Julia: Hello, Father George! I just recently started going to church and there is still so much I don’t understand... I live abroad, our parish is open only on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, sometimes there are services on other days, but rarely... At Sunday liturgy our priest said that there would be a evening service, and on Saturday Divine Liturgy in honor of the holiday. Well, accordingly, on Wednesday, as usual, there will be a prayer service with an akathist to the Mother of God, and on Sunday there will be a liturgy. I had a couple of questions: why is a prayer service to the Mother of God served? What is this service like...can people submit their petitions for this prayer service? (Review from the website ABC of Faith).
In the Orthodox Church we very often hear such a strange word “prayer service”. What it is? A prayer service is a short service that includes prayers and requests from a specific person or group of people for a specific endeavor.
In Orthodoxy, such prayer services are called trebby. Their origin, as we see, is from the words need and necessity. Usually a prayer service is ordered only for health. For the repose - people order memorial services and magpies.
A prayer service is a short service that includes prayers and requests from a specific person or group of people for a specific endeavor.
Prayer services in the church are general church and custom.
What types of prayer services are there? Prayer services can be church-wide or custom. During church-wide prayer services, the entire church prays on major holidays or any state events, and custom prayer services are performed at the request of parishioners.
It is also worth mentioning that custom prayers can be performed both in church and at home. You can even ask a priest to serve a prayer service for laying the foundation of a house, in a field, or where a store or office is opening.
There are also prayer services - thanksgiving, water-blessing, with an akathist, and can also be simple. Since this is a special request, a prayer service, for example, the Blessing of Water, is served daily or on Sundays.
Akathist structure
Of course, these chants of praise have a certain structure according to which they were and continue to be compiled by the clergy. They consist of 25 songs (12 kontakia and 13 ikos), which alternate with each other in a certain order. Ikos consist of 12 greetings, each of which invariably begins with the word “Rejoice!”
According to their meaning, chants of praise can be divided into two main parts of which they consist. The first part deals with miraculous events associated with a saint, icon or holiday. This part can be called a kind of historical reference, from which we learn about the peculiarities of the life of a particular saint or the appearance of an icon. The second part can be called dogmatic; it concerns, for example, such important topics as the salvation of the soul or the Incarnation.
Blessing of water prayer - you can submit icons or crosses for the blessing
Anyone who is going to order a prayer service must be present at it, in the church. During the water blessing prayer, the water is also illuminated. The person must take this water home. All family members should drink water on an empty stomach and also sprinkle their home. You can also submit icons or crosses for the blessing of water at the water prayer service.
During the water blessing prayer, the water is illuminated. The person must take this water home. All family members should drink water on an empty stomach and also sprinkle their home
Simple prayers are served on occasions of holidays, for example, saints. At such a prayer service, hymns are sung in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos and the saints. A special litany is also pronounced - a series of petitions with the refrain “Lord, have mercy.”
Here you can list the names of all your relatives. But this will need to be done before submitting the note. A prayer is also read here to the saint in whose honor a prayer service is held. This type of prayer service is ordered on a name day or for a sick person.
The beginning of the akathist is general
Before starting reading, make a bow and sign of the cross with prayer:
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Is the same:
Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Good One, souls ours.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (three times, with the sign of the cross and bows from the waist).
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse our sins. Master, forgive our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
Lord, have mercy (three times).
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done as it is in Heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors, and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Lord, have mercy (12 times).
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Come, let us worship our God the King (bow).
Come, let us bow down and bow down to Christ our King God (bow).
Come, let us bow and fall before Christ Himself, the King and our God (bow).
Psalm 50.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the multitude of Your mercies, cleanse my iniquity. Above all, wash me from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my iniquity and bear away my sin before me. I have sinned against You alone, and I have created evil before You, so that You may be justified in Your words and overcome, never judge You. Behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and my mother gave birth to me in sins. Behold, Thou hast loved the truth, Thou hast revealed to me Thy unknown and secret wisdom. Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Give joy and gladness to my hearing; humble bones will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins, and cleanse all my iniquities. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit away from me. Reward me with the joy of Your salvation, and strengthen me with the Master’s Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your way, and the wicked will turn to You. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salvation; my tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise. As if you had wanted sacrifices, you would have given burnt offerings, but you would not have been pleased. The sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a contrite and humble heart, God will not despise. Bless Zion, O Lord, with Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then you will be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, the wave offering and the burnt offering, then they will lay the bullock on Your altar.
Symbol of faith
I believe in One God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. And in the 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, born, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, to Whom all things were. For our sake, man and our salvation came down from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became human. She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And again the coming one will be judged with glory by 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, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I hope for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the next century. Amen.
Here are the verbs of troparia, kontakion to the saint, if there is:
Troparions, kontakia, hymns to saints
Is the same:
Lord have mercy (12 times) and we begin the akathist
Prayer service with akathist - very often served in front of miraculous or revered icons
A prayer service with an akathist is very often served in front of miraculous or revered icons, as well as on days of celebration of great saints. This service is served weekly at a certain time, you can find out about it in your church or monastery.
Before going to prayer, you can take the text of the akathist with you so that you can follow it while reading. This way you will be completely absorbed in prayer and fully concentrated on it.
A prayer service with an akathist is very often served in front of miraculous or revered icons, as well as on days of celebration of great saints. This service is served weekly at a certain time.
A thanksgiving prayer service is served on New Year's Day, on Victory Day, on the Nativity of Christ and on other significant days. When you submit notes with names, indicate that this is a thanksgiving prayer service. Here you do not need to write the reason why you are ordering a prayer service. There are also other church commemorations: masses, magpies.
Prayer service with akathist - what is it?
There are many different concepts in the Christian faith that are unknown to many people.
A prayer service is a short service performed by a priest. Each person can order a prayer service for the health of themselves, their relatives and other people. The prayer service can also be laudatory. A prayer service, when the priest reads a hymn of praise dedicated to the saint to whom one turns in prayer, is called a prayer service with an akathist. Public prayer usually takes place after the liturgy and can take place either in the morning or in the evening. Private prayer services are also allowed, which can be performed not only in the temple, but also at home. The prayer service with akathist is performed in the center of the temple only on holidays. As for ordinary days, this takes place in front of the icon of the saint, who is addressed and praised.
A prayer service with an akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and other saints must be held standing, since sitting is prohibited. The most famous akathist is dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos. It consists of 25 songs, which include 13 kontakia and 12 ikos. The kontakia tell the condensed content of the holiday or the life story of the Saint. Ikos is a song that praises and glorifies a Saint or a holiday. At the end of each prayer service, a prayer is read to whom exactly the service was served. After this, the priests inform all people that the prayer service is over and it is called “Dismissal.”
What is the difference between a prayer service and a magpie?
Unlike the prayer service, the magpie is read at the Liturgy 40 times or 40 days. There is one more difference, and it lies in the fact that magpie is not only about health, but also about repose. This powerful prayer can be ordered for six months or even a year. It is recommended to order Sorokoust in three churches at once.
>Water Blessing Prayer
Mass is different from prayer - these are different commemorations
What is the difference between a prayer service and a mass service? Mass - otherwise called “Proskomedia”. This is a commemoration during which for each name given in the note, a piece is taken from the prosphora. At the end of the liturgy, she is lowered into the holy Chalice with the Most Pure Blood of Christ. And the prayer service is performed without prosphora. That's the whole difference.
During mass, for each name given in the note, a piece is taken from the prosphora. At the end of the liturgy, she is lowered into the holy Chalice with the Most Pure Blood of Christ. And the prayer service is performed without prosphora
How to order a prayer service correctly - they will tell you in the temple behind the candle box
How to order a prayer service correctly? Now let's talk about how to order it correctly. To order a prayer service, you need to come to the temple and submit a note in the candle box. You will see a sample note below.
In a candle box you will be given a special form or an ordinary piece of paper on which the heading is written - a prayer service of supplication or thanksgiving, then you sign “about health.” Then you must indicate to whom exactly the prayer service is being ordered.
For example, the Savior, the Mother of God. Next, after this, you need to write the names of living and baptized people in neat handwriting. Then you give this note to the candle box and give a reasonable donation for it. The donation can be very different, depending on what value is charged for what requirement.
Sample note for prayer service
Order of reading Akathists
Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (three times, with the sign of the cross and bows from the waist).
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse our sins. Master, forgive our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
Lord, have mercy (three times).
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done as it is in Heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors, and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Lord, have mercy (12 times).
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Come, let us worship our God the King (bow).
Come, let us bow down and bow down to Christ our King God (bow).
Come, let us bow and fall before Christ Himself, the King and our God (bow).
Psalm 50.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the multitude of Your mercies, cleanse my iniquity. Above all, wash me from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my iniquity and bear away my sin before me. I have sinned against You alone, and I have created evil before You, so that You may be justified in Your words and overcome, never judge You. Behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and my mother gave birth to me in sins. Behold, Thou hast loved the truth, Thou hast revealed to me Thy unknown and secret wisdom. Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Give joy and gladness to my hearing; humble bones will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins, and cleanse all my iniquities. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit away from me. Reward me with the joy of Your salvation, and strengthen me with the Master’s Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your way, and the wicked will turn to You. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salvation; my tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise. As if you had wanted sacrifices, you would have given burnt offerings, but you would not have been pleased. The sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a contrite and humble heart, God will not despise. Bless Zion, O Lord, with Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then you will be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, the wave offering and the burnt offering, then they will lay the bullock on Your altar.
Symbol of faith
I believe in One God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. And in the 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, born, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, to Whom all things were. For our sake, man and our salvation came down from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became human. She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And again the coming one will be judged with glory by 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, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I hope for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the next century. Amen.
The prayer service lasts no more than 30 minutes
How long does the prayer service last? Usually the prayer service lasts no more than 30 minutes. And if it is simple, then it can last no more than 20 minutes.
Also, to order a prayer service, for example, to consecrate a house, you can invite a priest to your home. In what other cases can a priest be invited to serve prayer services? For example, for illuminating a field or vegetable garden, for illuminating vehicles, illuminating the laying of a foundation or, for example, a well.
There are also prayers that are read for the construction of a church, for the installation of a cross or for the raising of bells.
In this photo we see how the priest illuminates the car
Most often prayers of thanksgiving are ordered to the Savior and the Mother of God
To whom are prayer services often ordered? Most often, of course, prayer services are ordered for the Savior and the Mother of God. Very often prayers to the Mother of God are ordered in front of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon. Why this particular icon? Usually this icon is commissioned for those people who suffer from alcohol or drug addiction.
Very often prayers to the Mother of God are ordered in front of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon. Usually this icon is commissioned for those people who suffer from alcohol or drug addiction
They also order a prayer service in front of the All-Tsarina icon. These prayer services are ordered for healing from cancer. Very often in oncology centers you can see house churches that are consecrated in honor of the image of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Tsaritsa. But everything that has been said does not mean that you cannot turn to another icon of the Mother of God.
Very often people come to the temple and ask what kind of prayer service they should order, for example from this and that. Such words are a manifestation of superstition of varying degrees of awareness. Every Orthodox person must understand that prayer is not a spell, holy people are people who lived their lives and by their actions they pleased God, and therefore now they are at the throne of God and pray for us, together with us.
When we turn to any saint, we ask him to pray for us. But the question of which saint to pray for this or that is, rather, a manifestation of some kind of magical consciousness. It is necessary to correlate requests and vital needs with certain saints, which are associated with the content of their lives or the miracles they performed.
For example, we know that the great martyr and healer Panteleimon, as well as the holy Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian, were doctors during their earthly lives, which is why at prayer services these saints ask for healing from various diseases, be they physical or spiritual.
We also know from the life of Xenia of Petersburg that she very often pointed out to girls their future married life, which is why they pray to Saint Xenia of Petersburg for a happy family life. It is known from the life of Saint Spyridon of Trimythous that he helped ordinary people in their everyday needs, and therefore they pray to him for the arrangement of household and housing affairs.
It is known from the life of Saint Spyridon of Trimythous that he helped ordinary people in their everyday needs, and therefore they pray to him for the arrangement of household and housing affairs
Therefore, before you want to order a prayer service for someone, you just need to read and find out more about the saint you want to order.
How does the water blessing prayer take place?
For the blessing of water, a table is brought to the center of the temple, on which a large bowl of water is placed, and the Gospel and the Crucifix are placed. The water-blessing prayer is read from service books - special books. The priest pronounces an ektinya - a prayer of supplication about why this prayer service is being served. The water-blessing prayer service is often addressed to the Most Holy Theotokos (in front of her icons: the Inexhaustible Chalice, the All-Tsarina, Kazan, Vladimir =), St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, St. Matrona of Moscow, Xenia of St. Petersburg. The rite sequence will read the names from the notes submitted by parishioners, but the sequence itself may be different. For example, if an akathist is read, the service will last longer.
Holy water: church traditions and parachurch superstitions of the blessing of water
An approximate order looks like this:
- They bring out a table with a cup of water, the Gospel, and the Crucifix.
- After the exclamation of the clergyman, Psalm 142 is pronounced.
- They sing: “God is the Lord” and troparia. During this, the priest censes water in a cross shape.
- During the reading of Psalm 50, troparions and litanies, the temple is censed.
- After this, the prokeimenon is read and the Apostle is read (Heb. 2:14-18).
- Then the Gospel is read (John 5:2-4).
- This is followed by the litany:
Let us pray to the Lord in peace, in which petitions are offered for the sanctification of water. Basically, this involves censing of water. After which the priest says a prayer for the consecration of the water.
Sometimes a special prayer is read:
Great God, work miracles that are countless! Come now to Your servants who pray to You, O Master, and eat of Your Holy Spirit and sanctify this water: and grant to those who drink from it, and to Your servants who receive and sprinkle themselves with it, change from passions, remission of sins, healing from illness, and liberation from all evil, and strengthening and sanctification of the house and cleansing of all defilement, and driving away the slander of the devil: for blessed and glorified is Thy most honorable and magnificent Name, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
- Then the priest takes the Cross. He points the crucifix towards himself. Then he makes a cross-shaped movement over the water with his lower part. Afterwards the entire Cross is immersed in water. At the same time, troparia are sung: Save, O Lord, Thy people... (three times) and Thy gifts... .
- After this, the priest kisses the Cross, which was taken out of the water, and sprinkles all those present and the temple.
- Everyone takes turns kissing the cross, and the priest sprinkles each one.
Currently - you can order a prayer service online
Currently, there are websites where you can order a prayer service online. This is necessary if you do not have the opportunity to come to the temple and register a person. You can go to any website, any temple, in any city. There you can submit a note, you need to write a text with the names of people, then choose which request you want to make.
Official website Treba online
But as mentioned earlier, each temple has its own specific costs. For example, on the online church website, a prayer service can be ordered for only 99 rubles.
In the following video, you can watch how a real prayer service takes place, which is dedicated to St. Nicholas, Spyridon and the healer Panteleimon:
Many prayer services are held at the same time every year
What prayer services are performed annually at the same time? At the same time, a prayer service is performed for the New Year. A thanksgiving prayer service is also served on Christmas Day.
The great consecration of water takes place on the feast of the Epiphany. Also, a thanksgiving prayer is served on Sunday of Lent, when the Triumph of Orthodoxy is celebrated. And one of the main prayer services that are performed annually - on honey spas, on apple spas, on nut spas.
On Apple Day, a water blessing prayer service is served every year at the same time.
By leaving a comment, you accept the user agreement
