have icons of the Savior and the Mother of God. From the images of the Savior, for home prayer, they usually choose a half-length image of the Lord Almighty. characteristic feature This iconographic type is the image of the Lord with a blessing hand and an open or closed book. Also, often for the home they acquire the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands.
The icon of the Mother of God is most often chosen from the following iconographic types:
"Tenderness" ("Eleusa") - Vladimirskaya, Donskaya, Pochaevskaya, Feodorovskaya, Tolgskaya, "Recovery of the dead" and others;
"Guidebook" ("Hodegetria") - Kazan, Tikhvin, "Skoroposlushnitsa", Iverskaya, Georgian, "Three Hands", etc.
Usually in Russia it is customary to place in each home iconostasis an icon of St. Nicholas, Bishop of the World of Lycia (Nikola the Pleasant). Of the Russian saints, images are most often found St. Sergius Radonezhsky and Seraphim of Sarov; of the icons of the martyrs, the icons of George the Victorious and the healer Panteleimon are very often placed. If space permits, it is desirable to have images of the holy Evangelists, St. John the Baptist, the archangels Gabriel and Michael.
If desired, you can add icons of patrons. For example: The patrons of the family. - Holy noble Prince Peter (in monasticism David) and Princess Fevronia
Saints Peter and Fevronia are a model of Christian marriage. With their prayers, they bring down the heavenly blessing on those who are getting married.
- the holy martyrs and confessors Guriy, Samon and Aviv - are known among Orthodox Christians as the patrons of matrimony, marriage, a happy family; they are prayed “if a husband innocently hates his wife” - they are the intercessors of a woman in a difficult marriage. PATRON OF CHILDREN. Holy Infant Martyr Gabriel of Bialystok

How to Pray RIGHT. Prayers are read certain RULES. The rule is the order of reading prayers, fixed by the Church, their composition and sequence. There are: morning, afternoon and evening rule, the rule for Holy Communion.
Each of the rules has almost the same beginning - the initial prayers:

“In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

King of Heaven...
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (thrice).
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Holy Trinity, have mercy on us...
Lord, have mercy ... (three times).
Glory to the Father and to the Son...
Our Father …"
these opening prayers are followed by the rest.

If you are limited in time, then use the prayer Rule of Seraphim of Sarov:
After sleeping, having washed, first of all, you need to stand in front of the icons and, reverently crossing yourself, read the Lord's Prayer *Our Father* three times. Then three times * Mother of God Virgin, rejoice * and, finally, the Creed.

Is it possible to pray in your own words? Yes, but within certain restrictions.
The Church does not forbid praying in your own words. Moreover, she points to this and prescribes, say, in the morning rule: “Briefly offer a prayer for the salvation of your spiritual father, your parents, relatives, bosses, benefactors, known to you, sick or in sorrow.” Thus, we can tell the Lord in our own words about what concerns our acquaintances or ourselves personally, about what was not said in the prayers placed in the prayer book.
However, without reaching spiritual perfection, praying with the words that come to mind, even if they come from the depths of the soul, we can only remain at our level of spirituality. By joining the prayers of the saints, trying to delve into their words, each time we become a little higher and better spiritually.
The Lord Himself has given us an example of how to pray. The prayer left by Him to His disciples is called the Lord's. It exists in all prayer books and is part of church services. This is a prayer - *Our Father*.

The Lord's Prayer (given to us by Jesus Christ)
Our Father, who art in heaven! Yes, shine your name yes come Your kingdom,
May Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us our daily bread for this day;
and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors;
and do not let us fall into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
**********

SYMBOL OF FAITH:
I believe in one God the Father, the Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, everything visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, begotten from the Father before the beginning of time; Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, through whom all things were created.
For us for the sake of people and for our sake of salvation, he descended from heaven and was incarnated from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became a man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and rose again on the third day, as the Scriptures foretold. And ascended into heaven and reigns with the Father. And coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead, His kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, who proceeds from the Father, with the Father and the Son equally worshiped and glorified, who spoke through 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.
Symbol of faith - summary fundamentals Orthodox faith compiled at the I and II Ecumenical Councils in the IV century; recited in the morning as a daily prayer.

PSALM 50.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of Thy mercies, cleanse my iniquities. Wash me from all my iniquities, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my iniquities, and my sin is always before me. I have sinned against You alone, and I have done evil before You, so that You are right in Your judgment and just in Your judgment. From my very birth I am guilty before You; I am a sinner from my conception in my mother's womb. But You love the sincere in heart and reveal to them the secrets of wisdom. Sprinkle me with hyssop and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Return joy and gladness to my soul, and my bones, broken by Thee, will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and cleanse all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Give me back the joy of Thy salvation, and by Thy Sovereign Spirit confirm me. I will teach the transgressors Your ways, and the wicked will turn to You. Deliver me from premature death, O God, God my salvation, and my tongue will praise Your righteousness. God! Open my mouth, and my mouth will proclaim Your praise. For you do not desire sacrifice—I would give it—and you do not delight in burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit; God will not despise the heart of the contrite and humble. Renew Zion, O God, by Thy mercy; raise up the walls of Jerusalem. Then righteous sacrifices will please Thee; then they will offer sacrifices to you on your altar.

* Song of the Most Holy Theotokos:
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.

* Prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos:
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! Raise us, servant of God (names), from the depths of sin and deliver us from sudden death and from all evil. Grant, Madam, peace and health to us and enlighten our minds and eyes of the heart, even to salvation, and vouchsafe us, Thy sinful servants, the Kingdom of Thy Son, Christ our God: for His power is blessed with the Father and His Most Holy Spirit.

*A simpler prayer -
Most Holy Mother of God, pray to Your Son and God for the revelation of my mind and for the blessing of my undertakings, and for sending down help from above in my affairs, and forgiving my sins, and for receiving eternal blessings. Amen.

PRAYERS BEFORE EATING AND AFTER EATING FOOD
Blessing food or thanksgiving prayer, pronounced before the start of the meal.
Prayer can be read sitting or standing. But, if there are people professing a different faith, then it is better not to say the prayer out loud!
Prayer, in content, can be short or lengthy. The three options below for prayers before a meal are the most common, as they are the most concise:

1. Lord, bless us and these Thy gifts, which we partake of bounty
yours. In the name of Christ our Lord, amen.

2. Bless, Lord, this food so that it goes for our good and gives
strength to serve You and help those who need it. Amen.

3. Let us thank the Lord for the meal that is given to us. Amen.

We present you other options for prayers before meals:

1. Our Father ... Or: The eyes of all are turned to You, Lord, and You give food to everyone at the right time,
you open your generous hand and satisfy all living things.

2. We thank You, Christ our God, for You have satisfied us with Your earthly blessings. Don't deprive us
Your Heavenly Kingdom, but as you once came to Your disciples, granting them peace, come to us and save us.

Often, believers, before and after eating, simply read three prayers: “Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen". "Lord, have mercy" (three times). “Through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Amen".

And, if you want to have a snack with an apple or a sandwich, for example, then the clergy recommend simply to cross yourself or cross what you eat!

PRAYERS FOR THE COMING DREAM:
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother, our reverend and God-bearing fathers and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
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.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Three times)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
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.
Lord have mercy. (Three times)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
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.

* Prayer of St. Macarius the Great, to God the Father
Eternal God and the King of every creature, having made me sing even at this hour, forgive me the sins that I have done in this day by deed, word and thought, and cleanse, Lord, my humble soul from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. And give me, Lord, in this night's sleep to pass away in peace, but having risen from my humble bed, I will please your most holy name, all the days of my stomach, and I will stop the enemies of the flesh and fleshless who fight me. And deliver me, O Lord, from vain thoughts that defile me, and from evil lusts. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

* Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Lord, the King of Heaven, the Comforter, the Soul of truth, have mercy and have mercy on me, Your sinful servant, and let me go unworthy, and forgive all, the tree You have sinned today as a man, more so, and not as a man, but also more woefully than cattle, my free sins and involuntary, known and unknown: even from youth and science are evil, and even from impudence and despondency. If I swear by Your name, or blaspheme in my thoughts; or whom I reproach; or I slandered whom with my anger, or grieved, or about what I became angry; or lied, or was worthless, or came to me poor, and despised him; or my brother grieved, or married, or whom I condemned; or you become proud, or you become proud, or you become angry; or standing by me in prayer, my mind moving about the wickedness of this world, or the corruption of thoughts; or overeat, or drunk, or laughing madly; or a crafty thought, or seeing a strange kindness, and by that wounded by the heart; or unlike the verbs, or the sin of my brother laughed, but my essence is countless sins; or about prayer, not radih, or otherwise that crafty deeds, I don’t remember, that’s all and more than these deeds. Have mercy on me, my Creator, Lord, dejected and unworthy of Your servant, and leave me, and let go, and forgive me, as Good and Lover of mankind, but I will lie down in peace, sleep and rest, prodigal, sinful and accursed, I will worship and sing And I will glorify Your honorable name, with the Father and His Only Begotten Son, now and forever and forever. Amen.

*Prayer
Lord our God, if I have sinned in these days in word, deed and thought, forgive me as Good and Lover of mankind. Peaceful sleep and serene grant me. Send your guardian angel, covering and keeping me from all evil, as if you are the guardian of our souls and our bodies, and we send glory to you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.

* Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for the sake of Your most honest Mother, and Your bodiless Angels, Your Prophet and Forerunner and Your Baptist, the apostles of God, the bright and victorious martyrs, the reverend and God-bearing father, and all the saints with prayers, deliver me from the present demonic condition. Hey, my Lord and Creator, do not want the death of a sinner, but as if to turn and live to be him, give me the conversion of the accursed and unworthy; deliver me from the mouth of the destructive serpent that gapes, devour me and bring me down to hell alive. Hey, my Lord, my consolation, Even for the sake of the accursed in corruptible flesh, throw me out of wretchedness, and give consolation to my wretched soul. Plant in my heart to do Thy commandments, and leave evil deeds, and receive Thy blessedness: in Thee, O Lord, trust, save me.

* Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos
Good Tsar, good Mother, Most Pure and Blessed Mother of God Mary, pour out the mercy of Your Son and our God on my passionate soul and with Your prayers instruct me in good deeds, so that the rest of my life will pass without a blemish and I will find paradise with You, Virgin Mary, one Pure and Blessed.

* Prayer to the Holy Guardian Angel
Angel of Christ, my holy guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me all, the fir-tree of sinning today, and deliver me from all the wickedness of the enemy, but in no sin will I anger my God; but pray for me a sinful and unworthy slave, as if I were worthy, show the goodness and mercy of the All-Holy Trinity and the Mother of my Lord Jesus Christ and all the saints. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Life-Giving Cross:
Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee from His face. 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 in joy they say: Rejoice, Most Honorable and Life-Giving Cross Lord, drive away the demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, crucified on you, who descended into hell and corrected the strength 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 Lady Virgin Mother of God and with all the saints forever. Amen.
Or briefly:
Protect me, Lord, by the power of Your Honorable and Life-Giving Cross, and save me from all evil.

*Prayer
Weaken, leave, forgive, God, our sins, free and involuntary, even in word and in deed, even in knowledge and not in knowledge, even in days and nights, even in mind and in thought: forgive us all, as Good and Humanitarian.
*Prayer
Forgive those who hate and offend us, Lord, Lover of mankind. Bless those who do good. Grant to our brethren and relatives even for the salvation of petitions and eternal life. In the infirmities of the being, visit and grant healing. Izhe govern the sea. Travel travel. Grant forgiveness to those who serve and pardon us of sins. Those who have commanded us unworthy to pray for them, have mercy according to Your great mercy. Remember, Lord, before our departed father and brothers, and give them rest, where the light of Thy face dwells. Remember, Lord, our captive brothers and deliver me from every situation. Remember, Lord, those who bear fruit and do good in Your holy churches, and grant them even salvation, petitions and eternal life. Remember, Lord, also us, the humble and sinful and unworthy servants of Thy, and enlighten our minds with the light of Thy mind, and guide us on the path of Thy commandments, with the prayers of our Most Pure Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary and all Thy saints: blessed be Thou forever and ever . Amen.

*Confession of sins DAILY:
I confess to you the Lord my God and Creator, in Holy Trinity To the one, glorified and worshiped, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, all my sins, even if I have done all the days of my stomach, and for every hour, and now, and in the past days and nights, deed, word, thought, overeating, drunkenness, secret eating, idle talk, despondency, laziness, slander, disobedience, slander, condemnation, negligence, self-love, acquisitiveness, theft, ill-spokenness, foul profit, mischief, jealousy, envy, anger, memory-malice, hatred, covetousness and all my feelings: sight, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching and my other sins, spiritual and bodily together, in the image of you my God and the Creator of anger, and my neighbor untrue: regretting these, I am guilty of myself to you my God, and I have the will to repent: tochi, Lord God my, help me, with tears I humbly pray to Thee: forgive me, who has passed my sins by Thy mercy, and resolve from all these, even I have spoken before Thee, as Good and Humanitarian.

When you go to sleep, be sure to say:

* In Your hands, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, I commit my spirit: You bless me, You have mercy on me and grant me eternal life. Amen.*

God bless and save you!!!

Rules of prayer and words of prayer.

Today there are no people in the world who would not know the meaning of the word "prayer". For some, these are just words, but for someone much more, it is a conversation with God, an opportunity to thank Him, ask for help or protection in righteous deeds. But do you know how to correctly address prayer to God and the saints in different places? Today we will talk about just that.

How to pray at home, in church, in front of an icon, relics, so that God hears us and helps us: Orthodox church rules

Each of us at least once in our lives prayed to God - maybe it was in church, or maybe the prayer was a request for help in difficult situation and was expressed in her own words. Even the most persistent and strong personalities sometimes turn to God. And in order for this appeal to be heard, one should adhere to the Orthodox church rules, which will be discussed later.

So, the first question that worries everyone is: “How to pray at home?”. It is possible and even necessary to pray at home, but there are prescribed church rules that should be followed:

1. Preparation for prayer:

• Before prayer, you should wash, comb and dress in clean clothes.
• Approach the icon with reverence, without loosening and waving your arms
• Stand straight, lean on both legs at the same time, do not shift, do not stretch your arms and legs (stand almost still), prayer on your knees is allowed
• It is necessary to mentally and morally tune in to prayer, drive away all distracting thoughts, focus only on what you are going to do and why

• If you do not know the prayer by heart, you can read it from the prayer book
• If you have never prayed at home before, just read the “Our Father” and you can then ask/thank God for something in your own words
• It is better to read the prayer aloud and slowly, with reverence, passing each word “through” yourself
• If during the reading of the prayer you are distracted by some suddenly appeared thoughts, ideas or desires to do something right at that moment, you should not interrupt the prayer, try to drive away thoughts and focus on prayer
• And, of course, before saying a prayer, after its completion, if necessary, then during its reading, you should definitely make the sign of the cross

1. Completion of prayer at home:

• After you pray, you can do absolutely any business - be it cooking, cleaning, or receiving guests.
• Usually at home they read morning and evening prayers, as well as prayers before and after meals. Prayers are allowed at home and in “emergency situations”, when one overcomes fear for relatives and friends or has serious illnesses.
• If you don’t have icons at home, you can pray in front of a window facing the east side or in any place convenient for you, presenting the image of the one to whom the prayer is addressed.

Prayer at home or in church

The next important question is: “How to pray in church?”:

• There are two types of prayers in the church - collective (general) and individual (independent)
• Church (general) prayers are performed simultaneously by groups of acquaintances and strangers under the guidance of a father or priest. He reads a prayer, and all those present listen attentively to it and repeat it mentally. It is believed that such prayers are stronger than single ones - when one is distracted, the rest will continue the prayer and the distracted one can easily join it, again becoming part of the stream.
• Individual (single) prayers are performed by parishioners during the absence of services. In such cases, the worshiper chooses an icon and places a candle in front of it. Then you should read "Our Father" and a prayer to the one whose image is on the icon. Prayer out loud is not allowed in the church full voice. You can only pray in a quiet whisper or mentally.

The church is not allowed:

• Individual prayer out loud
• Prayer with your back to the iconostasis
• Seated Prayer (except in cases of extreme fatigue, disability, or a serious illness that makes it impossible for a person to stand)

It is worth noting that in prayer in church, as in prayer at home, it is customary to make the sign of the cross before and after prayer. In addition, when visiting a church, the sign of the cross is made before entering the church and after leaving it.

Prayer before the icon. You can pray before the icon both at home and in church. The main rule is the conversion rule - a prayer is said to the saint in front of whose icon you are standing. This rule cannot be broken. If you do not know where the icon you need is located in the church, you can check with the ministers and nuns.

Prayers to the relics. In some churches there are the relics of saints, they can be venerated on any day through special glass sarcophagi, and on major holidays it is allowed to venerate the relics themselves. In addition, it is believed that the relics of saints are very powerful, so it is customary to turn to them for help in prayers.

It is no secret that few people managed to venerate the relics and read the prayer in full, because, as usual, the queue creates a huge onslaught on the one who is in front of the relics. Therefore, it is customary to do this:

• First, a candle is lit in the church and they pray in front of the icon of the saint whose relics they want to venerate
• They go to venerate the relics, and at the very moment of the veneration they express their request or gratitude in a few words. This is done in a whisper or mentally.

The application to the relics is considered one of the most ancient rituals in Christianity and is of great importance for true believers.

What basic prayers should an Orthodox Christian know and read?

As we mentioned earlier, in prayers a person can ask for help, give thanks for help, ask for forgiveness or praise the Lord. It is on this principle (by appointment) that prayers are classified:

• Prayers of praise are prayers in which people praise God, while not asking for anything for themselves. These prayers include praises
• Thanksgiving prayers are prayers in which people thank God for help in business, for protection in important matters that have been
• Prayers of petition are prayers in which people ask for help in worldly affairs, ask for protection for themselves and loved ones, ask for a speedy recovery, etc.
• Prayers of repentance are prayers in which people repent of their deeds, spoken words

It is believed that every Orthodox Christian should always remember the words of 5 prayers:

• Our Father - The Lord's Prayer
• "King of heaven" - a prayer to the Holy Spirit
• “Virgin Mary, rejoice” - a prayer of the Mother of God
• “It is worthy to eat” - the prayer of the Mother of God

Prayer "Our Father": words

It is believed that Jesus Christ himself read this prayer, and then passed it on to his disciples. "Our Father" is a "universal" prayer - it can be read in all cases. Usually, home prayers, appeals to God begin with it, and they ask for help and protection with it.

This is the first prayer that children should learn. Usually, "Our Father" is familiar from childhood, and almost everyone can reproduce it by heart. Such a prayer can be read mentally for your protection in dangerous situations, it is also read over sick and small children so that they sleep well.

Prayer "Alive in help": words

One of the strongest prayers considered "Alive in help". According to legend, it was written by King David, it is very old, and therefore strong. This is a prayer-amulet and a prayer-helper. It protects against attacks, injuries, disasters, evil spirits and her influence. In addition, they recommend reading “Alive in Help” to those who go on an important business - in long way, for an exam, before moving to a new location.

Alive in help

It is believed that if you sew a piece of paper with the words of this prayer into the belt of your clothes (or better, embroider them on your belt at all), then the person who wears such an outfit will be lucky.

Prayer "Symbol of Faith": words

Surprisingly, the Creed prayer is not actually a prayer. This fact is recognized by the church, but nevertheless the “Symbol of Faith” is always included in the prayer book. Why?

Symbol of faith

At its core, this prayer is a collection of dogmas Christian faith. They must be read at evening and morning prayers and also sing as part of the Liturgy of the Faithful. In addition, while reading the “Creed”, Christians repeat the truth of their faith over and over again.

Prayer for neighbors: words

It often happens that our relatives, relatives or friends need help. In this case, you can read the Jesus Prayer for your neighbors.

• In addition, if a person is baptized, you can pray for him in a home prayer, pray in church and light candles for health, order health notes about him, in special cases (when a person really needs help) you can order a magpie for health.
• It is customary to pray for baptized relatives, relatives and friends in the morning prayer rule, at the very end of it.
• Please note: for unbaptized people, you can’t put candles in the church, you can’t order notes and magpies about health. If a unbaptized person needs help, you can pray for him in your home prayer in your own words, without lighting a candle.

Prayer for the Dead: Words

There are events that are beyond anyone's control. One such event is death. It brings grief, sadness and tears to the family, where a person passes away. All those around mourn and sincerely wish the deceased to go to Paradise. It is in such cases that prayers for the dead are used. Such prayers can be read:

1. At home
2. In the church:

• Order a memorial service
• Submit a note for commemoration at the liturgy
• Order magpie for the repose of the soul of the deceased

It is believed that after the death of a person, the Last Judgment awaits, at which they will ask about all his sins. The deceased himself will no longer be able to alleviate his suffering and his fate at the Last Judgment. But his relatives and friends can pray for him, distribute alms, order magpies. All this helps the soul to go to Paradise.

IMPORTANT: In no case should you pray, light candles for the repose of the soul and order magpies for a person who has committed suicide. In addition, this should not be done for the unbaptized.

Prayer for enemies: words

Each of us has enemies. Whether we like it or not, there are people who envy us, who do not like us because of their faith, personal qualities or actions. What to do in such a situation and how to protect yourself from negative impact?

• That's right, pick up a prayer for the enemy and read it. Usually this is enough for a person to cool off towards you and stop taking any negative actions, speaking out, etc.
• There are sections in prayer books devoted to this very issue. But there are times when one home prayer is not enough.

If you know that a person treats you negatively and constantly creates problems for you on this basis, then you should go to church.

The church needs to do the following:

• Pray for the health of your enemy
• Light a candle for his health
• AT difficult cases you can order this person a magpie for health (but only on condition that you know for sure that the enemy is baptized)

In addition, each time you pray for your enemy, ask the Lord for patience for yourself to endure this.

Family prayer: words

Believing Christians believe that the family is an extension of the church. That is why in many families it is customary to pray together.

• In houses where families pray, there is a so-called "red corner" where icons are placed. Usually a room is chosen for him in which everyone can fit in for prayer in such a way as to see the icons. Icons, in turn, are placed in the eastern corner of the room. As usual, the father of the family reads the prayer, the rest mentally repeat it.
• If there is no such corner in the house, it's okay. Family prayer can be said together before meals or after meals.

• All family members participate in family prayer, except for the smallest children. Older children are allowed to repeat the words of the prayer after their father
• Family prayers are very strong amulet for the family. In such prayers, you can ask for the whole family at once or for one person. In families where it is customary to pray together, real Christians grow up who are able to pass on their faith to children.
• In addition, there are cases when such prayers helped the sick to recover, and couples, which long time it is not possible to have children, to find the happiness of parenthood.

Is it possible and how to pray in your own words?

As we said earlier, you can pray in your own words. But this does not mean that you just went to church, light a candle and asked or thanked God for something. No.

There are also rules for praying in your own words:

• You can pray in your own words in the morning and evening rules between prayers
• Before praying in your own words, you should read "Our Father"
• Prayer in your own words still provides for the sign of the cross
• Only in their own words they pray for the unbaptized and people of a different faith (only in cases of emergency)
• In your own words, you can pray in home prayers and in church, while you should adhere to the rules
• You can’t pray in your own words, just like saying an ordinary prayer, and at the same time asking for punishment for someone

Is it possible to read prayers in modern Russian?

Opinions differ on this point. Some clergymen say that prayers should be read only in the church language, others - that there is no difference. Usually a person turns to God in a language he understands, asks for something that is understandable to him. Therefore, if you have not learned “Our Father” in the church language or are addressing the saints in your own language that you understand, there is nothing to worry about. No wonder they say - "God understands every language."

Is it possible to read prayers during menstruation?

In the Middle Ages, girls and women during menstruation were forbidden to attend church. But the origins of this question have their own history, which confirms the opinion of many - during menstruation, you can pray and go to church.

Today, attending church and praying at home in front of icons during menstruation is allowed. But when visiting a church, there are still some restrictions:

• Communion is not allowed during this period.
• You can not venerate relics, icons and the altar cross, which is given by the priest
• It is forbidden to use prosphora and holy water

In addition, if a girl feels unwell during this special period, it is still better to refuse to attend church.

Is it possible to read prayers from a computer, phone in electronic form?

Modern technology breaks into all spheres of life, and religion is no exception. Reading prayers from the screens of electronic media is possible, but not desirable. If you have no other choice, you can read it once from the screen of your tablet/phone/monitor. After all, the main thing in prayer is not the source of texts, but the spiritual mood. But be aware that it is not accepted to read prayers in churches from the phone. You may be reprimanded by ministers or nuns.

Is it possible to read a prayer on a piece of paper?

• If you pray at home or in church and still do not know the text of the prayer very well
• If you are in a church, then the “cheat sheet” should be on a clean sheet, you should not rustle it or crumple it. According to generally accepted rules, in the church it is allowed to read a prayer from a prayer book

Is it possible to read prayers in transport?

You can pray in public transport. It is advisable to do this while standing, but if it is not possible to get up (for example, the transport is full), reading prayers while sitting is allowed.

Is it possible to read a prayer to yourself, in a whisper?

Prayers are read aloud on rare occasions, therefore it is quite normal to perform a prayer in a whisper or mentally. In addition, it is not customary to even whisper at a common (church) prayer. You listen to the prayer that the priest reads, you can mentally repeat the words, but in no case out loud. Family prayers or independent home prayers are read aloud when you are praying alone.

Is it possible to read prayers after eating?

Orthodox Christians have a good family tradition - prayers before and after meals.

• It is permissible to say a prayer after eating only if you said a prayer before eating
• In the prayer books there are special prayers before and after meals. Their reading is allowed both sitting and standing.
• Parents baptize small children during prayers. Before the end of the prayer, it is forbidden to start eating

The ritual itself can take place in several ways:

• Someone reads a prayer, the rest mentally repeat it
• All together read aloud a prayer
• Everyone mentally reads a prayer and is baptized

Is it possible to read prayers while sitting at home?

There are several ways to pray at home, we discussed them above. According to the rules, you can only pray standing on your feet or on your knees. In a sitting position, it is allowed to pray at home in several cases:

• A disability or illness that prevents a person from praying standing up. Bedridden patients are allowed to pray in any position that is convenient for them.
• Extreme fatigue or exhaustion
• Sitting, you can pray at the table before and after meals

Is it possible to read a prayer at home only in the morning or only in the evening?

Reading prayers in the morning and evening is called the morning and evening rules. Of course, you can pray only in the evening or only in the morning, but if possible, it is better to do this both in the morning and in the evening. Also, if you feel the need to pray but don't have a prayer book, read the Lord's Prayer 3 times.

Is it permissible for a Muslim to read the Lord's Prayer?

The Orthodox Church does not encourage such experiments in faith. Most often, priests answer this question with a resounding “no.” But there are also such priests who are trying to get to the bottom of the problem - and if the need to read the Our Father prayer comes from the depths of the soul of a Muslim or Muslim woman, then in rare cases they give permission to read this particular prayer.

Is it possible to read the prayer of detention for pregnant women?

Prayer for detention is considered very a powerful amulet, but at the same time, not all clergy recognize it as a prayer. Usually it is read at home in front of a lit candle.

According to most priests, pregnant women should not read this prayer. If pregnant women have a need or they are worried about the health of their baby, they are recommended to read special prayers for bearing a child, about healthy child and about the preservation of the child to Mother Matrona.

Is it possible to read several prayers in a row?

Several prayers in a row are allowed to be read in the morning and evening rule and also to those people who feel the need for it. If you are just taking the first steps towards God, it is better to turn to him with one prayer in full concentration than with a dozen prayers with porridge in your head. It is also permissible, after reading the Our Father, to pray in your own words, ask or thank God for protection and help.

Can lay people read the Jesus Prayer?

There is an opinion that the Jesus Prayer cannot be said to the laity. The ban on the words “Lord Jesus Christ, the Blue of God, have mercy on me, a sinner” for the laity existed for a long time for one reason only - monks turned to God with such a prayer, and lay people often heard this appeal in church language, they did not understand it and could not repeat it . So there was an imaginary ban on this prayer. In fact, every Christian can say this prayer, it heals and clears the mind. You can repeat it 3 times in a row or using the rosary method.

Is it possible to read prayers not in front of the icon?

It is not possible to pray in front of an icon. The Church does not forbid saying prayers at the table (prayers before and after meals), prayers for protection and intercession in critical situations, prayers for recovery and healing can also be read over the sick. Indeed, in prayer, the main thing is not the presence of an icon in front of the person praying, the main thing is the mental attitude and readiness for prayer.

Is it possible for pregnant women to read a prayer for the dead?

Today it is not considered a sin for a pregnant woman to attend church. It is also not forbidden to order a magpie about the health of yourself, your relatives and loved ones. You can submit notes about the repose of the souls of deceased relatives.

But in most cases, priests still do not recommend pregnant women to read prayers for the dead. This is especially true for the first 40 days after the death of close relatives. In addition, pregnant women are prohibited from ordering a magpie for the repose of acquaintances or friends.

Is it possible to read a prayer to an unbaptized person?

If an unbaptized person is drawn to Orthodoxy, he can read Orthodox prayers. In addition, the church will recommend him to read the Gospel and think about further baptism.

Is it possible to read prayers without a candle?

The presence of a candle when reading a prayer is desirable and pious, but its presence is not a prerequisite for prayer. Since there are moments of urgent need for prayer, and there is no candle at hand, prayer without it is allowed.

As you can see, there are rules for reading prayers, but for the most part they are optional. Remember, when saying a prayer, the most important thing is not the place, and not the way, but your mental attitude and sincerity.

Video: How to read morning and evening prayers?