The Mother of God rule can be read with or without rosary beads.
Since the prayer must be read 150 times a day, the monks do it on a rosary.
And ordinary parishioners are wondering whether they should buy such an instrument, and if so, which one and where.
Lay people can use rosary beads.
There is a great misconception that rosary beads are required, and only consecrated ones from the monastery. Others believe that lay people are not entitled to rosaries.
In fact, the rosary is just a tool. For some, it simplifies the calculation, and for others, it complicates it. If you have rosary beads, it’s easier for your health. If not, then it’s better to do it by bending your fingers or other methods.
How does the Mother of God rule help?
When Seraphim of Sarov died, a book was found in the monastery, which described in detail the miracles that happened to people who performed the Archangel’s Greeting to the Mother of God every day.
The Mother of God said that they come to her in the following cases:
- disease;
- problems in life that an Orthodox Christian cannot figure out on his own;
- difficult state of mind, sadness;
- need to pray;
- desire to thank the Mother of God.
Reading this rule will serve as atonement for sinful deeds, protection from temptations, guide you on the righteous path, cleanse you physically and spiritually, and make the life of a believer easier.
The Theotokos in the prayer book does not refer to the Theotokos rule
It happens that reading the Mother of God rule is complicated by ignorance of prayers.
People who do not know what the Theotokos in the prayer book are may decide that it is the same prayer. But no. Theotokos is a contraction of the phrase “Most Holy Mother of God, save us.” And the text of the prayer for the Theotokos rule is: “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice.”
Every ten repetitions is a recollection of some event in the life of the Mother of God: the Annunciation, the Birth of Jesus, etc. For 15 decades, we remember the entire life of the saint.
50
how many times can beginners read the Theotokos rule?
Therefore, it is necessary to read the Theotokos rule 150 times a day, but for starters you can limit yourself to 50. After every ten, it is recommended to insert “Our Father” and “Doors of Mercy”:
"Our Father":
“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 lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
The Lord's Prayer is read along with the Theotokos rule - after every 10 repetitions
«Doors of Mercy":
“Open doors of mercy for 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.”
In the video below you can listen to how the Valaam male choir performs the Theotokos Rule:
This rule is often supplemented in different ways by other prayers. Next are two versions of the text: a simple and a complete Theotokos rule.
When did the rule appear?
In another way, the Theotokos rule is called the Archangel's greeting of the Mother of God, since the Virgin Mary first heard the words of this prayer word from the Archangel Gabriel, who informed her of her greatest destiny.
Our Lady conveyed the message to read the Mother of God rule to believers in the 8th century. Christians began to properly follow the instructions. But over the years it was forgotten, the prayers changed.
Later, in the 18th century, St. Seraphim of Sarov reminded us of the Theotokos rule. The elder insisted that the Archangel's greeting to the Mother of God be performed every day. Seraphim Zvezdinsky also appreciated the Mother of God verse. He read a prayer daily for all sinners.
The instruction to read the Theotokos rule spread among those who wanted to pray to the Mother of God, asked the Mother of God to help, protect, and also thanked the Virgin Mary for her consolation and protection. This happened thanks to the “Blessed Star” - a collection of stories about the acts of the Virgin Mary, which was often copied by hand.
At the Ecumenical Church Council, the holy fathers said that if prayer is performed correctly, this will lead to the acquisition of the Protection of the Mother of God. The Orthodox believe that with prayer a person cannot burn, drown, do wrong, and the hating Devil will not approach him.
Text of the Theotokos Rule
1st ten
We remember the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We pray for mothers, fathers and children.
“Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, save and preserve Your servants (names of parents and relatives), and rest those who died with the saints in Your eternal glory.”
2nd decade
We remember the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We pray for those who are lost and have fallen away from the Church.
“Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, save and preserve and unite (or join) to the Holy Orthodox Church Your lost and fallen servants (names)”
3rd decade
We remember the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We pray for the quenching of sorrows and the consolation of those who mourn.
“Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, assuage our sorrows and send comfort to your grieving and sick servants (names).”
After the 3rd decade they remember the Annunciation
4th decade
We remember the Meeting of the Most Holy Theotokos with Righteous Elizabeth. We pray for the unification of those who are separated, whose loved ones or children are separated or missing:
“Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, unite your separated servants (names).”
5th decade
We remember the Nativity of Christ, we pray for the rebirth of souls, for new life in Christ.
“Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, grant to me, who was baptized in Christ, to be clothed in Christ.”
6th decade
We remember the Presentation of the Lord, and the word prophesied by Saint Simeon: “And a weapon will pierce your very soul.” We pray that the Mother of God would meet the soul at the hour of death and would grant her, with her last breath, to partake of the Holy Mysteries and lead the soul through terrible ordeals.
“Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, grant me, with my last breath, to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ and lead my soul through terrible ordeals.”
7th decade
We remember the flight to Egypt of the Mother of God with the Infant God, we pray that the Queen of Heaven would help us avoid temptations in this life and deliver us from misfortunes.
“Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, do not lead me into temptation in this life and deliver me from all misfortunes.”
After the 7th decade, the flight of the Virgin Mary into Egypt is remembered
8th decade
We remember the disappearance of the twelve-year-old boy Jesus in Jerusalem and the grief of the Mother of God over this. We pray, asking Our Lady for the constant Jesus Prayer.
“Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, Most Pure Virgin Mary, grant me the unceasing Jesus Prayer.”
9th decade
We remember the miracle in Cana of Galilee, when the Lord turned water into wine according to the word of the Mother of God: “They have no wine.” We ask the Mother of God for help in business and deliverance from need:
“Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, help me in all matters and deliver me from all needs and sorrow.”
10th decade
We remember the standing of the Mother of God at the Cross of the Lord, when sorrow, like a weapon, pierced Her soul. We pray to the Mother of God for strengthening of spiritual strength and for driving away despondency.
“Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, Most Blessed Virgin Mary, strengthen my spiritual strength and drive away despondency from me.”
11th decade
We remember the Resurrection of Christ and prayerfully ask the Mother of God to resurrect the soul and give new vigor to feat.
“Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, resurrect my soul and grant me constant readiness for heroism.”
12th decade
We remember the Ascension of Christ, at which the Mother of God was present. We pray and ask the Queen of Heaven to lift up the soul from earthly vain amusements and direct it to strive for things above.
“Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, deliver me from vain thoughts and grant me a mind and a heart striving for the salvation of the soul.”
13th decade
We remember the Upper Room of Zion and the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and the Mother of God and pray:
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit away from me. Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, send down and strengthen the grace of the Holy Spirit in my heart.”
14th decade
We remember the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos and ask for a peaceful and serene death.
“Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, grant me a peaceful and serene death.”
15th decade
We remember the glory of the Mother of God, with which She is crowned by the Lord after Her transmigration from earth to Heaven, and we pray to the Queen of Heaven not to abandon the faithful who are on earth, but to protect them from all evil, covering them with Her Honest Omophorion.
“Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, save me from all evil and cover me with Your Honest Omophorion.”
The Complete Theotokos Rule
Most Holy Theotokos, help us! At the beginning of this rule it reads:
- "Our Father";
- "Doors of Mercy"
- “Prayer for our spiritual father and for the salvation of us sinners”:
“Remember, Lord, in Your Kingdom our spiritual father, schema-abbot Savva, with his departed spiritual children and relatives; and forgive them all sins, voluntary and involuntary; grant them the Kingdom and the communion of Thy eternal good things and Thy endless and blessed life of pleasure. And through his holy prayers, save and have mercy on all of us, our spiritual children and relatives. Send down to all of us the grace of the All-Holy Spirit and through the prayers of the Mother of God, help us, O God, to correct our lives. Lord, give us faith! Amen".
After the first ten, the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is remembered
Troparion, ch. 4
Thy Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, is a joy to proclaim to the whole Universe: from Thee has arisen the Sun of Truth, Christ our God, and having destroyed the oath, given blessing, and having abolished death, given us eternal life. O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! With the saints, rest in Thy eternal glory the soul of our departed spiritual elder, schema-abbot Savva, with his departed spiritual children and his parents Michael and Catherine and our relatives.
And with his holy prayers, save and preserve all of us, his spiritual children, parents, children of relatives and those we know. Increase our faith and repentance.
After the 2nd decade we remember the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the Temple
After the 2nd decade, they remember the introduction of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the temple
Troparion, ch. 4
Today is the day of God's favor, the transfiguration and the preaching of the salvation of men: in the temple of God the Virgin clearly appears and announces Christ to everyone. To that we too will cry out loudly: Rejoice, fulfillment of the Creator’s vision. O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! Save and preserve, and unite (or join) the lost and fallen slaves (names) to the holy Orthodox Church.
After the 3rd decade, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is remembered
Troparion, ch. 4
The day of our salvation is the main thing and the sacrament has been revealed since the beginning, the Son of God, the Son of the Virgin, appears and Gabriel preaches grace. In the same way, we also cry out to the Mother of God: Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you!
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! Assuage our sorrows and send consolation to Your grieving and sick servants (names).
“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to the city of Galilee, whose name was Nazareth, to the virgin betrothed to a man, whose name was Joseph, from the house of David: and the name of the virgin was Miriam.
And an angel came to her and said: “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women.” She saw, was embarrassed about his words and thought about what this kiss would be like.
And the angel said to Her: “Do not be afraid, Mariam: for you have found favor with God: and behold, you conceived in your womb and gave birth to a Son, and called His name Jesus: He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God will give Him the throne of David his father His:
and He will reign in the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Mariam said to the angel: “How will this happen if I don’t know a husband?” And having answered, the angel said to Her:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon You, and the power of the Most High will overshadow You: in the same way the Holy Spirit who will be born will be called the Son of God:
and behold, Elizabeth, Thy little girl, and she conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month, which is called unfruitful: for God shall not fail every word.”
Mariam said: “Behold, the servant of the Lord: be unto me according to thy command.” And the angel departed from Her.”
(Luke 1, 2 6–3 
After the 4th decade, I remember the meeting of the Most Holy Theotokos with the righteous Elizabeth
From the service of the prophet Zechariah and righteous Elizabeth, commemorated September 5.
Sedalen, ch. 4
Having already become incarnate as the Messiah, we hear you as the first evangelist, when you said with horror to the God-chosen Youth who was kissing you: “Where do I get this from, so that the Mother of my Lord may come to me?” We cry out in praise of you: “Rejoice, mirror, who reveals to us the Mysteries of God.”
We pray for the unification of those who are separated, whose loved ones or children are separated or missing.
After the 5th decade, Christmas comes to mind
After the 5th decade, they remember the Nativity of Jesus Christ
Troparion, ch. 4
Thy Nativity, Christ our God, shine forth into the world the light of reason; in Him, for the stars who serve as stars learn to bow to You, the Sun of Truth, and to You to lead from the heights of the East: Lord, glory to You! O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! Grant us to put on Christ.
After the 6th decade, we remember the Presentation of the Lord and the word prophesied by Saint Simeon: “And a weapon will pierce your very soul.”
Troparion, ch. 1
Rejoice, Blessed Virgin Mary, for from Thee has risen the Sun of Truth, Christ our God, to enlighten those who are in darkness; Rejoice and you, righteous elder, are received into the arms of the Liberator of our souls, who gives us resurrection. O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! Grant me, with my last breath, to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ and lead my soul through terrible ordeals.
After the 7th decade, we remember the flight of the Mother of God with the Child of God to Egypt
Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying: “Rising up, take the Child and His Mother and flee to Egypt, and be there until the river reaches the river: because Herod wants to look for the Child, and destroy E.” God appeared in the canopy to those sitting, born of the Virgin to save us. O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! Do not lead me into temptation in this life and deliver me from all misfortunes.
After the 8th decade, we remember the disappearance of the 12-year-old Child Jesus in Jerusalem and the grief of the Mother of God about this:
O our Beautiful Mother! We sympathize with Your sorrow, when You did not find Your Son and our God, the Twelve-Ten-Year-Old Child, on the way from Jerusalem. O great is Thy joy when Thou foundest Thy Son for three days in the church.
About the unfading Color! Do not deprive us of the heavenly joy of beholding Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for our salvation.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! Grant me the unceasing Jesus Prayer.
After the 9th decade , we remember the miracle performed in Cana of Galilee, when the Lord turned water into wine according to the word of the Mother of God: “They have no wine.”
From Triodi, hedgehog there is a three-song, on Great Friday of the morning
Ikos, tone 8
Seeing the Lamb, drawn to the slaughter, Mary followed with outstretched hair with other wives, crying out: “Where are you going, Child? Why are you making a quick transition when there is another marriage in Cana of Galilee and are now trying to make wine for them from the water?
Am I going with You, Child, or will I rather wait for You?
Give Me the word, the Word, not silently passing by Me, keeping Me pure: for You are My Son and My God.”
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! Help me in all my affairs and deliver me from all needs and sorrow.
After the 10th decade, I remember the standing of the Mother of God at the Cross of the Lord, when sorrow, like a weapon, pierced Her soul
After the 10th decade they remember the standing of the Virgin Mary at the cross
Theotokos' Dismissals, ch. 4
Virgin Immaculate, Mother of Christ God! The weapon passed through Your Most Holy soul, when You were crucified, You saw it by the will of Your Son and Your God. And, O Blessed One, do not cease begging us to grant forgiveness of our sins.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! Deliver me from despondency and strengthen my mental and physical strength.
After the 11th decade, the Resurrection of Christ is remembered
Troparion, ch. 5
Christ rose from the dead, trampling down death by death and giving life to those in the tombs. O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! Resurrect my soul and grant me constant readiness for heroism.
After the 12th decade, we remember the Ascension of Christ, at which the Mother of God was present
Troparion, ch. 4
Thou art exalted in glory, O Christ our God, having brought joy to the disciple by the promise of the Holy Spirit and the former blessing communicated to them, for Thou art the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world. O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! Deliver me from vain thoughts and grant me a mind and a heart striving for the salvation of the soul.
After the 13th decade, we remember the Zion Upper Room and the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and the Mother of God
Troparion, ch. 8
Blessed art thou, O Christ our God, Who art wise as fishers of things, having sent down upon them the Holy Spirit, and with them caught the universe, Lover of mankind, glory to Thee. We pray: create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit away from me.
After the 14th decade, the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary is remembered
Troparion, ch. 1
At Christmas you preserved your virginity, at your dormition you did not abandon the world, O Mother of God, you reposed yourself to the belly, Mother of the Being of the Belly, and through your prayers you delivered our souls from death. O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! Grant me a peaceful and serene death.
After the 14th ten, the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary is remembered
After the 15th decade, we remember the glory of the Mother of God, with whom She is crowned by the Lord after Her translocation from earth to heaven
From the service of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Stichera, ch. 1
Oh wonderful miracle! The source of life is placed in the grave, and the ladder to heaven is the grave. Rejoice, Gethsemane, holy house of the Mother of God! Let us cry out, faithful ones, to Gabriel above the ruler: O full of grace, rejoice, the Lord is with you, grant great mercy to the world through you.
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! Save me from all evil and cover me with Your honest omophorion.
Prayer
“Worthyly glorified and righteously blessed from all the Higher Orders, as if surpassing them without comparison, having given birth to God and the Creator of all things, exalted above all others! Before her, like the Queen, are the faces of the angels, proclaiming Gabriel’s song: “Rejoice, O Blessed One!...” Our sinful and mortal lips will be able to bring worthy praise to Your greatness, so let us call You: O Most Wonderful Lady!
Pray from You to the incarnate Christ our God, may he look upon us, unrequited people, and keep us unharmed from all the enemy’s slander and evil slander, for Your Mother’s Prayer can do much, according to the saying: “Ask, My Mother, I will not turn away, but all Your petitions I will fulfill it!”
We are filled with joy in this, we cry to Thee: save, O Lady, Thy perishing servants, enlighten those darkened by the wisdom of this age and bring us to the Sweetest Jesus, and ever rejoicing, we cry: glory to the Father, glory to the Son, glory to the Holy Spirit, glory to You, Most Glorious and Most Immaculate Virgin Mary, blessed and blessed throughout the endless ages of ages. Amen.
Rejoice, our Joy, cover us from all evil with Your honest omophorion!”
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