What time should prayers be read? Prayer rule morning and evening

So a prayer for Orthodox Christian It is a conversation, fellowship with God. Turning to the Lord in prayer is the need of the soul of a believer; it is not for nothing that the holy fathers called prayer the breath of the soul.

In fulfilling the daily rule of prayer, two things must be remembered.

First . That is why daily prayer is called rule, which is mandatory. Every Orthodox Christian prays in the morning and before bedtime; he prays and before eating, a after meal thanks God. Christians pray before starting any business(work, study, etc.) and upon completion. Before starting work, a prayer is read "To the King of Heaven ..." or special prayers at the beginning of every business. At the end of the case, the prayer to the Mother of God “It is worthy to eat” is usually read. All these prayers are contained in the Orthodox Prayer Book.

So in prayer life must be regularity and discipline. The daily prayer rule cannot be skipped and pray only when you want and there is a mood. A Christian is a warrior of Christ, in baptism he takes an oath of allegiance to the Lord. The life of every warrior, soldier is called service. It is built according to a special order and charter. And an Orthodox person also carries out his service, performing a prayer rule. This service to God takes place according to the statutes of the Church.

Second , which should be remembered when fulfilling the rule: you cannot turn daily prayer into a formal reading of the prescribed prayers. It happens that a priest in confession has to hear: “I began to read morning prayers and only in the middle did I realize that I was reading the evening rule. So the reading was purely formal, mechanical. It does not produce spiritual fruit. So that the fulfillment of the rule does not turn into a formal proofreading, you need to read it slowly, better aloud or in an undertone, pondering the meaning of the prayer, standing reverently - after all, we stand before God Himself and talk with Him. If you are going to pray, you need to gather yourself, calm down, drive away all worldly thoughts and cares. If during the reading of prayers inattention and extraneous thoughts came and we stopped paying attention to what we read, we need to stop and start reading the prayer again, already with due attention.

It can be difficult for a new beginning Christian to immediately read a complete prayer rule. Then, with the blessing of his spiritual father or parish priest, he can choose from the Prayer Book at least a few morning and evening prayers. For example, three or four, and pray according to this abbreviated rule, gradually adding one prayer at a time from the Prayer Book - as if ascending "from strength to strength."

Of course, it is not easy for a person taking the first steps in spiritual life to fulfill complete rule. He still doesn't understand much. The Church Slavonic text is still difficult for him to understand. You should purchase a small dictionary of Church Slavonic words in order to better understand the meaning readable texts. Understanding and skill in prayer will definitely come with time if a person sincerely wants to understand what he has read and does not stand still in his prayer life.

In the morning prayers, Christians ask God for a blessing for the coming day and thank Him for the past night. Evening prayers prepare us for sleep, and are also a confession of the sins of the past day. In addition to morning and evening rules a, an Orthodox person throughout the day must keep the memory of God and mentally turn to Him. You can't do anything without me, says the Lord (Jn 15:5). Every business, even the simplest, must begin with at least a brief prayer for God's help in our labors.

Too many mothers of babies complain that they have no time at all for the daily rule. Indeed, when a child grows and needs to be taken care of day and night, it is very difficult to fulfill a complete prayer rule. Here we can advise you to constantly do inner prayer during the day and ask God for help in all your affairs and worries. This applies not only to the mother of small children, but also to any Orthodox Christian. Thus, our life will pass with constant remembrance of God and we will not forget Him in the vanity of the world.

Prayers are divided into pleading, penitential, grateful and glorifying. Of course, we must not only turn to the Lord with requests, but we must constantly thank Him for His countless benefits. And, most importantly, they should be able to see the gifts of God in their lives and appreciate them. It is necessary to make it a rule: at the end of the day, remember all the good things that were sent from God on the past day, and read thanksgiving prayers. They are in any complete Prayer Book.

In addition to the obligatory prayer rule, every Orthodox person can also take on a special rule. For example, read canons, akathists during the day. The peculiarity of the construction of the akathist is in the word “rejoice” repeated many times. Therefore, he is distinguished by a special joyful mood. In ancient times, the daily reading of the psalms occupied a special place in the spiritual life of a Christian.

Reading canons, akathists, psalms helps in mournful or difficult periods of life. For example, the prayer canon to the Theotokos (it is in the Prayer Book) reads in every sorrow of soul and circumstance, as its very name says. If a Christian wants to take on a special prayer rule (reading the canons or, for example, saying the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner” with the rosary), he must take the blessing of his spiritual father or parish priest for this.

In addition to a constant prayer rule, a Christian should regularly read Holy Bible New Testament.

You can hear the following opinion: why turn to God so often with your requests, prayers? The Lord already knows what we need. Like, you need to turn to God only in special cases, when it is really necessary.

Such an opinion is just an excuse for their own laziness. God is our Heavenly Father, and like any Father, He wants His children to communicate with Him, to turn to Him. And God's grace and mercy to us can never fail, no matter how much we turn to God.

This parable comes to mind:

In the house of rich people, they stopped praying before meals. One day a priest came to visit them. The table was exquisite, and the best dishes were served. We sat at the table. Everyone looked at the priest and thought that now he would pray before eating. But the priest said: "The owner must pray at the table, he is the first prayer book in the family."

There was an awkward silence: no one in this family prayed. The father cleared his throat and said: “You know, dear father, we don’t pray, because in prayer before meals, the same thing is always repeated. Why do the same thing every day, every year? No, we don't pray." The priest looked at everyone in surprise, but then the seven-year-old girl said: “Daddy, don’t I need to come to you every morning and say good morning?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 option:

What are morning and evening prayers and why are they so important in the life of every Orthodox Christian? Many holy fathers call these daily prayers spiritual hygiene, a necessary minimum for a novice believer. With the help of these prayers, and especially due to their regular and conscientious reading, the laity become closer to the Lord, cleanse themselves spiritually, learn humility, repentance and gratitude. It is difficult to overestimate their importance, especially in modern world.

What are the prayers and features of their reading

In Orthodoxy there is such a term - a prayer rule. This is the name of the collection of prayer texts intended for morning and evening readings. These obligatory prayers can be found in every prayer book. Among them are “Our Father”, “Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice”, “King of Heaven”, “Symbol of Faith” and others. The prayer rule was formed several centuries ago, and since then has become a guideline for Orthodox believers.

The prayer rule is divided into complete, that is, common to everyone, and short, individual (it is discussed with the confessor and appointed with his blessing, in cases, for example, of illness, lack of strength, high workload, etc.). There is also a version of a short prayer rule from St. Seraphim of Sarov. According to him, if the believer is in an extremely weak state or is severely limited in time, then one can only read following prayers: three times "Our Father", three times "Our Lady of the Virgin, rejoice" and once "The Creed".

Prayer "Our Father"

Our Father, Who art in heaven! Hallowed be thy name, may he come Your kingdom 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 "Virgin Mary, rejoice"

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

Prayer "Symbol of Faith"

I believe in one God the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, Whom all was.

For us for the sake of man and for our sake of salvation, he descended from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became human.

Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried.

And resurrected on the third day according to the Scriptures.

And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.

And the packs of the future with glory to judge the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord of Life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets.

Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.

Tea of ​​the resurrection of the dead.

And the life of the next century. Amen.

How to read morning and evening prayers

In the morning it is supposed to pray immediately after waking up, before the meal and the beginning of the working day, and in the evening you can choose any time, the main thing is that all work in the current day be completed.

Prayer should be performed in a secluded place, in front of the icon, with a lit lamp or candle. First you need to cross yourself and make a few bows. Then tune in, concentrate and start reading prayers in the order indicated in the prayer book. You can read both aloud and silently. Prayers for loved ones, appeals to the Lord, spoken in your own words - all this is also an obligatory part of prayer.

It is important to thank the Lord and ask for His blessings before the upcoming trials of life.

It is very important to understand the meaning of every word that is spoken in prayers. For this purpose, there are translations of prayers from Church Slavonic into Russian in explanatory prayer books, they should be studied so that reading is conscious.

It is important to pray with with a pure heart in which there is no bitterness, evil, resentment, irritation. If a believer feels these emotions, they need to get rid of. One way would be to pray for the health of the one who offended. This will cleanse the soul, pacify the ardor and set you in a blessed mood.

As a rule, with a certain practice, reading morning and evening prayers takes an average of 20 minutes. But at the present time, the laity is facing a problem. In our modern world, when the pace of life is so high that time pressure is felt at every step, it can be difficult for Orthodox believers who begin to practice daily readings to find time for prayers in their busy schedule. As a rule, in the morning people rush to work, and in the evening they fall down from fatigue. And there is no time left for reading prayers with a thoughtful, concentrated approach. And it is important to read prayers sincerely, with zeal.

To pronounce the text in a tongue twister, formally - this is not necessary for anyone and even harmful in a conversation with God.

In this case, you need to reorganize your daily schedule, find another time for prayers, some prayers can even be read at work or on the road. But all this must be discussed with your confessor or priest, with whom you regularly confess. Sometimes the priest may allow you to read not the full volume of prayers. The main thing in morning and evening prayers - the right attitude, concentration, a message to the Lord from the heart.

The Importance of Prayer in the Morning and Evening

Why is it so important to perform morning and evening prayers daily? Priests always say that this rite trains the will, makes the believer spiritually stronger and does not allow him to forget about God and the need to keep the commandments. And it is especially important for beginning Orthodox Christians.

This article contains: prayer in the evening when to read - information is taken from all corners of the world, the electronic network and spiritual people.

Every Orthodox Christian must adhere to a certain daily prayer rule: morning prayers are read in the morning, and prayers for the coming dream must be read in the evening.

Why you need to read prayers before bed

There is a certain rhythm of prayer reserved for monastics and spiritually advanced laymen.

But for those who have recently come to the Church and are just beginning their prayer journey, it is rather difficult to read it in its entirety. Yes, and it happens that unforeseen situations arise for the laity, when there is too little opportunity and time for prayer.

In this case it is better to read short rule than thoughtlessly and without reverence to chatter the full text.

Often confessors bless beginners to read several prayers, and then, after 10 days, add one prayer to the rule every day. Thus, the habit of prayer reading is formed gradually and naturally.

Important! Any prayer appeal will be supported by Heaven when a person directs his activity to serve God and people.

Evening prayers

AT evening time a short rule is read by the laity - a prayer for the night before going to bed:

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

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)

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.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us; bewildering any answer, we offer this prayer as the Lord of sin: have mercy on us.

Glory: Lord, have mercy on us, we put our trust in Thee; do not be angry with us, remember our iniquities below, but look now as if you are kind, and deliver us from our enemies; Thou art our God, and we are Thy people, all works by Thy hand, and we call on Thy name.

And now: Open the doors of Mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who hope in Thee, let us not perish, but let us be delivered from troubles by Thee: Thou art the salvation of the Christian race.

Lord have mercy. (12 times)

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, to pass in peace in this night of this dream, so that, having risen from my humble bed, I will please Your most holy name, all the days of my stomach, and I will stop the carnal and incorporeal enemies that 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.

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.

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.

Chosen Governor victorious, as if we had got rid of the evil, thankful, let us describe Ti Thy servants, the Mother of God, but as if having an invincible power, from all troubles of freedom, let us call Ty; Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.

Glorious Ever-Virgin Mother of Christ God, bring our prayer to Your Son and our God, may our souls be saved by You.

I place all my hope in You, Mother of God, keep me under Your shelter.

Virgin Mother of God, do not despise me, a sinner, requiring Your help and Your intercession, my soul trusts in You, and have mercy on me.

My hope is the Father, my refuge is the Son, my protection is the Holy Spirit: Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.

It is worthy to eat as truly blessed Thee, the Mother of God, the Blessed and Immaculate and Mother of our God. The most honest Cherubim and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, without the corruption of God the Word, who gave birth to the real Mother of God, we magnify Thee.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother, reverend and God-bearing father ours and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.

Interpretation of individual prayers

• King of Heaven.

In prayer, the Holy Spirit is called the King, because He, as God the Father and God the Son, rules the world and reigns in it. He is a comforter and to this day comforts those who need it. He guides believers on the righteous path, which is why he is called the Spirit of Truth.

The petition is addressed to three hypostases Holy Trinity. The angels of heaven sing a great song before the throne of God. God the Father is Holy God, God the Son is Holy Almighty. This conversion is due to the victory of the Son over the devil and the destruction of hell. During the prayer, a person asks for permission from sins, healing of spiritual infirmities for the sake of glorifying the Most Holy Trinity.

This is an appeal directly to the Almighty as to the Father, we stand before Him as children before our mother and father. We affirm the omnipotence of God and His might, we implore you to control human spiritual forces and guide them on the true path, so that after death you will be honored to be in the Kingdom of Heaven.

He is the Good Spirit for every believer, ordained by God Himself. Therefore, praying to Him in the evenings is simply necessary. It is he who will warn against committing sins, will help to live holy and will patronize the soul and body.

In prayer, the danger of attacks by bodily enemies (people pushing them to commit sin) and incorporeal (spiritual passions) is emphasized.

The nuances of the evening rule

Most people have a question: is it possible to listen to Orthodox chants in an audio recording?

The Epistle of the Apostle Paul says that it doesn’t matter what a person does, the main thing is that any of his deeds be done for the glory of God.

Prayer should be started before going to bed. Before starting to read the rule, it is recommended to thank God for everything that He has been given for the whole day. You need to turn to Him with your mind and heart, realizing the meaning of each spoken word.

Advice! If the text reads Church Slavonic, then you need to study its Russian translation.

AT contemporary practice the rule is supplemented by reading prayers for:

• close and dear people
• the living and the dead;
• about enemies;
• virtues and about the whole world.

In a dream, a person is especially vulnerable to the devil's army, he is visited by sinful thoughts, bad desires. Night in Christian understanding is considered the time of rampant demons. A person can receive information that can seduce his body and lead his soul into sin. Demons are very insidious, they can send nightmares in a dream vision.

That is why believers pray every day before going to bed.

Advice! Even when all life circumstances turn out well, one should not forget about faith and the Heavenly Father, because human destinies are predetermined in Heaven from the very beginning. Therefore, it is necessary to turn to God before going to bed and the next day will definitely turn out better than the previous one.

1. It is useful to listen to the singing of the elders of Optina Hermitage. This male monastic monastery is famous for miracle workers who could and can foresee human destinies. The need to serve the Almighty is transmitted through their prayer songs and sets you on the right path.
2. The Church has a positive attitude towards watching Orthodox videos, but this material must be treated very carefully, and in the process of listening or watching it is recommended to postpone secular activities.
3. The clergy advise including the prayers of the Optina Elders in the evening rule. Their texts have evolved over the centuries and each of their phrases carries the greatest wisdom that can explain the basics Orthodox faith and know their full depth.

Prayer is the breath of the soul Orthodox person. He practically cannot control his sleep, and other life processes are also difficult to control. Therefore, prayer before going to bed is aimed at ensuring that the Creator participates in human life otherwise He will not be able to help us.

Important! The ascension of a prayer before going to bed is the acquisition of protection and support by an Orthodox Christian. In addition to their own protection, mothers beg God to protect their children and send them mercy.

Prayer rule.

What is a prayer rule? These are prayers that a person reads regularly, daily. Everyone's prayer rule is different. For some, the morning or evening rule takes several hours, for others it takes several minutes. Everything depends on a person's spiritual disposition, on the degree of his rootedness in prayer, and on what time he has at his disposal.

It is very important that a person fulfill the prayer rule, even the shortest one, so that there is regularity and constancy in prayer. But the rule should not turn into a formality. The experience of many believers shows that with constant reading of the same prayers, their words become discolored, lose their freshness, and a person, getting used to them, stops focusing on them. This danger must be avoided by all means.

I remember when I took monastic vows (I was twenty years old then), I turned to an experienced confessor for advice and asked him what my prayer rule should be. He said: “You must read the morning and evening prayers daily, three canons and one akathist. Whatever happens, even if you are very tired, you must read them. And even if you subtract them hastily and inattentively, it doesn’t matter, the main thing is that the rule be subtracted.” I tried. Things didn't work out. Daily reading of the same prayers led to the fact that these texts quickly got bored. In addition, every day I spent many hours in the temple at services that spiritually nourished me, nourished me, inspired me. And the reading of three canons and an akathist turned into some kind of unnecessary “appendage”. I started looking for other advice, more suitable for me. And I found it in the works of St. Theophan the Recluse, a remarkable ascetic of the 19th century. He advised the prayer rule to be calculated not by the number of prayers, but by the time that we are ready to devote to God. For example, we can make it a rule to pray in the morning and in the evening for half an hour, but this half hour must be completely given to God. And it is not so important whether we read all the prayers during these minutes or only one, or maybe we will devote one evening entirely to reading the Psalter, the Gospel or prayer in our own words. The main thing is that we should be focused on God, so that our attention does not slip away and that every word reaches our hearts. This advice worked for me. However, I do not rule out that for others the advice of the confessor I received will be more suitable. Much here depends on the personality of the person.

It seems to me that for a person living in the world, not only fifteen, but even five minutes of morning and evening prayer, if, of course, it is pronounced with attention and with feeling, is enough to be a real Christian. It is only important that the thought always correspond to the words, the heart responds to the words of the prayer, and the whole life corresponds to the prayer.

Try, following the advice of St. Theophan the Recluse, to allocate some time for prayer during the day and for the daily fulfillment of the prayer rule. And you will see that it will bear fruit very soon.

The basis of the life of an Orthodox Christian is fasting and prayer. Prayer is the conversation of the soul with God. And just as in a conversation it is impossible to listen to one side all the time, so in prayer it is useful sometimes to stop and listen to the Lord's answer to our prayer.

The Church, praying daily "for everyone and everything", has established a personal, individual prayer rule for everyone. The composition of this rule depends on the spiritual age, living conditions, human capabilities. The Prayer Book offers us morning and evening prayers available to everyone. They turn to the Lord Mother of God, Guardian Angel. With the blessing of the confessor cell rule you can include prayers to selected saints. If it is not possible to read the morning prayers in front of the icons in a calm atmosphere, then it is better to read them on the way than to omit them altogether. In any case, you should not have breakfast before the prayer "Our Father" is read.

If a person is sick or very tired, then the evening rule can be performed not before going to bed, but shortly before that. And before you go to bed, you should only read a prayer Reverend John Damaskina “Vladyka Lover of mankind, will this coffin be for me. ' and those following it.

A very important component of morning prayers is the recitation of remembrance. Be sure to pray for peace and health His Holiness Patriarch, the ruling bishop, spiritual father, parents, relatives, godparents and godchildren, and all people who are connected with us in one way or another. If someone cannot make peace with others, even if not through his own fault, he is obliged to remember the “hating” and sincerely wish him well.

The personal ("cell") rule of many Orthodox includes the reading of the Gospel and the Psalter. Thus, the Optina monks blessed many to read during the day one chapter from the Gospel, in order, and two chapters from the Apostolic Epistles. At the same time, the last seven chapters of the Apocalypse were read one a day. Then the reading of the Gospel and the Apostle ended simultaneously, and a new circle of readings began.

The prayer rule for a person is established by his spiritual father, it is up to him to change it - to reduce or increase it. Once established, the rule should become the law of life, and each violation should be considered as an exceptional case, tell the confessor about it and accept admonition from him.

When and how long should you pray? The apostle Paul says, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). St. Gregory the Theologian writes: “It is necessary to remember God more often than to breathe.” Ideally, the whole life of a Christian should be permeated with prayer.

Many misfortunes, sorrows and misfortunes occur precisely because people forget about God. After all, there are believers among criminals, but at the moment of committing a crime they do not think about God. It is difficult to imagine a person who would commit murder or theft with the thought of an all-seeing God, from Whom no evil can be hidden. And every sin is committed by a person precisely when he does not remember God.

Most people are unable to pray throughout the day, so you need to find some time, even a short one, to remember God.

You wake up in the morning with the thought of what you have to do that day. Before you get to work and plunge into the inevitable bustle, dedicate at least a few minutes to God. Stand before God and say: “Lord, You gave me this day, help me to spend the era without sin, without vice, save me from all evil and misfortune.” And call on the blessing of God on the day that begins.

Throughout the day, try to remember God more often. If you feel bad, turn to Him with a prayer: "Lord, I feel bad, help me." If you feel good, say to God: "Lord, glory to You, I thank You for this joy." If you're worried about someone, tell God, "Lord, I'm worried about him, I'm hurting for him, help him." And so throughout the day - whatever happens to you, turn it into a prayer.

When the day comes to an end and you are getting ready for bed, remember the past day, thank God for all the good things that happened, and repent for all those unworthy deeds and sins that you committed that day. Ask God for help and blessings for the coming night. If you learn to pray this way every day, you will soon notice how much more fulfilling your whole life will be.

Often people justify their unwillingness to pray by saying that they are too busy, overloaded with things. Yes, many of us live in a rhythm in which people of antiquity did not live. Sometimes we have to do a lot of things during the day. But there are always pauses in life. For example, we stand at the bus stop and wait for the tram - three to five minutes. We go to the subway - twenty to thirty minutes, dial telephone number and hear beeps - "busy" - a few more minutes. Let us at least use these pauses for prayer, let them not be wasted time.

How to pray when you're short on time

Many of the elder's visitors blamed him for not praying enough, not even reading the prescribed morning and evening prayers. St. Seraphim established the following rule for such people:

“Rising from sleep, every Christian, standing before the holy icons, let him read the prayer “Our Father” three times, in honor of the Most Holy Trinity. Then the song to the Mother of God "Virgin Mary, rejoice" also three times. In conclusion, the Creed "I believe in one God" - once. Having made such a rule, every Orthodox is engaged in his own business, to which he was appointed or called. While working at home or on the way somewhere, he quietly reads “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner (or a sinner)”, and if others surround him, then, minding his own business, let him only say with his mind “Lord, have mercy” - and so until noon. Just before dinner, let him repeat the morning rule.

After dinner, while doing his work, let every Christian read just as quietly: Holy Mother of God save me a sinner." Going to bed, let every Christian read the morning rule again, that is, “Our Father” three times, “Theotokos” three times, and the “Symbol of Faith” once.

St. Seraphim explained that by adhering to that small “rule”, one can achieve a measure of Christian perfection, for these three prayers are the foundation of Christianity. The first, as a prayer given by the Lord Himself, is the model of all prayers. The second was brought from heaven by the Archangel in greeting to the Mother of God. The Creed, however, contains all the saving dogmas of the Christian faith.

1. The Lord's Prayer "Our Father" (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4).

2. Basic commandments Old Testament(Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18).

3. Basic gospel commandments(Matthew 5:3-12; Matt. 5:21-48; Matt. 6:1; Matt. 6:3; Matt. 6:6; Matt. 6:14-21; Matt. 6:24-25 ; Matthew 7:1-5; Matthew 23:8-12; John 13:34).

5. Morning and evening prayers for a short prayer book.

6. The number and meaning of the sacraments.

The fear of our times has not passed over even the Orthodox. How to protect yourself and loved ones? - believers often ask. Our main defense is the Lord Himself, without His Holy Will, as it is said in the Scripture, no hair will fall from our head (Luke 21:18). This does not mean that we, in a reckless hope in God, can behave defiantly towards the underworld. The words “do not tempt the Lord your God” (Matt. 4:7) we need to remember firmly.

God gave us the greatest shrines to protect against visible enemies. This is, first of all, a Christian shield - pectoral cross which must not be removed under any circumstances. Secondly, holy water and arthos, eaten every morning.

We also keep the Christian in prayer. Many churches sell belts on which the text of the 90th psalm “Alive in the help of the Most High. ” and a prayer to the Holy Cross “Let God rise again.” It is worn on the body, under clothing.

The ninetieth psalm has great power. Spiritually experienced people recommend reading it before each exit to the street, no matter how many times we leave the house. Saint Ignatius Bryanchaninov gives advice when leaving the house to make the sign of the cross and read the prayer: “I deny you, Satan, your pride and service to you, and unite with you, Christ, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

Orthodox parents must certainly baptize their child if he goes out into the street alone.

Once in a dangerous situation, one must pray: “May God rise again,” or “Victorious Chosen Governor” (the first kontakion from the Akathist to the Theotokos), or simply “Lord, have mercy,” repeatedly. It is necessary to resort to prayer even when another person is being threatened before our eyes, but we do not have enough strength and courage to rush to help him.

The prayer is very strong to the saints of God, who became famous for the art of war during their lifetime: Saints George the Victorious, Theodore Stratilat, Dimitry Donskoy. Let's not forget about the Archangel Michael, about our guardian angel. All of them have a special power with God to give strength to the weak to overcome their enemies.

“If the Lord does not guard the city, the watchman watches in vain” (Ps. 126:1). The house of a Christian must certainly be consecrated. Grace will keep the dwelling from all evil. If it is not possible to invite a priest to the house, you yourself need to sprinkle all the walls, windows and doors with holy water, reading “Let God rise again” or “Save, Lord, Thy people” (troparion to the Cross). From the danger of arson, a fire, it is customary to pray to the Mother of God in front of the icon of Her "Burning Bush".

Of course, no means will help if we lead a sinful life and do not repent for a long time. Often the Lord allows extraordinary circumstances to admonish unrepentant sinners.

You can pray in different ways, for example, in your own words. Such a prayer should constantly accompany a person. In the morning and evening, day and night, a person can turn to God with the simplest words coming from the depths of the heart.

But there are also prayer books that were composed by saints in ancient times, they need to be read in order to learn how to pray. These prayers are contained in the "Orthodox Prayer Book". There you will find morning, evening, penitential, thanksgiving prayers, you will find various canons, akathists and much more. Having bought the "Orthodox Prayer Book", do not be afraid that there are so many prayers in it. You don't have to read all of them.

If the morning prayers are read quickly, it will take about twenty minutes. But if you read them thoughtfully, attentively, responding with your heart to every word, then reading can take up to an hour. Therefore, if you do not have time, do not try to read all the morning prayers, it is better to read one or two, but so that each of their words reaches your heart.

Before the Morning Prayers section, it says: “Before you begin to pray, stand a little while until your feelings subside, and then say with attention and reverence; “In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen". Stay a little longer and only then start praying.” This pause, the “minute of silence” before the beginning of the prayer, is very important. Prayer must grow out of the silence of our heart. For people who daily “read” morning and evening prayers, there is a constant temptation to read the “rule” as soon as possible in order to begin daily affairs. Often, with such a reading, the main thing slips away - the content of the prayer.

In the prayer book there are many petitions addressed to God, which are repeated several times. For example, you may come across a recommendation to read “Lord have mercy” twelve or forty times. Some perceive this as some kind of formality and proofread this prayer at high speed. By the way, in Greek “Lord, have mercy” sounds like “Kyrie, eleison”. In Russian there is a verb “to play tricks”, which came precisely from the fact that the psalm-readers on the kliros very quickly repeated many times: “Kyrie, eleison”, that is, they did not pray, but “played tricks”. So, there is no need to play tricks in prayer. No matter how many times you read this prayer, it must be said with attention, reverence and love, with full dedication.

No need to try to subtract all the prayers. It is better to devote twenty minutes to one prayer “Our Father”, repeating it several times, pondering each word. It is not so easy for a person who is not accustomed to praying for a long time to read a large number of prayers at once, but one should not strive for this. It is important to be imbued with the spirit that the prayers of the Fathers of the Church breathe. This is the main benefit that can be derived from the prayers contained in the "Orthodox Prayer Book".

In everything that concerns prayer and a pious life, the Lord Jesus Christ, the apostles and saints can serve as an example for us. It is written in the Gospel that Christ prayed in solitude for several hours and even during the whole night. The Apostle Paul urged to pray without ceasing, that is, all the time. Is there a limit to the length of the prayer?

You can turn to God in prayer almost everywhere:

• in the temple
• where they eat
• at work
• and even on the way

At home, they read home prayers (morning, evening, before or after eating food). With the blessing of the priest, morning prayers can be read on the way to work. In the office, you can pray before the start and at the end of the working day.

During worship services in the temple, believers together perform a public (otherwise - church) prayer.

To pray alone in the temple, you need to come outside of worship, purchase and light candles. It is not necessary to light them: the ministers will light them before the start of the service. Then you need to venerate the icon of the day or holiday - it lies on a lectern (a special inclined table) in the middle of the temple - as well as to the shrines that may be in the temple: revered icons, relics of saints. After that, you can find a place to read to yourself (in a whisper) any prayer that you know by heart, or pray in your own words.

How many times a day should the Orthodox pray?

Prayer is a time dedicated to God. This time should be every day.

• in the morning,
• in the evening,
• before meals and after
• before and after the completion of any business (for example, work or study)
• in order to first ask God for blessings, and in the end to thank Him.

In addition, it is important in the temple to perform church prayer and acceptance. If necessary, in case of special needs or life circumstances you can address private prayer (at home in front of the icons or in the temple between services) to the saints or heavenly powers so that they intercede for the one who prays before the Lord.

Time for reading Orthodox prayers in church and at home

In ancient monasteries, nine long services were performed per day, and between them the monks alone read psalms or recited. Night was considered a particularly fertile time for solitary prayer.

Modern lay people perform at home in the morning, in the evening, upon returning home -. If a person is weak or has little time, then instead of the morning and evening rules, he can read during the day. Reverend Seraphim Sarovsky.

It is advisable to discuss the duration of morning and evening prayers with the priest, with whom the parishioner confesses constantly.

Saturday night and the day before church holidays you should attend the all-night vigil in the temple, and on Sunday mornings and on holidays - the Liturgy.

During they go to church more often to pray: in the first four days they try not to miss evening services- they serve Great Compline with the Canon of Andrew of Crete. You should also try to attend as many services as possible during the Holy Week preceding the Easter holiday. During Holy Week Liturgy is served daily, and believers strive to visit it in order to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ not only on Sunday, but also on a weekday.

Morning prayer time

Morning prayers are read at home, immediately upon awakening. Waking up, you need to stand in front of the icons and start reading prayers by heart or according to the prayer book.

Evening Prayer Time

Evening prayers are read at home at the end of the day or before bed. The evening rule is not recommended to be postponed for late time because the later, the stronger the fatigue and the more difficult it is to concentrate.

Just before going to bed, already lying in bed, they say: “In Your hands, Lord my God, I betray my spirit, You save me, You have mercy on me and grant me eternal life.”

Prayer all day long

The Orthodox Church does not set a strict time for prayers. We must strive to pray constantly. This, first of all, means constantly remembering God and from time to time, if possible, turning to Him during the day with short prayers (for example, the Jesus prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner” or a short thanksgiving prayer"Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee!").

Continuous prayer

Can be read short prayers continuously throughout the day, repeating the same prayer many times in a row and counting the number of repetitions with a rosary. This is usually how the Jesus Prayer is read. However, for such a prayer it is necessary to take the blessing of the priest, and the number of repetitions is strictly regulated.

There are many restrictions on continuous prayer, it cannot be read uncontrollably.

St. Ambrose of Optina ordered his spiritual children to read the Jesus Prayer only aloud, because reading to oneself can cause strong emotional sensations and lead to falling into delusion. Charm means self-deception, up to mental insanity.

How long should a prayer be?

Durationprayers are not governed by rules.

• The most important thing is the focus on prayer, not its duration or number of prayers.
• You need to pray slowly, thinking about every word.
• The number of prayers should correspond to the time that we can devote to them.

The Lord said, “I want mercy, not sacrifice” (Mt. 9:13), therefore, with a lack of time or severe fatigue, it is permissible to shorten the prayer rule in order to read it with concentration.