Among Orthodox prayers, petitions for health and well-being in the family stand out. And this is not surprising, because it is difficult to be happy when a person has constant quarrels and troubles in the family. It is much easier for an Orthodox person to cope with problems and crisis periods in life, because he can turn to the Lord, the Most Holy Theotokos, for help.
In addition, we are helped by a whole host of Orthodox saints, through prayer to whom many problems in life and in family relationships are miraculously solved. Which saints can you pray for the well-being of your family and friends? How to do this correctly?
Who can you pray to for your family?
First of all, you need to understand that there is no strictly defined saint who “specializes” exclusively in helping with family relationships. Saints are not wizards and sorcerers who have some special skills in a certain area. Saints are ascetics who managed to live their lives in such a way that they earned the right to become at the right hand of the Lord in His Kingdom. And when we pray to them, they can intercede for us before the Savior.
You can pray to the patron saints to create a good, strong family
Our request in sincere prayer is fulfilled not by the saints themselves, but by the Lord God. Even during the life of the holy wonderworkers, they always said that they did not heal and perform other miracles on their own, but only by the power and name of Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, today a mystical and magical attitude towards saints and prayer to them is very common. Very often people look for strong saints, strong prayers, completely not understanding that there are no strong and weak saints. The fact that certain saints help in certain situations is determined by the practice of prayer and the experience of turning to them.
Very often the “specialization” of a saint is related to the circumstances of his life. Thus, Saint Panteliimon the Healer and Saint Luke Voino-Yasenetsky were doctors during their lifetimes and saved lives, which is why it is customary to pray to them for health. Saint Nicholas tamed the storm and saved the ship in which he and a large number of people were sailing from sinking, so he is revered as the patron saint of travelers. Nevertheless, this does not mean at all that you cannot pray to Saint Panteleimon for anything other than a request for health.
Important! The power of prayer depends, first of all, on our sincere faith, on the purity of our hearts, on the intention to live a true Christian life.
Returning to the topic of family patrons, we can say that absolutely any saint can be the spiritual intercessor of a believing family. Very often these are the ascetics whose day of veneration coincides with the day of the couple’s wedding. In addition, you can pray for the well-being of your family and friends to saints who are especially revered in the family circle. These may be the Heavenly patrons of children and parents, given to them during the Sacrament of Baptism; there may simply be saints, prayer to whom bestows special spiritual joy, from which a response is felt.
About family in Orthodoxy:
- Patriarchal family in modern Orthodoxy
- Is it necessary for Orthodox families to have many children?
- Violence in family
By and large, to find your family patron, you just need to not give up the practice of constant prayer. People who pray daily and regularly gradually find those saints whose prayers are special and give a tangible response. Nevertheless, in Orthodox practice there are saints, in front of whose icons it is customary to pray for the well-being of the family.
Story
The appearance of the first icons for preserving family and love is considered to be based on religious images depicting the three heavenly patrons. The origin of this iconographic type dates back to the 6th century on the Sinai Peninsula, which is located in Egypt. Then, this territory belonged to the Byzantine state. Later, at the end of the 14th century, the artistic creativity of Russian icon painters managed to surprise all clergy and Orthodox believers with their unique exhibitions depicting patron saints, presented in the Four-Part Icon.
Further, already in the 16th century, new works appeared with images of the main saints, acting as icons for family well-being.
Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom
The Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, which has become very popular in recent years, is celebrated on the day of remembrance of the holy princes Peter and Fevronia of Murom. This couple became an example of Christian marriage.
Icon of Peter and Fevronia of Murom
Peter was of a princely family, and he was overcome by illness - his whole body was covered with ulcers and scabs. No doctor could heal him. A simple girl, Fevronia, who had the gift of healing, found out about the prince’s illness. But she set a condition - she would heal Peter only if he married her.
Of course, the noble prince did not at all want to take a simple girl without family as his wife. And he deceived the girl by making a promise that he had no intention of keeping. Then Fevronia healed the prince and he immediately left her. But very little time passed, and the disease returned with renewed vigor. Then the prince realized that he had sinned greatly by breaking his oath. He returned to Fevronia with a guilty head, and soon they became husband and wife. The disease has receded, this time completely.
Peter and Fevronia lived a long and happy life. Their princely rule was wise and merciful, since both sincerely believed in the Lord and tried to fulfill His commandments with their lives. In old age, both took monastic vows, however, they commanded to bury themselves together, in a single coffin.
The saints died on the same day and hour, each in his own cell. According to monastic custom, they decided that it was not appropriate to bury monks of different sexes together, so the dying will was violated, and the bodies for burial were taken in separate coffins to different churches. Imagine everyone’s surprise when the next morning, just before burial, the dead lay together again. So they were buried, and the image of Peter and Fevronia of Murom became an example of a true Christian family.
They pray to Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom for happiness in marriage, for an early meeting with their soulmate, for the reconciliation of spouses, for the well-being of relatives.
Prayer to Peter and Fevronia of Murom
About the greatness of the saint of God and the wonderful miracle workers, the good faith of Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia, the representative and guardian of the city of Murom, and about all of us, zeal for the Lord, prayer books! We come running to you and pray to you with strong hope: offer up your holy prayers to the Lord God for us sinners, and ask His goodness for all that is good for souls and bodies. we: true faith, good hope, unfeigned love, unshakable piety, in good deeds prosperity, peace of peace, fruitfulness of the earth, prosperity of the air, health of body and salvation of souls. Ask the King of Heavenly Church of the Saints and the entire Russian Empire for peace, silence and prosperity, and for all of us a prosperous life and a good Christian death. Protect your Fatherland and all Russian cities from all evil; and overshadow all the faithful people who come to you and worship your holy relics with the grace-filled effect of your God-pleasing prayers, and fulfill all their requests for good. Hey, holy wonderworkers! Do not despise our prayers, which we offer to you today with tenderness, but dream about us as intercessors to the Lord, and grant us, with your help, eternal salvation and the Kingdom of Heaven. inherit: let us glorify the ineffable love for mankind of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in the Trinity we worship God, in eyelids of centuries. Amen.
Answers on questions
Is it possible to take icons from the house of the deceased? Yes, you can! Place them side by side in your shrine. They should not be left in a collapsing house. Most often they are inherited.
The icon fell, what is it for? The Church does not recognize any superstitions. Strengthen it and don't think about anything. It was just poorly staged. Pick her up, kiss her, say a prayer, ask for forgiveness.
If images begin to fall very often, then invite a priest to consecrate your house.
Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
This was the youngest and most beloved disciple of Jesus Christ. His Gospel is the most imaginative and emotional of all four. It was John the Theologian who took upon himself the care of the Most Holy Theotokos after the crucifixion of Christ, honoring her as his own mother.
Icon of St. John the Evangelist
For his character and special service, the Apostle John the Theologian is considered the apostle of love. You can pray to him both for a speedy meeting with your future spouse, and for the well-being in the relationship of an already married couple.
Prayer to John the Evangelist
O great and all-praised apostle and evangelist John the Theologian, confidante of Christ, our warm intercessor and quick helper in tribulations! Pray to the Lord God to grant us forgiveness of all our sins, even the sins we have committed in our youth, throughout our entire life, in deed, word, thought and all our feelings. At the exodus of our souls, help us sinners to be delivered from airy ordeals and eternal torment, and through your merciful intercession we glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.
Iconostasis for children's
So that children learn to pray, to ask the Lord and the saints for help, place the following faces:
- Savior and Mother of God
- Icon depicting a Guardian Angel
- Nominal or dimensional icon. The measuring icon is ordered according to the height of the baby when he is born.
- The personalized icon must contain the face of a saint named after the child. How to hang icons? Can be placed on the wall or at the head. The saint will preserve the health, peace and sleep of the child. The image of the Last Supper will also protect the peace of your baby.
Holy Fathers Joachim and Anna
These saints are none other than the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They were very pious people, but did not have children until old age. In those days, childlessness was considered a curse and was highly condemned by society. Joachim and Anna fervently prayed to the Lord for the gift of a child and did not give up hope, despite their advanced age.
And just when they had almost lost their last hope, a great miracle happened - the Archangel Gabriel himself appeared to Anna to inform her about the birth of her daughter. She became the future Mother of God, named Mary at birth.
Holy Righteous Joachim and Anna
The holy parents thanked the Lord as best they could, and when the girl turned 3 years old, she was taken to the temple to be raised, where she grew up.
Since Godfathers Joachim and Anna themselves begged for a child for a long time, it is customary for them to pray to spouses who, for some reason, are deprived of the joy of parenthood. They are also turned to in difficulties with raising children, with prayers for their health and well-being.
Prayer to Saints Joachim and Anna
O holy righteous women, Godfathers Joachim and Anno! Pray to the Merciful Lord, that He may turn away His wrath from us, for our deeds are righteously moved towards us, and may, despising our countless sins, convert us, servant of God (names), on the path of repentance, and may He establish us on the path of His commandments. Also, with your prayers, save our life in the world, and ask for all good haste, all that we need from God for life and piety, freely, from all adversity and misfortune and out of the blue. stinging death through your intercession, delivering us and protecting us from all enemies, visible and invisible, and So this temporary life has passed in the world. Let us achieve eternal peace, whereby through your holy supplication may we be made worthy of the Heavenly Kingdom of Christ our God, to Him, together with the Father and the Most Holy Spirit, befits all glory, honor and worship in eyelids of centuries.
How to place icons in the house
Before the revolution, it was customary to place the faces of saints only on the wall facing east. The image should have been located opposite the entrance. People created a special place that looked like an altar. It was popularly called the “red corner”. It was customary to pray on the road, before an important event, shortly before falling asleep. The believers not only asked, but also thanked the higher powers for all the good things that happened that day.
All guests who entered the house were first baptized. He had to look at the icon, thereby confirming the purity of his intentions. Only after this could he greet the hosts.
In the house, the corner with the image was considered a sacred place. In this place it was customary to keep willow branches, a lamp, and one or more icons. The guests asked the hosts for permission to be near the altar.
Now people can place paintings depending on their personal wishes. It is necessary to take into account some recommendations so that the faces of saints truly protect homes. You cannot hang images near paintings, posters, or souvenirs. If a person wants to create a home altar, then it is necessary to allocate a separate place for it in the house. You can complement the corner with church candles and artificial flowers.
It is not recommended to place photographs of priests or temples near consecrated paintings. Such photographs are placed under the icons, on a separate shelf. People can independently decide which images of saints to place in their home. You can focus on what kind of business a person does in life. For example, the healer Panteleimon is suitable for doctors, and St. George the Victorious is suitable for military personnel.
Holy Martyrs Adrian and Natalia
Another married couple revered in Orthodoxy is Saints Adrian and Natalia, from the city of Nicomedia. Adrian worshiped pagan gods, and even served at the court of the emperor, who fiercely persecuted Christians. His wife Natalia was a secret Christian, of which there were many in those days.
By order of the emperor, more than two dozen Christians were arrested and tried before the ruler. Adrian was also present at the trial. He was amazed at the steadfastness of these people’s confession of faith and immediately joined them. His entourage did not believe what was happening, they thought that Adrian was not himself and suggested that he apologize and return to serving the emperor. But Adrian firmly professed Christianity and was arrested along with the others.
Martyrs Adrian and Natalia
When Natalia learned about her husband's arrest, she came to prison to cheer him up and strengthen him in his faith. Adrian was executed along with the rest of the Christians, and his wife Natalia soon died on her husband’s coffin.
Orthodox spouses pray to Saints Adrian and Natalia to strengthen the bonds of marriage, eliminate conflicts, and promote well-being in the family.
Prayer to Saints Adrian and Natalia
Oh, sacred duo, holy martyrs of Christ, Adriana and Natalia, blessed spouses and noble sufferers! Hear us praying to you with tears, and send down upon us all that is good for our souls and bodies, and pray to Christ God to have mercy on us and deal with us in His mercy, so that we do not perish in our sins. To her, holy martyrs, accept the voice of our prayer and deliver us with your prayers from famine, destruction, cowardice, flood, fire, hail, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare, from from death and from all troubles, sorrows and illnesses, let me take you out, With your prayers and intercession of strength, let us glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, together with His Beginning Father and the Most Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
Holy Martyrs Gury, Samon and Aviv
These saints lived in the third century AD. Gury and Samon were the first to be arrested and tortured, by order of the emperor. Christianity in those centuries was severely exterminated, followers of the faith were sought out and arrested. Most Christians were secret, meeting at night in caves and other shelters, unable to openly profess their faith.
Aviv was a deacon of the Edessa church, and he surrendered himself to the authorities so that other believers would not be found through him. He was executed and buried next to Simon and Gury, so these saints are revered together.
Confessors Gury, Aviv and Samon
Traditionally, Guriy, Samon and Aviv are considered the heavenly patrons of all married women. Wives pray to these saints when they are in a quarrel with their husbands, in order to soften their hearts and smooth out the conflict.
Prayer to the holy martyrs Guria, Samon and Aviv
About the saints of the martyr and confessor of Christ Guria, Samon and Aviv! Warm intercessors and prayer books for us before God, in the tenderness of our hearts, looking at your most pure image, we humbly pray to you: hear us, sinful and unworthy servants of yours, who are in troubles, sorrows and misfortunes, and having seen our grave and countless sins, reveal Your great mercy to us, raise us up from the depths of sin, enlighten our minds, soften the evil and damned heart, stop the envy, enmity and strife that live in us. Overshadow us with peace, love and the fear of God, beg the merciful Lord to cover the multitude of our sins with His ineffable mercy. May she preserve her Holy Church from unbelief, heresies and schisms. May he give our country peace, prosperity, and fertility of the land; love and harmony for spouses; obedience to children; patience for the offended; those who offend the fear of God; complacency to those who mourn; those who rejoice abstain. May He cover us all with His all-powerful right hand, and may He deliver us from famine, destruction, cowardice, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare, and vain deaths. May He protect us with the militia of His holy angels, so that upon our departure from this life we will be delivered from the wiles of the evil one and his secret aerial ordeals, and may we present ourselves uncondemned to the Throne of the Lord of Glory, where the faces of the saints, the Angels and all the saints, glorify the most holy and magnificent name of the Father and the Son. and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker
It is impossible to imagine a single Orthodox Christian who would not know about St. Nicholas the Pleasant. During his lifetime, this saint saved a poor father from poverty, who was ready to send his three daughters to a brothel for food. Saint Nicholas secretly came to the house at night and threw bags of gold to the poor family. Thanks to this, the honor of the girls was saved and they later married safely and happily.
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker
Therefore, in folk tradition, Nicholas the Wonderworker began to be revered as the patron saint of young girls who want to get happily married.
Prayer to Nicholas the Ugodnik
Oh, all-validated and all-honorable bishop, great miracle worker, saint of Christ, Father Nicholas, man of God, and faithful servant, man of desires, chosen vessel, strong pillar of the church noble, bright, shining star and illuminating the whole universe, you are righteous, like a flourishing phoenix , planted in the court of your Lord: alive in Mirech, you smelled of myrrh, and the myrrh flowed with the ever-flowing grace of God. By your procession, most holy father, the sea was sanctified, when your many miraculous relics marched to the city of Barsky, from east to west to praise the name of the Lord. Oh, most graceful and wonderful miracle worker, quick helper, warm intercessor, good shepherd, saving the verbal flock from all troubles, we glorify you and magnify you, as the hope of all Christians , source of miracles, protector of the faithful, wise teacher, hungry for the feeder, crying joy, naked robe, the sick doctor, the steward floating on the sea, the liberator's captives, the widows and orphans of the nourisher and protector, the guardian of chastity, the babies of the gentle punisher, the old fortifications, the guardians of the mentor, labor for those awaiting repose, for the poor and wretched, abundant wealth. Hear us praying to you and running under your roof, show your intercession for us to the Most High and intercede with your God-pleasing prayers all that is useful for the salvation of our souls and bodies: preserve this holy monastery (or: this temple), all this city and all and every Christian country, and the living people, from all embitterment through your help: we know, we know that the prayer of the righteous can do much, hastening for good: for you the righteous according to the most blessed De Hail Mary, representative to the All-Merciful God of the Imam, and to your most gracious Father, warm We humbly flow to intercession and intercession: guard us like a cheerful and good shepherd, from all enemies, destruction, cowardice, hail, famine, flood, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners, and in all troubles oh and our sorrows, give us a helping hand and open the doors God's mercy; We are still unworthy to behold the heights of Heaven, because of the multitude of our untruths: we are bound by the bonds of sin, and neither by the will of our Creator nor by the preservation of His commandments. At the same time, we bow our knees to contrite and humble our hearts towards our Creator, and we ask for your fatherly intercession to him: help us, servant of God, so that we do not perish with our iniquities, deliver us from control our minds from all evil and from all things that are opposed, and strengthen our hearts in the right faith, in it, through your intercession and intercession, we will not suffer wounds, nor reprimand, nor pestilence, nor any wrath from the Creator, but we will live a peaceful life here, and yes let us be worthy to see good things on the earth of the living, glorifying Father and Son and Holy Spirit, one in the Trinity, glorified and worshiped God, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Appeal to Matrona of Moscow
Matrona of Moscow
The image of Matrona is in almost every home. And this is no coincidence! The Holy Elder helps in all the needs that a person can experience.
Where to hang the Matrona icon? The main rule is that it should stand in the eastern corner on a shelf in front of a burning lamp, and not hang.
- The image should be opposite the entrance on the right hand;
- When entering a room, a person should see exactly this image;
- Only church books or objects can be placed near the image.
There is a special day when prayer to Matronushka has great power. This is the day of remembrance of the saint - May 2.
