Prayer for your neighbor: reading the Gospel about the health and happiness of relatives, protection of the family, advice from clergy

Do you know what the Gospel is? This is the life of Jesus Christ, the New Testament. In total, Orthodox Christians have four Gospels: John, Mark, Luke and Matthew. Moreover, the Gospel of John was written somewhat later than the others.

Why do we read the Gospel? To strengthen the soul. Is there a Gospel prayer for one's neighbor? And in general, how to pray for loved ones? This article is dedicated to exactly this.

What is the Gospel?

Translated from Greek, the word “gospel” means “good news.” Indeed, these four books written by the apostles bring joyful news to the world. People are liberated and saved from death and sin. The Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, came into the world.

The Gospel tells us about the birth, life, teaching and death of Christ. By His terrible and shameful death, at that time, the Lord saved the human race. Why did He do this? Why did He need this? Out of great love for people.

The Son of God knew that He would be betrayed. He also knew that he would have to endure betrayal, torment and death. He was probably scared like a simple person. It was not for nothing that the Lord prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, asking the Heavenly Father for deliverance from a terrible fate.

But not as I want, but as You want.

How do you need to love in order to know everything in advance and still take this step? The Savior knew that he would be betrayed. And he did not give up saving the human race.

His entire earthly journey is described in the Gospel.

Meaning and interpretation of each part

Every word in the prayer “Creed” is filled with deep meaning, since it sets out the essence of Christianity in the most condensed form.

The prayer of the creed begins with the word “I believe,” which applies to all subsequent parts of the text. I believe - that means I feel God within myself without logical evidence of reason, visual, auditory, tactile signals. The continuation of the prayer of “one God” means that life and its manifestations are given by God, and are not his reflection, as in paganism. The connection with the world is characterized as the relationship of a loving Father to his brainchild: “God the Father.” His unconditional role is emphasized by the words “Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, everything visible and invisible.”
The second part of the prayer speaks of a single leader (Lord), the bearer of divine will on Earth - Jesus Christ. Christ or Messiah is the savior of the world from sin. Jesus Christ is the son of God, the Only Begotten, and not created like Adam and Eve. Therefore Jesus is God. He received the human essence that connected him with other people from his mother, the Virgin Mary.
The role of Jesus Christ is briefly and succinctly indicated: He came into the world to save it from destruction. The world, created by love and in the name of love, was transformed as a result of a substitution: under the guise of good, evil began to rule the world. People no longer feel that instead of love there is a war of all against all, that the world is heading towards death and decay.
This part mentions Pontius Pilate - the man who gave the criminal order. He was clothed with the power of the Roman Caesar and had freedom of choice, but he was afraid of the evil crowd and, knowing that Jesus was innocent, decided to execute him. The two communions “suffered and buried” contain all the torment that the Son of God endured before death, and the triumph of life before death. There is no word “dead” in the prayer, which foreshadows his resurrection. Every person has a choice whether to accept salvation through the suffering of Christ or not. The essence of Christian doctrine lies in the beginning of the phrase “crucified...”. God in the form of a man came into the world with love and was rejected and innocently executed. Evil people hated him because he radiated goodness and love, but they could not overcome their vices.
Belief in the resurrection of Christ is the cornerstone of Christianity. This is its main difference from religions that talk about the immortal soul and the perishability of the physical shell. Christ rose as a man, and not an ephemeral entity. “I believe” at the beginning of the Creed means that Christians believe in their resurrection in physical form.
The words about ascension to heaven should be understood not figuratively, but as the spiritual side of life. In Christianity, the earth is matter, the sky is spirituality, where God reigns. Jesus Christ was reunited with the Father by rising from death.
One phrase summarizes what the attitude of Christians should be towards their life and death. The Kingdom of God is not a gathering place for the righteous; it must be in every believer who lives according to the laws of goodness, love, beauty, and perfection. The second coming of Christ does not mean the judgment of the master over the slaves, but the consciousness of Christians of their spiritual imperfection, purifying fear and repentance.
“I also believe in the Holy Spirit...” God the Father is the source/emitter of love, Jesus Christ is his successor, the Holy Spirit is a gift/love that enlightens the soul and mind. He descends on the chosen ones (prophets), through whom holy truths reach people.
This part describes the church:

united - united by doctrine and faith;
saint – cleansing people from sins;
conciliar - addressed to the whole world, and not to individual nations;
apostolic - the teachings of Christ were and are carried to people by the apostles chosen by God. Church, translated from Greek, means “gathering of those who are called,” that is, believers.
Faith in baptism is faith in the sacrament that immersion in water in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit brings one closer to God and gives hope for the forgiveness of sins.
/12. The prayer ends with the word “tea” (waiting) for “the resurrection of the dead.” It must be understood as the completion of a logical chain: I want, I love, I’m waiting.

The “Creed” prayer is not about the well-being of a Christian, but about the recognition of his imperfection, sinfulness and repentance.

How to read the Gospel?

What prayers for one's neighbor are there in Orthodoxy? More on this later. Now about the most important thing - reading the Gospel. We offer detailed, so to speak, instructions on this matter.

The Gospel must be on the shelf with Orthodox books and prayer books. It is unacceptable to store it together with ordinary literature.
Before you start reading, it is advisable to light a candle in front of the icons.

It all starts with an opening prayer:

Come, let us worship our King God;
Come, let us worship and fall before Christ our King God;
Come, let us worship and fall before Christ the King himself and our God.

These prayers are read with a bow after each of them. That is, only three bows.
After this, we begin to read the Gospel. With attention and reverence, reading the words and trying to understand them.
After reading the chapter, close the book.
We make the sign of the cross with the words:

Glory to Thee, our God, Glory to Thee.

After this, a prayer for the salvation of neighbors is carried out while reading the Gospel. More on this in the next section.

How we pray for loved ones

In general, every Orthodox Christian is obliged to pray for the health and peace of his neighbors every morning. In the prayer book, if you open the section of morning prayers, you can see at the end a prayer for the health of your neighbors. More precisely, about health and peace, to be precise. These prayers remember our parents, relatives, bosses, mentors and benefactors. We pray to God for them.

It is useful to submit notes of health and repose at the Liturgy. This is done in the temple, before the morning service. Notes can be submitted in the evening and will be read in the morning. If the note is ordered, then it is read at the altar and a Particle is taken out for each person. If it is simple, then it does not go to the altar. It is read simply by ministers.

Orthodox prayer for one's neighbor is a powerful thing if the petitioner prays with faith and with all his heart.

Is it possible to pray for help for a loved one?

When someone dear to us needs help, we rush to provide it. What to do if this is not possible? What is impossible for man is possible for God. A prayer for help for your neighbor will definitely be heard if you ask with all your heart.

How to pray? The simplest and most well-known prayer is “Our Father.” Do you know this one? If not, here is the text:

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, just as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation. But deliver us from evil.

And ask, persistently ask in your own words for help for a loved one. How to do it? It's simple:

Lord, help Your servant (name).

It doesn't have to be that way. Say what’s on your heart. How do children ask their parents for anything? So you and I must run to the Lord and ask. Childishly sincere and trusting.

Prayer for the salvation of the soul

Every Orthodox Christian wants his loved ones to be saved. Both the living and the deceased. Is there a prayer for the salvation of the soul of a neighbor? Let's turn to the prayer book again. Let's open the morning prayers section and get to the end of it. There we will see a prayer for health:

Save, Lord, and have mercy on my spiritual father (name), my parents (names), relatives, bosses, mentors, benefactors and all Orthodox Christians.

We read it and remember all our loved ones, asking for their salvation. Just as when reading the Gospel, we pray for the salvation and pardon of our living loved ones.

As for the deceased, in the same prayer book there is a prayer for them:

Give rest, O Lord, to the souls of Your departed servants: my parents (names), relatives and all Orthodox Christians.

These two prayers for your neighbor, or more precisely for the salvation of the souls of your neighbors, are the simplest and shortest. For the repose of every Orthodox Christian you can pray like this:

Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the eternal life of Your departed servant, our brother (name), and as Good and Lover of mankind, forgiving sins and consuming untruths, weaken, forsake and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, deliver him eternal torment and fire of Gehenna, and grant him the communion and enjoyment of Your eternal good things, prepared for those who love You: even if you sin, do not depart from You, and undoubtedly in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Your glorified God in the Trinity, Faith, and Unity in the Trinity and the Trinity in Unity, Orthodox even to the last breath of his confession. Be merciful to him, and faith, even in You instead of the works of imputation, and with Your saints, as you generously rest: for there is no man who will live and not sin. But You are the One besides all sin, and Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and You are the One God of mercies and generosity, and love for mankind, and to You we send glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

The living and the dead are remembered when reading the Psalter. Usually one kathisma is read daily. Kathisma is divided into three glories. The first is read about the health of loved ones, the second - about repose, the third - about benefactors and mentors. In general, about all relatives and acquaintances, but not relatives by blood.

Here we will make an amendment: praying according to the Psalter, as well as according to the Gospel, is possible only for baptized and churchgoers. The commemoration of suicides, magicians, and people leading an unhealthy lifestyle is excluded.

History of appearance

Before his ascension to God the Father, Jesus Christ turned to the apostles so that in his place they would carry the creed to people, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Each convert had to renounce his previous views and accept Christianity. There was a need to unify prayer. In addition, interpretations of the Gospel and new movements in Christianity appeared.

Church clergy realized that it was necessary to create a dogma of faith that would define the Christian religion.

To solve this problem, the Third Ecumenical Council was convened:

in Nicaea (325);
Constantinople (385);
Ephesus (431).

The contradictions between the bishops ended with the approval of the “Creed” prayer: at the first council 7 provisions were adopted, at the second – 5, at the third it was determined that it was not subject to further additions. After 6 centuries, as a result of dogmatic disagreements, a split occurred into the Orthodox and Catholic churches.

Holy Mother of God, save us

The Mother of God is our Helper. And we can resort to Her, asking for help, like to Mom. Pray to Her with an open soul and all your heart. Prayers to the Mother of God for our neighbors are very important. If we feel the need to pray for one or another loved one, then his soul asks for it.

Don't be afraid to ask the Virgin Mary for help. Be bold and trust in Her mercy.

First prayer: O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! Raise us, servant of God (names), from the depths of sin and deliver us from sudden death and from all evil. Grant us, O Lady, peace and health and enlighten our minds and the eyes of our hearts to salvation, and grant us, Thy sinful servants, the Kingdom of Thy Son, Christ our God: for His power is blessed with the Father and His Most Holy Spirit.
Second prayer: Most Holy Virgin, Mother of the Lord, show me, the poor, and the servants of God (names) Your ancient mercy: send down the spirit of reason and piety, the spirit of mercy and meekness, the spirit of purity and truth. Hey, Most Pure Lady! Be merciful to me here and at the Last Judgment. For you are, O Lady, the glory of heaven and the hope of earth. Amen.
Prayer three: Undefiled, Unblasphemous, Imperishable, Most Pure, Unbridled Bride of God, Mother of God Mary, Lady of Peace and My Hope! Look upon me, a sinner, at this hour, and from Thy pure blood Thou hast unknowingly given birth to the Lord Jesus Christ, make me merciful through Thy motherly prayers; The one who was ripeningly condemned and wounded in the heart with the weapon of sadness, wound my soul with Divine love! The mountaineer who mourned him in chains and abuse, grant me tears of contrition; With His free conduct to death, my soul was seriously ill, free me from illness, so that I may glorify You, worthily glorified forever. Amen.
Prayer four: Diligent, compassionate Intercessor of the Lord Mother! I come running to You, a cursed man and a sinner above all others: listen to the voice of my prayer, and hear my cry and groaning. For my iniquities have exceeded my head, and I, like a ship in the abyss, am plunging into the sea of my sins. But You, All-Good and Merciful Lady, do not despise me, desperate and perishing in sins; have mercy on me, who repent of my evil deeds, and turn my lost, accursed soul to the right path. On You, my Lady Theotokos, I place all my hope. Thou, Mother of God, preserve and keep me under Thy roof, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Fifth prayer: Most Holy Lady Theotokos, the only one most pure in soul and body, the only one who surpasses all purity, chastity and virginity, the only one who has completely become the abode of the complete grace of the all-holy Spirit, the most immaterial forces here who have yet incomparably surpassed the purity and holiness of the soul and body, look upon me, vile, unclean, who has darkened my soul and body with the filth of the passions of my life, cleanse my passionate mind, make immaculate and order my wandering and blind thoughts, put my feelings in order and guide them, free me from the evil and vile habit of unclean prejudices and passions that torment me , stop every sin operating in me, grant to my darkened and cursed mind sobriety and prudence to correct my attempts and falls, so that, freed from sinful darkness, I will be honored with boldness to glorify and sing songs of You, the only Mother of the true Light - Christ, our God; because you, alone with Him and in Him, are blessed and glorified by every invisible and visible creation, now, and always, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer six: O Most Holy Virgin, Mother of the Lord Most High, Intercessor and Protector of all who resort to You! Look down from Thy holy height upon me, a sinner (name), who falls before Thy most pure image; hear my warm prayer and offer it before Your Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; beg Him to illuminate my gloomy soul with the light of His Divine grace, to deliver me from all need, sorrow and illness, to grant me a quiet and peaceful life, physical and mental health, to pacify my suffering heart and heal its wounds, to guide me for good deeds, may my mind be cleansed from vain thoughts, and having taught me to fulfill His commandments, may He deliver me from eternal torment and may He not deprive me of His Heavenly Kingdom. O Most Holy Theotokos! You, “Joy of all who mourn,” hear me, the sorrowful one; You, called “Quenching of Sorrow”, quench my sorrow; You, “Burning Kupino”, save the world and all of us from the harmful fiery arrows of the enemy; You, “Seeker of the Lost,” do not allow me to perish in the abyss of my sins. According to Bose, all my hope and hope is in Tyabo. Be a temporary Intercessor for me in life, and an Intercessor for eternal life before Your Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Teach me to serve this with faith and love, and to reverently honor You, Most Holy Mother of God, Most Blessed Mary, until the end of my days. Amen.

Prayers for family and friends

Save, O Lord, and have mercy on my parents (names), brothers and sisters, and my relatives according to the flesh, and all the neighbors of my family, and friends, and grant them Your peaceful and most peaceful goodness. Keep my parents, brothers, sisters, wife, children and all the neighbors of my family in health and long life. Deliver them from all sorrow and need, grant them an abundance of earthly fruits and be their helper in all good endeavors. Return me to them safely in your time, so that, rejoicing in Your mercy, we may always bless Your all-holy name, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Lord, bless me to bring prayers and supplications to Your Compassion for my insignificance and for all my relatives and friends, both living and deceased, for whom You died on the cross.

Prayers to the Lord

First prayer
, Lord our God, remember us, Thy sinful and indecent servants (names), always call on us Thy holy name, and do not disgrace us from the hope of Thy mercy, but grant us, Lord, all the petitions for salvation, and make us worthy to love , and fear You with all our hearts, and do Your will in everything.
For God is good and a lover of mankind, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Second prayer
Master Lord! Yours is the day and Yours is the night. All creation works for You, and every breath glorifies You; We, Thy accursed servants (names), having ended our entire life in fornication, are possessed by fear, as we have remembered the first days, and to this day, in the nyaz all the placeless creators of evil; And for this reason, the imams do not have boldness towards You, for our iniquities are great, and our sins are immeasurable, and enemies always strike us with cold.

But, our Lord, Lord, who opened the mouth of the dumb, open also our mouth, that we may speak in prayer pleasing to You; Behold, our souls are like waterless land and cannot bear fruit for themselves, but give us from the Seed of Your Holy Spirit and water us with the dew of Your grace, so that we may bring You the fruit of repentance. Lord Jesus Christ, if all mankind may be saved, hear our prayer, with the prayers of the saints, Thy apostles, as they pray for us, and we ask You for forgiveness, as You always listen to their prayers.

With their prayer, save us sinners, heal the illnesses of our hearts, heal the scabs of our souls, kindle our wombs with the flame of Your fear, may the thorns of our sins girdle, and our souls may be cool with love, for we wish for You, the True Light and Giver of Light, You alone We ask for mercy, save us: satisfy our hungry souls and give drink to our thirsty souls from the flow of countless Thy mercy: cover us with the grace of Thy love for mankind from all evil, so that by Thy guarding, we will get rid of the many snares of the evil one, which are being pierced upon us all day long, and may our enemies not boast about us, Your servants, who trust in You.

Save us by Thy mercy, that we may repay our vows, repent of our sins until our last breath, and glorify Thy most holy name, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Amen. Prayer three
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, who art in the bosom of the True Father, God, Source of life and immortality, Good Shepherd of Your verbal sheep, do not deliver us, Your sinful servants (names), into the joy of being mocked by the enemy, seeking repentance for the right path.
Strengthen us, O Mercifully, with Your mighty right hand. Without Your help we cannot do anything for ourselves; Keep us sleeping, protect us on the way, protect us from adversity, save us from enemies, remove us from carnal lusts; Satisfy our hearts with the joy of salvation, keep our flesh pure, protect our thoughts with Your mercy. You rule, Lord, and establish us, as Your true saints, to work for You all our days and boast of the majesty of Your mercy, and grant us to rejoice. For You are our God, and we are Your servants, for You know no other God. For You are Merciful and Lover of Mankind, and we send up glory to You, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Prayer Four
Do not enter with Your servants (names) into judgment, Christ, for we know the sins that condemn us, and we cry to You: through the prayers of You who gave birth to You, have mercy on us, humble and unworthy, like a thief and a harlot, a publican and a prodigal, O Lover of mankind, for the righteous have come save, but especially sinners.
Fifth prayer
Lord! Don’t leave us, who leave you every minute! Do not reject us, who constantly betray You! Help us, Your servants (names), darkened by the darkness of sins and misfortunes! Receive Your love, mercy and care!

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary

O Most Holy Virgin, Mother of the Lord Most High, All-Merciful Intercessor and Patroness of all who come running to You with faith! Look from the height of Your heavenly glory on the servants of God (names) and on us, falling at Your foot, hear the humble prayer of us, sinful and unworthy Thy servants, and offer it before Your beloved Son.

Oh, Most Blessed Mother of God! You, who are called Quick to Hear and Joy to all who mourn, hear us, the sorrowful; You, called the Quenching of Sorrow, quench our mental illnesses and sorrows; You, Kupino the Burning, save the world and all of us from the harmful fiery arrows of the enemy; You, Seeker of the lost, do not let us perish in the abyss of our sins; You, Healer of the afflicted, heal us who are wounded by mental and physical infirmities; You, Unexpected Joy, with the joy of Your salvation have taken away from us the fear of future torment; You, the Helper of sinners, be also for us, sinners, the Benevolent Helper of our repentance and salvation.

In You, according to God, we place all our hope, may we become the Vigilant Intercessor and All-Powerful Representative before Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; strengthen our faith in Him, confirm us in His love, teach us to love and glorify You, the Most Holy Mother of God, the Most Blessed Mary; We entrust ourselves to Your Almighty Protection, Mother of God, for all eternity. Amen.

Love your neighbor as yourself

This is the commandment of Jesus Christ. Let's start by answering the question: “Do we love ourselves?” Hardly. For if they loved, they would live completely differently. There is such a wonderful phrase: as we live, so we pray. As we pray, so we live.

How do we live? In pursuit of worldly goods. We don't have enough of everything: money, clothes, food. We strive to get more and more, we grab it with both hands. And we don’t pay attention to our neighbors. We have no patience for them, no compassion, no love.

Is there a prayer for loving one's neighbor? When love grows cold, then we forget what help and support is in relation to others. When your love for your neighbors is cooling, you can pray to the Apostle John the Theologian:

O great apostle, loud-voiced evangelist, most graceful theologian, seer of ineffable revelations, virgin and beloved confidante of Christ John! Accept us, sinners, who come running under your strong intercession. Ask the All-Bountiful Lover of Mankind, Christ our God, Who poured out His Blood for us, His indecent servants, before your eyes, so that He may not remember our iniquities, but may He have mercy on us and deal with us according to His mercy: may He grant us health of soul and body, all prosperity and abundance, instructing us to turn it into the glory of Him, the Creator, Savior and our God, and at the end of our temporary life, may He deliver us from the merciless torturers in the air ordeals, and thus may we reach, led and covered by you, the Mountain of Jerusalem, You have seen His glory in revelation, but now you enjoy endless joys. O great John! Save all Christian cities and countries, this temple, those serving and praying in it, from famine, destruction, cowardice and flood, fire and sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare; deliver us from all troubles and misfortunes and with your prayers turn away the righteous wrath of God from us, and ask for His mercy for us, so that together with you we will be worthy to glorify in the uneven days the most holy name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Or turn to our venerable intercessor, Seraphim of Sarov. This saint is known for his feat. He stood on a stone, praying for people, for a thousand days. He ate simple crackers and reached such heights that he fed these crackers to a brown bear who came to him.

He addressed anyone who visited the monk “my joy.” Let us ask the saint to grant us love for our neighbors:

Oh, wonderful Father Seraphim, great miracle worker of Sarov, quick and obedient helper to all who come running to you! During the days of your earthly life, no one was tired of you and was inconsolable from your departure, but everyone was blessed by the vision of your face and the benevolent voice of your words. Moreover, the gift of healing, the gift of insight, the gift of healing for weak souls has appeared abundantly in you. When God called you from earthly labors to heavenly rest, your love ceased from us, and it is impossible to count your miracles, multiplying like the stars of heaven; Behold, throughout all the ends of our earth you appear to the people of God and grant them healing. In the same way, we cry out to you: Oh, most quiet and meek servant of God, daring prayer book to Him, reject no one who calls you! Offer up your powerful prayer for us to the Lord of hosts, may He grant us all that is useful in this life and all that is useful for spiritual salvation, may He protect us from the falls of sin and may He teach us true repentance, so that we can enter without stumbling into the eternal Kingdom of Heaven, where you now in everlasting glory you shine, and there sing with all the saints the Life-Giving Trinity forever and ever. Amen.

Let us turn to the Monk Silouan of Athos. The future saint comes from the Tambov province. Born in 1866, into a family of illiterate peasants. Since childhood, he was hardworking and helped his father in the field. Parents, although poor, treated those in need with warmth. They were distinguished by their hospitality, sometimes sharing the last. Silouan (in the world Simeon) gravitated toward monastic life. The father, worried about the haste of his decision, insisted that the future saint try himself in military service. The Monk Silouan agreed. Thoughts about monasticism faded into the background, for his worldly life dragged him down.

After the service, the future saint returned home, said goodbye to his family and went to Mount Athos. He lived there for many years, laboring and praying. He reposed in 1938.

O wonderful servant of God, Father Silouan! By the grace given to you by God, tearfully pray for the entire universe - the dead, the living and the future - do not remain silent for us to the Lord, who diligently fall to you and touchingly ask for your intercession (names). Move, O all-blessed one, to prayer the Zealous Intercessor of the Christian race, the Most Blessed Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, who miraculously called you to be a faithful worker in Her earthly city, where the chosen one of God begs God for our sins, merciful and long-suffering, so that our untruths and iniquities are not remembered , but according to the ineffable goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ, to spare and save us according to His great mercy. She, servant of God, with the Most Blessed Lady of the World - the Most Holy Abbess of Athos and Her holy ascetics, ask the saints for the most holy Word of the holy Mount Athos and its God-loving desert dwellers to be preserved from all the troubles and slander of the enemy in the world. Yes, the Angels deliver the saints from evil and strengthen them in faith and brotherly love with the Holy Spirit, until the end of the century they pray for the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and show everyone the saving path, and the Earthly and Heavenly Church constantly glorifies the Creator and Father of Lights, enlightening and illuminating peace in the eternal truth and goodness of God. Ask the people of the entire earth for a prosperous and peaceful life, a spirit of humility and brotherly love, good morals and salvation, a spirit of fear of God. Let it not be malice and lawlessness that harden the hearts of men, which can destroy the love of God in men and cast them into godless enmity and fratricide, but in the power of Divine love and truth, as in heaven and on earth, hallowed be the name of God, may His holy will be done in men , and may peace and the Kingdom of God reign on earth. Likewise, ask for your earthly Fatherland - the land of Russia, the servant of God, the longed-for peace and heavenly blessing, covered by the all-powerful omophorion of the Mother of God, to get rid of famine, destruction, cowardice, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare and from all visible enemies and invisible, and thus remain the most holy house of the Most Blessed Mother of God until the end of the age, the Life-giving Cross by the power, and be established in the inexhaustible love of God. For all of us, who are immersed in the darkness of sins and warmth of repentance, who have no lower fear of God and who constantly insult the Lord who loves us immeasurably, ask, O all-blessed one, from our All-Bountiful God, so that with His All-powerful divine grace He will visit and revive our souls and all evil and let the pride of life, despondency and negligence in our hearts be abolished. We also pray that we, strengthened by the grace of the All-Holy Spirit and warmed by the love of God, in philanthropy and brotherly love, in humble crucification for one another and for everyone, may be established in the truth of God and well strengthened in the gracious love of God, and will draw closer to the filial One. Yes, thus, doing His all-holy will, in all piety and purity of temporary life, let us walk the path unashamedly and with all the saints of the Heavenly Kingdom and His Lamb we will be honored. To Him from all earthly and heavenly be glory, honor and worship, with His Beginningless Father, His Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen

This prayer is read asking for the gift of love for one's neighbor. And the most important thing is to turn to the Lord. Ask Him to grant this love. Apply with faith, cry out mentally about your petition.

Full text

The prayer “Creed” is read daily, in the morning and evening rules, and sung during the morning liturgy with the parishioners. Every Orthodox believer should understand its meaning.

In Church Slavonic

Text in Old Church Slavonic:

I believe in one God the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. 2. 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, by whom all things were. 3. For us, for the sake of man and for our salvation, he came down from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human. 4. She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. 5. And he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. 6. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. 7. And again the coming one will be judged with glory by the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. 8. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, who proceeds from the Father, who is with the Father and the Son, is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets. 9. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. 10. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. 11. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, 12. and in the life of the next century. Amen.

Translation into Russian

The prayer of the creed, presented in modern Russian:

I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, of everything visible and invisible. 2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages: Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one being with the Father, by Him all things were created. 3. For the sake of us people and for the sake of our salvation, he came down from heaven, and took flesh from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became a man. 4. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. 5. And rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. 6. And ascended into heaven, and sat at the right hand of the Father. 7. And He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; His Kingdom will have no end. 8. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, worshiped and glorified with the Father and the Son, who spoke through the prophets. 9. Into one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. 10. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. 11. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, 12. and the life of the age to come. Amen (truly so).

How to pray for your neighbor in difficult times?

There are different circumstances in life. And sometimes they affect our loved ones. We cannot always help, but we can pray for relatives who find themselves in difficult situations.

If the person is your relative, then you can pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary for him:

Most Blessed Lady, take my family under Your protection. Instill in the hearts of my husband and our children peace, love and intransigence to all that is good; Do not allow anyone from my family to experience separation and difficult parting, to premature and sudden death without repentance. And save our house and all of us living in it from fiery ignition, thieves’ attacks, all evil circumstances, various types of insurance and diabolical obsession. Yes, and we, individually and separately, openly and secretly, will glorify Your Holy Name always, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen

There is such a prayer called “Cry to the Mother of God.” Read it:

What should I pray to You for, what should I ask of You? You see everything, you know it yourself, look into my soul and give it what it needs. You, who have endured and overcome everything, will understand everything. You, who entwined the Baby in a manger and took Him with Your hands from the Cross, You alone know all the heights of joy, all the oppression of grief. You, who have received the entire human race as adoption, look at me with maternal care. From the snares of sin, lead me to Your Son. I see a tear watering Your face. It is above me that you shed it, and let it wash away the traces of my sins. Here I have come, I am standing, I am waiting for Your response, oh, Mother of God, oh, All-Singing, oh, Lady! I don’t ask for anything, I just stand before You. Only my heart, a poor human heart, exhausted in longing for truth, I throw at Your clean feet, Lady! Grant to all who call You to reach the eternal day by You and worship You face to face.

And of course, when praying for your neighbor, do not forget to ask for him in your own words and with all your heart.

The most powerful Orthodox prayers for the health of the patient

To higher powers for healing

The peculiarity of this prayer is that it refers not to any specific representative of the Higher Powers, but to everyone: to the Lord himself, to the Mother of God, to all the saints and angels. That is why it is considered one of the most powerful prayers. If possible, it is better to read it within the walls of the temple. Instead of parentheses, it is necessary to mention the name of the patient who needs to be cured of the disease. The text is as follows:

To the Lord

Prayers asking for healing and health addressed to the Lord God should be read in front of the icon of the Savior, with lit candles. This can be done both in church and at home, if for some reason there is no opportunity to visit the temple yet.

The first prayer, the text of which is presented below, can be read both for yourself and for your loved one. The phrases “God’s servant” can be replaced with “God’s servant,” and instead of parentheses, the name of the ill person can be given. Words:

Another prayer addressed to God is also considered one of the most powerful. It asks for recovery. Strength can be increased many times over by ordering a magpie for health in the temple. Text:

Holy Mother of God

The first prayer addressed to the Blessed Virgin Mary gives good health. It is also permitted to read it both in church and at home, and it is obligatory to read it in front of the holy image of the Mother of God. You can say prayer words for yourself, for your family and friends. Text:

The prayer rule of the second prayer for health addressed to the Mother of God is similar to the prayer rule of the first. To pronounce this text, a prerequisite is that the patient be baptized. It is advisable to read this sacred text in front of the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow.”

Words:

Matrona of Moscow

You can ask Blessed Elder Matrona for health and healing with the help of a universal prayer known to every deeply religious person. Its text has already appeared on our website several times, but we will present it again:

There is another special prayer with which they ask Matronushka for health. The words in it are:

Prayers to the Blessed Matrona must also be read before her face. But not in every church you can find the icon of Matronushka. But you can easily get out of the situation if you buy an icon with the image of the holy old woman for your home and begin to pray at home. Matrona usually does not refuse help to anyone, because she made a promise to help people even after her death.

To increase effectiveness, the Church recommends that before pronouncing it, surround yourself with good deeds: give alms, help everyone in need, make donations to the temple. Matrona of Moscow will definitely appreciate your mercy and generosity.

Nikolai Ugodnik

Those who want to get rid of illnesses and gain health pray to Nicholas the Wonderworker. The prayer is read before the image of the holy elder (both in the temple and at home). You are allowed to read the prayer text both for yourself and for your relatives and loved ones, substituting the name of the sick person instead of brackets. Text:

Praying at home

When loved ones need prayer support, you can take on the feat of reading an akathist for one or another neighbor who is especially in need of help. Akathists are good because they can be read at home.

Which akathist to choose? You can turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pray, for example, before the image of “Joy of All Who Sorrow,” “Tenderness,” “Helper of Sinners.” It is important to remember that the Mother of God is one, despite the abundance of Her icons. And She gives help, but not the icon. Through the icon, the Virgin Mary sends us help.

Do you love Our Lady of Kazan? Pray to Her. In general, you can read the akathist before any icon. The main thing is our faith with which we ask for help.

Do you want to pray to any saint? Please read the akathist to Matrona of Moscow, Xenia of St. Petersburg, Sergius of Radonezh, Seraphim of Sarov, Nicholas the Wonderworker. To any saint whom you especially love.

What is the best way to read the akathist? It is advisable to coordinate this with the priest. How he will bless: every other day or every day.

Praying in the temple

The good thing about praying for your neighbor in church is that it is common. Wherever two or three are gathered in the name of God, the Lord is with them.

How to pray in temple? At the Liturgy, the priest commemorates the living and the deceased, taking out special particles from special loaves for them. You can submit a registered note for loved ones, both living and deceased. This note is read at the altar, and a particle will be taken out for your loved ones.

Or you can simply list all your loved ones mentally while praying. And ask God to help them.

It is good to give for the health and repose of the magpie. You can serve prayers for the living, and memorial services for the dead.

No money at all except for the cheapest candle? Place it in front of the Crucifix or the icon of the Savior, and pray from your heart. God sees all our sacrifices, even the smallest ones. Ask for help from the bottom of your heart. Address your thoughts to the Savior in your own words. You don’t have to come up with something, just say what’s in your heart. Make a prostration in front of the Crucifix or icon, gather your thoughts and ask, ask, ask.

Let's summarize

In this large and long article, we looked at what prayer for one's neighbor is. Let's highlight the main aspects.

You can pray for the health of your baptized and believing loved ones according to the Gospel and the Psalter.
You can remember baptized deceased loved ones according to the Psalter.

Seek help from the Most Holy Theotokos.
Pray to the holy saints of God.
Turn to our Lord Jesus Christ in prayer for your neighbor.
Don’t forget to pray in your own words.
Read, with blessing, akathists. This may be an akathist to the Mother of God or to a particularly revered saint.
Visit the temple, submit notes about the health and repose of loved ones, order prayer services and magpies, memorial services.

Which saints should we pray for the health of the sick?

With words of prayer for the health of the sick, believers most often turn to the Lord himself, to the Most Holy Theotokos, to the Blessed Elder Matrona of Moscow and to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

The reason why people pray to the Almighty and the Mother of God for health is clear even without explanation: in the hierarchical ladder of the Higher Powers they occupy the highest positions. The fate of all life on Earth, including humanity, is concentrated in the hands of the Lord. The Most Holy Theotokos, who gave this sinful world a Savior, has always been the intercessor of the weak, sheltering them with her reliable maternal wing.

Believers turn their requests to Matronushka and Nicholas the Pleasant because these saints are among the most beloved and revered in Orthodox Christianity. Even during their earthly life, Blessed Matrona and Nicholas the Wonderworker became famous for their gift of healing; they helped a considerable number of people find a miracle of healing. Evidence of this is thousands of stories recorded in church books and on Orthodox websites (Matrona of Moscow), preserved in ancient manuscripts, in Christian legends and traditions (Nikolai Ugodnik).