After the past day, many people accumulate negativity in their souls, which disturbs their peace of mind. In order to get rid of it, calm down and fully relax at night, believers read special prayers before going to bed. The prayer book offers several different prayers for the future, but each person can choose those other prayer appeals in accordance with the current situation in his life. The main thing to remember is that evening prayers have miraculous powers.
The meaning of prayer before bed
We spend more than a third of our lives sleeping, and sometimes even more. It has been proven that sleep after prayer is much more restorative and brings wisdom, invisibly connecting reality and the world of dreams. It’s not for nothing that there is a proverb: “The morning is wiser than the evening.” But if you do not pray, then a person can be especially vulnerable to sinful desires and the influence of evil forces.
No matter what happens, it is important to come to God before going to bed. Open your heart, reveal all your sorrows and joys, even if your strength is running out. Evening prayer has a calming and protective effect. It serves as an excellent addition to the end of any day - work or weekend. You can pray in the form of petition, thanksgiving or doxology.
Prayers before going to bed are very important for Orthodox Christians. They include cycles of petitions to the saints, psalms, and doxologies. We thank the gentlemen for the day we lived and the unforgettable experience we gained. They apologize for sins – imaginable and unthinkable. After getting rid of the burden of daily life and bad influences, the quality of sleep improves greatly.
What it is advisable to pray for:
- about forgiveness of sins;
- about obedience and instruction;
- about the message of an angel;
- on protection and preservation;
- about sending wise and good thoughts;
- about patience;
- about the salvation of soul and body;
- about getting rid of the actions of enemies and ill-wishers.
Many believers note that if you do not pray, it is very difficult to fall asleep, and the sleep itself can be intermittent and restless. You need to read sacred words every day, and not occasionally. Then you will be able to avoid many of the problems and misfortunes that many face on the path of life. In turning to the Lord, they ask for protection in dreams and at night from fears, and ask for the advent of a new joyful day, filled with happiness and meaning.
Prayer always helps believers, regardless of whether a person is awake or asleep. With the help of the words with which we turn to God and Heavenly intercessors, we can ward off trouble, prevent troubles, and receive miraculous help.
What evening prayers are recommended to be read before bed:
- coming to bed;
- troparia;
- Saint Macarius;
- Saint Antiochus;
- to the Holy Spirit;
- Saint Macarius the Great;
- John Chrysostom;
- to Jesus Christ;
- to the Blessed Virgin Mary;
- to the Guardian Angel;
- To the Honest Cross.
It is also important to read prayers for the coming sleep over babies. Especially if the child is restless and often wakes up during the night. The following petitions will help cope with the nightmares and fears of toddlers and older children:
- to Saint Martha;
- to the Kazan Mother of God;
- at the Guardian Angel of a baptized baby;
- to Matrona of Moscow;
- for the blessing of a child.
To read, stand at the head of the bed and quietly pray. In the morning, you can notice that fidgets wake up well-rested, joyful and less capricious. While children are small, mothers or fathers pray for the salvation of their souls. When your children grow up, you can begin to teach them to pray on their own.
Ask God and Heavenly protectors with faith and love for help before going to bed, and your prayer will never go unheeded.
Sincere and earnest appeal will overshadow with divine grace and send effective help. Dreams will be kind and joyful.
Good night guardian angel
At night, when you are fast asleep and like movies, you see sweet dreams. I will burst through the window like a breeze and walk through your body with a cold shiver.
In my arms, I’ll take you, I’ll spread my wings, and I’ll fly into the heavens, like a bird, On a cloud of white roses, I’ll lay you down, And I’ll show you unearthly, magical love.
Your coral lips, I gently touch the aroma of your flesh, I am completely saturated with your living beauty, I admire To protect your peace of mind, I undertake
I will make any of your dreams come true. The smiling image of the moon, I will give you Na.
Night comes to earth as a sleepy abode. My Guardian Angel is quietly dozing on my shoulder. And, touching your tired eyelashes with your cheek, you understand how lucky you are.
I'm taking care of your dreams. You are serene in a dream. Perhaps I can be both kind and gentle. In the meantime - forgive me, I’m leaving for a while - so that I can ask the Sun for a ray of rainbow for you... * * *
Hush, my baby, hush. Don't cry, don't tear my heart. The Lord probably hears us in his heavenly palace.
Hush, baby, calm down.
Guardian angel, be next to me! Open your face to my wounded soul. Envelop my home with warmth and Love, Light my heart with sacred fire.
Do not leave me in sorrow or in joy, In bad weather you warm my soul, And if I stumble, then give me a wing. My guardian angel, I feel Light with you!
Guardian angel, thank you dear! Since childhood you have been by my side. You help me go through life, so that I don’t accidentally go astray.
Quietly tell me where the right step is and hint who is my friend and who is my enemy. You won’t let me fall off a cliff into the abyss, If an hour suddenly strikes.
Evening prayers
Appeal to the Lord God
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother, our reverend and God-bearing fathers and all saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Good One, our souls.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
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 the evil one.
Tropari
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us; Perplexed by any answer, we offer this prayer to You as the Master of sin: have mercy on us.
Glory: Lord, have mercy on us, for we trust in You; Do not be angry with us, do not remember our iniquities, but look upon us now as if you are gracious, and deliver us from our enemies; For Thou art our God, and we are Thy people; all works are done by Thy hand, and we call upon Thy name.
And now: Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, so that we may not perish, but may be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.
Lord have mercy. (12 times)
Prayer 1, St. Macarius the Great, to God the Father
Eternal God and King of every creature, who has vouchsafed me even at this hour to come, forgive me the sins I have committed this day in deed, word and thought, and cleanse, O Lord, my humble soul from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. And grant me, Lord, to pass through this dream in peace at night, so that, rising from my humble bed, I will please Your most holy name all the days of my life, and will trample the fleshly and incorporeal enemies that fight me. And deliver me, Lord, from vain thoughts that defile me, and from evil lusts. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Good Mother of the King, Most Pure and Blessed Mother of God Mary, pour out the mercy of Thy Son and our God on my passionate soul and with Thy prayers instruct me in good deeds, so that I may pass through the rest of my life without blemish and through Thee I will find paradise, O Virgin Mother of God, the only Pure One and Blessed One.
Prayer to the Holy Guardian Angel
Angel of Christ, my holy guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me all who have sinned this day, and deliver me from every wickedness of the enemy who opposes me, so that in no sin I will anger my God; but pray for me, a sinful and unworthy servant, that you may show me worthy of the goodness and mercy of the All-Holy Trinity and the Mother of my Lord Jesus Christ and all the saints. Amen.
Kontakion to the Mother of God
To the chosen Voivode, victorious, as having been delivered from the evil ones, let us write thanks to Thy servants, the Mother of God, but as having an invincible power, free us from all troubles, let us call Ti; Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.
Glorious Ever-Virgin, Mother of Christ God, bring our prayer to Your Son and our God, may You save our souls.
I place all my trust in You, Mother of God, keep me under Your roof.
Virgin Mary, do not despise me, a sinner, who requires Your help and Your intercession, for my soul trusts in You, and have mercy on me.
Prayer of Saint Ioannikios
My hope is the Father, my refuge is the Son, my protection is the Holy Spirit: Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.
It is worthy to eat as you truly bless Thee, the Mother of God, the Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and the Mother of our God. We magnify You, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother, our reverend and God-bearing fathers and all saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
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Prayer to the Lord and Jesus Christ for the coming sleep
Our Father and Jesus Christ, grant me (name) your mercy, do not separate from me on the path of life.
I kneel and pray for help in tomorrow, save my sleep and sanctify my life.
May your salvation and your love descend upon me on my bed.
Forgive my sins for the day and guide me along the path of repentance and light.
Let all adversity pass as the day passed.
My God and Your Son Jesus, I humbly believe in Your strength and power over evil.
Protect Your servant (name).
May your kingdom on earth be eternal.
Prayer rule of St. Seraphim of Sarov
A modern person, surrounded by bustle, work and worries, does not often manage to devote proper time to his evening or morning routine. Realizing this, the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov (1757-1833), who lived not so long ago relative to the main revered saints and observed the lives of people from different classes, compiled a canon for us, which is more accessible, in a short version.
A short version of the evening rule is:
- Lord's Prayer Our Father (read three times)
- Songs to the Blessed Virgin Mary (read three times)
- Symbol of Faith (read once)
These psalms to the Creator are the basic principles of faith and humility for every Orthodox Christian. Also during the day you need to mentally, as an option, quietly, barely audibly read the Lord’s Prayer. Its short version is also possible - “Lord, have mercy.” After mass and before you get ready to go to bed, Seraphim of Sarov recommends turning to the Ever-Virgin, repeating the words “Most Holy Theotokos, save me” as much as possible.
Compliance with the canons of the evening liturgy will help both adults and children find a restful sleep.
After a hard day or being stressed for a long time, people often have nightmares and bad dreams. This indicates an overload of the body, its tense state, and worries. They say that so that what you see does not come true, when you wake up, you need to quickly tell someone everything that you dreamed. At the same time, try to remember as many details as possible. And in the evening of the same day, during prayers for bedtime, read a service to the Creator, which will protect against nightmares.
This petition will help with insomnia.
From nightmares
In addition to the above methods of getting rid of nightmares, you can use a conspiracy or a special ritual.
It is important to remember that you should not mention intentions anywhere. After all, the main force of the conspiracy is faith.
• waking up at night from a nightmare, you must say three times
“Where there is night, there comes sleep. Amen".
Place the sign of the cross on yourself three times. If it’s summer, you can say these words through an open window or window. Water washes away negativity - take a sip of water. It is also necessary to change the position in which you sleep, for example, if you slept on your back, lie on your side, etc. It will be useful to change the bed linen or at least change the clothes on the wrong side.
• Water – cleanses. When you wake up, tell the bad vision to the water: in the shower or by opening the tap. Then say the text:
“Water, wash away all sorrows and troubles”, “Where water goes, there goes sleep.”
• Making a dream catcher
This is a very powerful ritual object, it appeared among the ancient Indians. In addition, this amulet will help “neutralize” bad dreams and bring positive changes to life. Now you can buy a similar trinket in stores, but it’s better to make it yourself, and invest only good thoughts.
The following chant (Optina Elders) can be included as an audio recording if problems arise with reading it daily. The verse sounds like a wonderful song.
Optina Elders
Useful tips from clergy:
- The singing of the Optina elders has a beneficial effect on us when listening. This monastery is famous for its wise elders who foresee the fate of a person. When we listen to their chants, we tune in to the true path, become humble and submissive to our fate.
- The Orthodox Church does not prohibit viewing videos with church content. But you should take this kind of information very seriously and morally. While you are watching or listening to something like this, you should concentrate as much as possible on what is being voiced and put other things aside.
- The clergy recommend reading the prayers of the Optina elders in the evening. They are many centuries old, therefore they carry wisdom that can explain the foundations of Orthodoxy and the need for faith in God.
To download Orthodox texts in Russian to your computer and then print them out, read these instructions.
