SECTION I. THE CONCEPT OF CHRISTIAN PRAYER AND A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE LORD’S PRAYER AS A SAMPLE OF ALL OF OUR PRAYERS

What is prayer?

Why and why do we turn to God?

Definition of Christian prayer. What is prayer in Orthodoxy?

Origin of Prayer

The main sources of text for composing prayers in Orthodoxy

Types of prayers and their classification

What does it take for God to hear a prayer?

How to behave during prayer?

Who else but God can we pray to?

Photo: Lori's photo bank

Why and why do we turn to God?

Even people who are far from spiritual life and are accustomed to relying on themselves in everything sometimes feel an urgent need to turn to Someone higher, stronger than themselves. Most often this happens in trouble, when a person understands the limits of his strength and his responsibility, and feels that he cannot cope on his own. Then he turns to God with a request to help, protect and console.

This is not yet a true Christian understanding of prayer, but God does not condemn such prayer. Christ called behind him all the people who endured sorrow and overwork, and promised to give them consolation. He told the disciples to ask the Heavenly Father for everything they needed. Christ called to be persistent in prayer and promised that God the Father, through prayer, will give everything we need.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you,” says the Gospel.

Prayer of Waiting

Prayer of expectation involves not only communication with the Lord, but also a response from him. Unfortunately, many do not know how to wait, so they rarely use such prayers. You need to understand that God will always hear a sincerely believing person and will definitely answer him.

Text of the prayer:

“Almighty God, give me patience to wait for a sign from you so that I can believe in your presence in the midst of life’s chaos. I know that You yourself are the answer to the lives of people dear to me. Only you can heal, save and correct. I completely trust you with my life and the lives of my loved ones, whom I love. Do your will, and I will accept it and thank You. Help me leave my pride and give me a sign about it.”

Author of the article:

Natalya Nadezhdina

Definition of Christian prayer. What is prayer in Orthodoxy?

Prayer in Christianity is the appeal of a priest or a simple believer to God, the Blessed Virgin, angels or Saints.

A believer can pray in his own words or with a statutory prayer, that is, a prayer that has been in use for a long time, sanctified by church tradition. The prayer may contain requests to God, gratitude, or praise of His greatness. Christians consider God to be the Father and therefore turn to Him as their own father.

An Orthodox Christian should always pray , and not only when he needs something. Prayer is the basis of our life. The Apostle Paul called for prayer without ceasing, constantly turning to God. In prayer there is a meeting and dialogue with God. This is the main meaning of prayer.

Thanksgiving Prayer

Regardless of any external circumstances, a believer should thank the Lord, since this is the will of God. Praying thanksgiving doesn't have to be a chore. It should become a natural daily necessity. You need to put your whole soul into her words, because a believer must be grateful to the Lord for everything that is given to him every day.

Prayers of thanks can be directed not only to God, but also to the Mother of God or other Saints. People often thank St. Nicholas the Pleasant for his help in life’s affairs.

You can thank him with these words:

“Nicholas the Pleasant, helper of the entire human race! I address you as a great teacher and shepherd with great faith in your good deeds and respect. I fill my words with true love and admiration. Thank you for my prosperous life. Please accept my words of gratitude coming from the depths of my soul. I say thank you for your help in all my life endeavors. I continue to trust in your mercy and forgiveness of my accidental sins. Just as you have mercy on all sinners, have mercy on me. And also protect from premature and unnecessary death. Amen".

Origin of Prayer

When the first people, Adam and Eve, lived in Paradise, they talked to God face to face and had no need for prayer as we know it. However, they committed a sin and were expelled from Paradise. Their sons, Cain and Abel, made a sacrifice for the first time: the shepherd Abel brought animals from his herd, the farmer Cain brought part of the harvest. This is how worship services arose.

Subsequently, the Jews began to regulate how worship should be conducted, what words should be pronounced, what actions the priest would perform, what those praying should do, how to stand, when to kneel or raise their hands. All these elements were inherited by Christian worship: it implies collective service to God with prayers and participation in church sacraments.

Moreover, in addition to general prayer, personal prayer also existed even before Christ. Believers turned to God with requests for help or forgiveness of sins, and often with gratitude. People prayed to God in their own words or read the psalms of David.

Christ gave a sample prayer - the Lord's Prayer - to His disciples, therefore this prayer is also called the Lord's Prayer and is considered the most important Christian prayer.

It lists everything that a Christian should ask God for and what he should be like:

• live righteously
• strive for holiness
• accept and fulfill God's will, have no doubt that He, like a father, cares about people and always gives them what they need for earthly life
• be able to forgive offenders and refrain from temptations and evil.

Prayer of Concord

The prayer of consent is effective only if the believer is in agreement with himself and with other people. It bestows benefit only if a person sincerely believes in God. If you argue and quarrel with the people around you, gossip about them, and then turn to the Lord with a prayer of agreement, then you will not be heard. The Lord appreciates the prayer of agreement, because he knows how difficult it is for people on this sinful earth to live in harmony and peace with each other. God honors and hears every person who strives for peace.

The text of the prayer goes like this:

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God. You said with Your most pure lips: “I tell you people, if two people agree and make peace about all things on earth, you will have it from My Father, the Most High in Heaven: where two or three have gathered in agreement and glorify My name, then I am among them . Your words are immutable, Lord, your mercy is limitless and your love for mankind has no end. Therefore, we pray to You: grant to us, Your Servants (proper names), the fulfillment of our request (we need to state the request). We want peace and harmony, just as You bequeathed to us. Thy will be done forever. Amen".

Very often, such a prayer is often read simultaneously by several people. In this case, people then formulate their requests mentally.

The main sources of text for composing prayers in Orthodoxy

Some prayers are mentioned in the Holy Scriptures (that is, in the Bible ) - the Gospel ("Our Father", the Publican's Prayer) and the Old Testament (Psalter of King David). In addition, for righteousness the Lord sometimes gives saints the gift of composing prayers. Many famous prayers were composed by saints in ancient times and recognized by the Church.

Most Russian Orthodox prayers are written in Church Slavonic. However, since the 19th century, prayers began to appear in Russian (akathist “Glory to God for everything”, prayer of the Optina elders). With the advent of new saints, new prayers appear.

The Synodal Liturgical Commission is responsible for compiling, editing and approving the texts of new prayers and rites in the Russian Orthodox Church

How to learn prayer?

When someone complains that they cannot learn to pray, it is reasonable to ask, how do you learn?

• It is necessary to study the experience of those who have succeeded in prayer. There are many books about this. See books on prayer.
• It is necessary to attend church services, where everything is adapted for concentration on prayer.
• Regular personal prayer is important.

Just as an athlete must force himself to work during training, a Christian puts effort into praying even when he does not feel like it.

Prayer is what causes the natural rebellion of fallen human nature.

On the one hand, prayer is a gift from God. But the gift of prayer is given to the one who prays. When a person forces himself to constant, daily prayer, then, in the end, he acquires both the skill and grace that strengthens him in the feat of prayer.

Do not confuse prayer and prayer: the first is from the heart, the second is from the mouth.

St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov): All obstacles encountered in the field of prayer are overcome by constancy in prayer.

Types of prayers and their classification

The contents of the prayers are:

• repentant
• petitions
• thanks
• laudatory (glorifying)
• intercessory

Repentant prayers are the most important, in them believers ask God to forgive their sins - bad deeds, words and thoughts. Repentant prayers were addressed to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Mother of God. Believers ask Christ as God to forgive them, and the Mother of God to intercede with God and pray for the forgiveness of the one praying. Any petitionary appeal to God must begin with a prayer of repentance.

Petitionary prayer , or prayer of petition, as the name suggests, is meant to ask for something for yourself. They ask God for health, prosperity for the family, and help in business. They ask God not only for earthly blessings, but also for strength in the fight against temptation.

for everything He gives them : for food, for a well-lived day or night, and for any blessings. Prayers of thanksgiving are read to the Lord God every day in the morning, evening and after meals.

Prayers of praise glorify the greatness of God : God is almighty, good and merciful to everyone. The Holy Fathers consider prayers of praise to be the highest, purest form of prayer.

In intercessory prayers, believers ask God for mercy not for themselves, but for their neighbors, that is, they intercede for them before God.

You cannot pray to God for assistance in sinful deeds and for the fulfillment of evil thoughts.

For example, we cannot ask God to punish our enemies or help us deceive or seduce someone. Such a prayer is blasphemy.

Also, we should not ask God for wealth, fame and other vain things that are superfluous to us. Christ commanded to ask for our daily bread, and not for excesses.

How to pray? Depth of Prayer

In Orthodoxy, prayer varies in degrees, depending on how deeply a person prays, whether he turns to God with his whole being. Prayers can be

• verbal
• mental

Verbal prayer , otherwise called bodily or oral , involves reading aloud the texts of prayers created by Christian leaders and approved by the church. A person says the words of prayer, bows at the appointed time, tries not to be distracted by thoughts from prayer, but is not deeply involved in prayer. Verbal prayer is the only one available to most lay people and even monks. This is the first, lowest degree of prayer.

Mental prayer is a special activity of thoughts and feelings focused on God.

Mental prayer is a special activity of thoughts and feelings focused on God. In this state, the words of prayer are not spoken out loud, but only in the mind. Mental prayers, in turn, also differ:

• mental prayer (or internal) is the second degree of depth. At the same time, the mind of the person praying is completely concentrated in prayer and ascends to God continuously, regardless of what the person is doing. Such prayer cannot be practiced without a spiritual guide.
• prayer of the heart, or mental-heart prayer, is the third degree of prayer, when not only the mind, but also the feelings of a person are involved in prayer. It is accessible to very few monks and is described in monastic writings on prayer.
• spiritual prayer is the highest degree of prayer, when the spirit of the person praying is entirely in God. Only angels and very few saints are capable of this.

Under what conditions should you pray?

Prayers can be

• collective (public or private)
• individual

Collective public prayers are performed in the church, during worship (for example, at the liturgy). The peculiarity of such prayers is that they are performed together with strangers. At the service, prayers are said for all those gathered by the priest, deacon, readers, and choir. The participation of those gathered in prayer consists of listening carefully to the words of the service.

Collective private (or family) prayers are read at home with the family: the words of the prayer are repeated in chorus by all family members, with the exception of very young children. This is how they pray on solemn occasions, on holidays, before and after meals, and the prayer of spouses for the gift of children is also performed. A family is a small church, and common family prayer can be considered a type of public prayer.

Individual prayer is performed by a person in solitude: at home, on the street, in church, when there is no service there.

Orthodox prayer is performed standing or kneeling; sitting for prayer is allowed only in a limited number of cases: either in case of illness and extreme fatigue, or when the person praying is not able to stand up for prayer (for example, when traveling in transport).

Prayer of petition

Prayers of petition are the most common and sought after. It necessarily contains the believer’s request for some benefits. But it should be understood that a person can be heard by God only if he is not able to cope with the problems that arise on his own. People often turn to the Holy Mother of God with prayer for help.

The text of one of the prayers, which is known as “The Inexhaustible Chalice,” reads as follows:

“Mistress of heaven, Almighty, Holy Mother of God. I turn to You with a humble prayer and great hope. Grant me your grace, help me get rid of everything dark in my life, remove all filth and human malice from my life. Hear me, Mother of God, have mercy on me and give me a helping hand. I pray to You, help me get out of the darkness and know the joy of a bright life. Send down your grace and your great mercy on me, awaken faith in the future in my soul. I pray, remember me and pray to the Lord for my well-being. Amen".

This prayer will only be answered if you are a sincere person and have repented of your sins.

What does it take for God to hear a prayer?

When does God hear our prayer?

God knows all our deeds and intentions, and therefore He always hears all our prayers. However, He may not grant what we ask.

Why does God sometimes not answer our prayers?

God does not answer our prayers if we pray for something that is sinful to pray for, or when the fulfillment of our request will not benefit us. In this case, God may not answer our prayer or answer, but not immediately and not in the form in which we asked.

Therefore, when asked for something, you need to add: “God, not my will, but Yours be done.”

God does not answer the prayers of people who live in sin and do not want to repent, as well as those who repent and ask God for forgiveness, but do not want to forgive those who are guilty before them.

God also does not accept careless prayer, which is done hastily and inattentively.

You should also not ask God for what you can do yourself. In this case, it is inappropriate to place trust in God.

How to Pray

Having opened the Gospel, we learn the commandments of Christ about prayer, given by Him in the Sermon on the Mount:

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners, so that they may appear before people. Truly I tell you that they are already receiving their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room and, having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly” (Matthew 6: 5-6).

True, the literal meaning of this commandment seems vain to us. And indeed, living in an anti-Christian society, we are unlikely to become famous if we pray ostentatiously in various public places and at crossroads. We're more likely to be mistaken for crazy people. So in our time, few people dare to repeat this dubious “feat” of the ancient hypocrites.

But this commandment has another, spiritual meaning. After all, in any society and place there is always at least one attentive spectator, often for whose sake we perform various good deeds, including praying. Who is this viewer? It's yourself. For our fallen nature tends to remember our good deeds, to be proud and arrogant about them.

This is especially characteristic of those “ascetics” who, having not learned to pray at all, try to perform special prayers, most often to “Jesus.” They usually scrupulously count, remember their number and fight with might and main for it. But... according to the above commandment of the Savior, this is futile work.

The following rule is true here: “What we remember, God forgets; and what we forget, He remembers.” We remember our virtues, but the Lord forgets them; and if we forget them, He will remember. For our fallen nature, the first is characteristic (to see ourselves as very virtuous), and the last is very difficult. But it is necessary, otherwise the prayer will not work. I’ll also tell you how to achieve this last thing - for this you need to have a firm Orthodox faith in the dogma of the Redemption. This is the only way a Christian can learn not to remember the good deeds he has done - otherwise there is no other way!

What does the Savior say further about prayer:

“And when you pray, do not say too much, like the pagans, for they think that for their many words they will be heard; Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:7-8).

According to the interpretation of this passage of Holy Scripture by Blessed Theophylact:

“Much verbosity is idle talk: for example, begging for something earthly - for power, wealth, victory. Polyphony is also inarticulate speech, like the speech of children. So, don't be an empty talker. One should not make long prayers, but short ones, but continually remain in short prayer.”

The pagans, “having known God, did not glorify Him as God, and did not give thanks, but became futile in their speculations, and their foolish hearts were darkened; calling themselves wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds, and four-footed creatures, and creeping things” (Rom. 1: 21-23).

Therefore, they invented for themselves many “gods”, each of whom was responsible for something earthly: this same power, wealth, victory, etc. Therefore, fearing to offend any of these “gods” of theirs, they tried to please everyone in prayer. That's why they were verbose.

Just as, for example, pagan Athens was so filled with idols (they also tried to please every “god”) that the Apostle Paul, while staying in this city, was even “troubled in spirit” (Acts 17: 16). So little of this, fearing that even with all their zeal they had forgotten some idol, the prudent Athenians also specially created an altar “to the unknown God” (cf. Acts 17: 23) - this is for those whom they did not honor with a temple! This is what St. Paul took advantage of for his sermon in the Areopagus.

For us, the following is important in all this: the pagans distorted the image of God, because of which they could not pray in such a way as to be heard by God. And indeed, even in our ordinary conversations we speak differently with different persons: differently with our mother, differently with our father; otherwise with the master, otherwise with the slave; otherwise with a friend, otherwise with an enemy, etc. After all, a lot depends on the face of the interlocutor, and if we start talking to him out of rank, then no conversation will work. It’s the same in prayer—conversation with God.

But although the pagans distorted the image of God, they still believed that there was a God or gods. And someone who comes from atheism must learn this too. Until he has mastered this, his prayer comes up with some kind of empty space. Which, by the way, very conveniently flows into the previous one - when such a hypocritical “prayer book”, not seeing God, prays for show in front of himself.

If a Christian overcomes this temptation, then he needs to understand the properties of God. For now demons, as well as some false teachers, are trying to portray God as either only merciful and forgiving; or only the righteous and punishing for everything. In the first case, according to their false teaching, “there is no need to pray,” for the Lord “will forgive everything anyway.” And in the second - “there is no point in prayer,” for the Righteous Judge “still will not have mercy.”

Christians of this evil age willingly fall for this demonic bait because of their excessive sinfulness. We are afraid to present our monstrous sins to the judgment of God, so we often expect only mercy from Him. When, naturally, we don’t receive it alone, then we fall into despondency or, even worse, into despair. And then we no longer pray, thinking that there is no mercy.

The following is correct here.

No matter how terrible our sins are, we should confess them to the Lord in confession and prayer. For God is righteous and sees everything: as a certain blessed elder said: “Neither He will deceive you, nor you will deceive Him.”

But at the same time, one must have firm faith in the mercy of the Redeemer, which, according to the saints, is an ocean of mercy in which, like a drop of vinegar, all our sins, no matter how monstrous they may be, dissolve and disappear without a trace.

But this does not happen on its own, not by virtue of God’s mercy alone, but only when we make an effort to this in confession and/or in prayer. For

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and those who use force take it” (Matthew 11:12).

If a Christian does this, he will begin to truly pray. He will feel like a man who is drowning in the swamp of his own sins or hanging over the abyss of his iniquities, and calls for help in the hope that someone will hear him. This call is a semblance of prayer. Therefore, just as the perishing person who thinks to be saved by his own cry, a call for help, will seem to us insane, so is the above-mentioned hypocrite who thinks to be saved only by numerous repetitions of prayers to be saved.

No, it is necessary that someone hears the dying person and comes to his aid: helps him get out of the abyss, pulls him out of the swamp: this is similar to the first type of prayer - petitionary, when we ask the Lord for something. And if such a helper is not always found in the world, then in spiritual life the Savior always remains next to us and waits for us to prayerfully call on Him.

How to behave during prayer?

When a person prays in his own words, he can bring his sinful thoughts and passions into prayer and begin to pray for things that are not pleasing to God. Therefore, first of all, it is preferable to read prayers, the text of which is established by the Church and is the same for everyone, and only after that turn to God with your personal request.

Before you pray, you need to ask for forgiveness from those people to whom you are guilty. This is what Christ himself commanded. If there is no such opportunity - for example, the person you offended is far from you - ask God to send you this opportunity and make peace with the person personally.

The Christian Church has long had rules of prayer that are the same for everyone, both in church and at home.

• Since the time of the apostles, there has been a custom of being baptized during prayer.
• While standing in prayer, do not be distracted by extraneous thoughts.
• Pray slowly and reverently.
• To focus on prayer, say the words of the prayer out loud or in a whisper, comprehending each word.
• Praying carelessly, rushing, trying to complete the prayer quickly is a sin.

Why does God not always grant our prayers or is slow to fulfill them?

• Because people often live without God, do not fulfill His commandments and call on Him only with a consumerist attitude. This attitude can be called “prayer bribery.” In the Holy Scriptures we read: “And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22). In the words of one theologian, “we speak too often of His silence, but too rarely of our deafness.”

• Because we are unmerciful. According to St. John Chrysostom “What do you hope that God will give you what you ask for, if you have not given it to your neighbor?”

• Because the time has not yet come. We do not have omniscience, like God, who always knows absolutely exactly what and when we need for salvation.

• Because we want to get it without difficulty. Sometimes those who pray are like children, but not in the sense of sincerity to which Christ called, but in the demand to receive what they ask for immediately and without difficulty. There is a saying: Pray as if everything depends only on God; act as if everything depends only on you. The Lord is waiting for us to make our own efforts to achieve what we ask. He is ready to help us, to give His grace, and we ask him to do it for us.

Rev. Abba Dorotheos: “If you ask for seed for your field, then first fertilize the field to receive the seed.”

• Because we decide for God how He should answer our request. We believe that a prayer should be fulfilled in a certain way, but God always knows how best to fulfill it, because we can make mistakes, but He cannot. For example, if a person asks for attention in prayer, God does not automatically deprive him of his thoughts, but brings him to the church shop to a book that teaches undistracted prayer. Or we ask for the health of a seriously ill person, and God will not heal him, but through illness or earthly death he will bring his loved ones to himself and save the sick person through their prayers.

• To give us even more, rewarding our patience (John 20:29). A person develops by overcoming difficulties; the same pattern applies to spiritual life. Some ascetics did not pray to God for deliverance from passions, wanting great crowns in the Kingdom of Heaven.

• When we ask for something that is not beneficial. What we want is not always good. God desires eternal salvation and bliss for every person, and not momentary consolation.

• The duration of requests tests the degree of desire. No wonder it is said: “Be patient in prayer.” Let's look at examples from the Gospel: the paralytic waited for healing at the pool for 38 years; bent woman 18 years old, bleeding woman 12 years old.

Often, after fervent prayer, a person thinks: “Do I really need this?” The praying spirit not only knocks on the doors of Heaven. He also descends into the depths of the heart. Having passed the surface layers, those places where habitual desires live, a person goes deeper, to where these desires may no longer be there. There may be other needs and requests that are more important and not so noticeable at first glance.

• At the same time, we can say that prayer is never unanswered. According to Rev. John of the Climacus: “Being in prayer for a long time and not seeing fruit, do not say: I have gained nothing. For the very stay in prayer is already an acquisition; and what good is above all, to cleave to the Lord and remain unceasingly in union with Him?

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Types of prayers

The rich experience of Christian life, expressed in the teachings of the Holy Fathers, allows us to distinguish several types of prayer.

Prayer of Praise

Saint Basil the Great teaches us, before asking the Lord for anything, to turn to the Creator with words of glorification:

“When you pray, do not suddenly start asking... Begin by praising Him who created everything.”

Jesus Christ began his prayers to the Father by glorifying the Name of the Heavenly Father:

“At that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said: I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Hey, Father! For such was Your good pleasure” (Luke 10:21).

Imitating His Teacher, the Apostle Paul calls us to pray “with one mind and one mouth to glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 15:6).

During the service, the 103rd Psalm of King David is read, which is one of the examples of prayer of praise. It praises the Lord as the All-Wise Creator and Creator.

Bread texts – akathists – are widespread in the Church. These are chants that glorify the Lord, the Mother of God or the saints.

Petitionary prayer

Petitionary prayer is an appeal to the Lord with one’s requests and needs. We can ask for mental and physical health.

“Whoever never brings petitions to God has little faith in His grace and power, or does not believe at all,” says Saint Philaret (Drozdov).

Why ask the Lord for something, since He already knows what we need? Having created us free, the Lord awaits our free turn to Him. According to the saints, “although God created us without us, he cannot save us without us.”

Archbishop Averky (Taushev), interpreting the Gospel words “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, press and it will be opened to you” (Matthew: 7: 7-7), says:

“The Lord teaches constancy, patience and diligence in prayer. A true Christian who remembers the Lord’s instruction “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” will not strive to receive anything vain that is harmful to the salvation of the soul. Therefore, he can be sure that through his prayer what will be given and will be opened to him. As the Lord promises to those who pray earnestly.”

In the New Testament we see what Jesus Christ Himself asked of His Heavenly Father. Let us recall the episode of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane:

“And going away a little, he fell on his face, prayed and said: My Father! if possible, let this cup pass from Me; however, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).

In church services we encounter many petitionary prayers: litanies, prayers (“Save, O God, Thy people..”).

Prayer of repentance

Every person makes mistakes and breaks the commandments. In order to regain spiritual purity, repentant crying for one’s sins is necessary. After all, sins are the main obstacle to holiness.

Outwardly, a prayer of repentance is similar to a petition. However, their semantic content still differs. If in a petition we seek earthly blessings, then in a penance we ask for forgiveness of sins.

Repentance is the main theme in the sermons of John the Baptist. It is with the words “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17) that the sermon of Jesus Christ begins.

“I exhort, ask and beg you to confess before God more often,” says St. Ephraim the Syrian. “I am not bringing you out to disgrace before slaves like you, nor am I forcing you to reveal your sins to men.” Open your conscience before God, show Him your wounds, ask Him for healing, show yourself not to the one who reproaches, but to the one who heals.”

A large number of prayers of repentance are contained in the Canon of Repentance, the Follow-up to Holy Communion, prayers before Confession, as well as the Canon of Repentance of St. Andrew of Crete.

Prayer of thanksgiving

The Lord is the source of our blessings. It is through His Grace that we receive everything we need. The natural consequence of man's love for God is gratitude.

“Whoever does not give thanks,” says St. Philaret of Moscow, “does such injustice to the heavenly Giver of all blessings that even among people in relation to earthly benefactors is condemned and punished with general contempt.”

What should we thank the Lord for? The Church teaches us to give thanks not only for what we have and received through prayer. But even for what is not given to us, I believe that everything happens according to the Will of God for our good.

The most important service of the Orthodox Church, the Eucharist, is translated as “thanksgiving.” Thanks to God is found in the sequence of the Thanksgiving Moleben, prayers after communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

Intercessory Prayer

The Lord calls us to ask not only for ourselves, but also for our neighbors. Therefore, we can and should pray for our family, friends and even enemies. The Church especially calls us to pray for earthly rulers.

This church tradition is based on the call of the Apostle Paul:

“Therefore, first of all, I urge that prayers, petitions, supplications, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and for all those in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and purity...” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

During prayer you should beware of:

• Games of imagination, imagine those to whom you are addressing.
• Searching for states of grace. It is necessary to exclude artificial heating of emotions, so as not to mistake spiritual consolation for spiritual and not take the path of spiritual self-satisfaction.
• Visions and revelations. They should not be trusted and considered unworthy of them. From “Fatherland”: The devil appeared to a certain brother, transformed into an Angel of Light, and said to him: “I am the Archangel Gabriel, sent to you.” The monk answered: “Look! to whom else were you sent? because I am not worthy to have angels sent to me.” The devil immediately disappeared.
• Backbiting. “The church fathers strictly forbade the invocation of curses, even on the heads of enemies - in prayer for others you can only ask for what you ask for yourself, that is, mainly for heavenly and spiritual benefits.” patrolologist A.I. Sidorov

Why do prayers sometimes come true, but not the way we would like?

God is wise and omniscient; He always offers man what is effective and feasible for man. Its action is aimed primarily at spiritual healing, salvation in eternity.

Prot. Maxim Kozlov: “You need to realize the value of prayer. Let's say, a mother asking for deliverance from the passion of drug addiction for her son must understand that this is least likely to happen in such a way that tomorrow he will wake up like a lamb, having forgotten about his addictions, hardworking, abstinent and loving his neighbors. Most likely, when asking for her son’s deliverance, she is asking him for sorrows, illnesses, certain very difficult life circumstances that the son may encounter - perhaps the army, prison. The value of prayer must be realized, but nevertheless one must pray for the right thing and not fear God.”