Prayer is a conversation with the Lord; it is an entire art in which Christians should practice constantly. Orthodox monks, especially the Athonite elders, were especially successful in prayer. Often their instructions may seem unexpected to those who are accustomed to treating prayer as a spell - repeat 20 and the job is done. But the Holy Spirit does not work “to order.”
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What to do if someone offended you
Even a mature person can be very susceptible, because it’s not for nothing that they say that a word can hit as painfully as a weapon. It happens that ill-wishers at work try to damage your reputation, put a spoke in your wheels, and sometimes even try to get you fired. What to do?
Among people close to the church, it is customary to immediately take up the Prayer for the Detention of the Athonite Elder. You just need to take into account that it is read exclusively with the blessing of the confessor. If you don’t have one, it’s time to look for it, and not on occult forums, but in a temple.
A Christian must follow the Gospel, and if he acts on it, then such a person must first be convicted one on one. Calmly, without personal attacks, explain what confuses you and prevents you from working and building a normal relationship with him. If this does not help, then talk in the presence of superior people. “Reading” the situation is not the most adult way out, which is not only unlikely to be effective, but can also damage the soul. Is spiritual health worth the risk?
There is a prayer of the Athonite elder, which should be read for those who insult or otherwise harm. It's very short. Why? The Lord cannot allow someone to forcibly get into the soul of another - even if a person does evil, this is a choice for which he will be responsible at the Last Judgment. All this is described in the Holy Scriptures. Therefore, people should not judge each other or take revenge for insults.
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Besides, it is unknown what will happen to your enemy tomorrow. Maybe he will repent, but the anger will remain. So it’s easy to turn from a victim into a villain. We must follow the example of the Savior and pray for our enemies. Yes, it is difficult, but it must be done.
Conditions for performing prayer by agreement
Priests and clergy of the Orthodox Church answer the question about prayer by agreement, how to pray correctly, with one unanimous opinion: offering prayer by agreement can occur in different ways, the form is different, but the content is always the same. This is a gathering of 2 or more people for one or more specific purposes in Christ. In order for prayer by consent to have power and be heard and fulfilled by the Lord, only 3 conditions must be met:
- At least 2 people pray (the upper limit on the number of people praying is not limited, it can be 100 or 1000 people, the more people praying, the stronger the prayer will be, but the main power lies not in this, but in the Lord himself, in His help).
- to ascend for good, in the name of God (it will not be valid, heard and recognized by the Lord if it contradicts His holy commandments and God’s world order);
- Constancy must be observed (if you ask God for something, then until you receive what you ask for).
About the prayer of Pansophius of Athos
The so-called prayer of detention is being falsified on the Internet today. Other non-canonical texts have also multiplied. It will not be easy for a person inexperienced in spiritual matters to recognize a fake, so we will describe the signs:
- the text mixes Church Slavonic and Russian;
- case endings are used incorrectly;
- the thought in a sentence may not be completed;
- there are phrases with unclear meaning;
- There is no glorification of the Creator, usual for Orthodox prayer.
The prayer is believed to have been written by Elder Pansofem of Athos in 1848. In the Orthodox community, there is a very ambiguous attitude towards it. Although it is in some prayer books, it should still be treated with caution. Before reading, be sure to consult with a priest.
Today there are unscrupulous people who release “prayers” without blessing, although they refer to it - this is simply a deception committed for the sake of profit. Texts that are dangerous from a spiritual point of view include:
- dreams of the Virgin Mary;
- prayer shield;
- Prayer of Pansophius of Athos.
Such works are unique only in their illiteracy - including spiritual ones. The wider Orthodox community does not know any Athonite elder with a similar name.
Miracles of Athanasius of Athos
Thousands of pilgrims offered prayers to the saint, marveling at the miraculous feats he performed during his lifetime. With his hand he healed the sick, some for a short time, others for many years. The saint also eased the suffering of believers on their deathbed, so many sincere believe in the power of the prayers of Athanasius of Athos for the outcome of the soul, pronouncing them with the hope of forgiveness for the sins of their lives.
Athanasius performed many miraculous deeds: he saved the lives of monks in a strong storm, when the boat almost sank, he healed the possessed, he even cured cancer with one mark of the cross.
What prayers can you read during trials?
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First of all, you need to understand that difficulties in life are a normal phenomenon, everyone has them. The Lord did not promise us peace and satiety here; on the contrary, he warned us that Christians would be subjected to persecution, trials, and temptations. People who are just strong in spirit accept them and solve problems with God’s help. Prayer truly should and can be your shield. You just need to be careful about the material from which the protection is built.
The Athonite elders actually composed a lot of prayers, also with explanations. Several texts can be found at the end of the article. If in doubt, you can always turn to any clergy. The priest will definitely give advice on what prayers to read and how many, so as not to receive a serious sin instead of a blessing.
- Prayer of the Optina Elders for every day
- Icon of the Optina Elders - here
- Prayer of the Optina Elders at the beginning of the day -
Remember that any troubles can be endured in different ways. Where the window closes, the Lord opens the door. Resentment, loss of work, illness are not at all a reason to fall into the sin of magic. Stand in faith, be constant, and God is always like that, He will not let you down.
Prayers of St. Silouan of Athos
God, enlighten us with Your Holy Spirit, so that we all understand Your love.
Those who ask me for prayers, I tearfully ask the Lord for them:
“Lord, give them Your Holy Spirit, that they may know You by the Holy Spirit. Merciful Lord, teach us all by Your Holy Spirit to live according to Your will, so that in Your Light we all come to know You, the true God, for without Your Light we cannot understand the fullness of Your love. Enlighten us with Your grace, and it will warm our hearts to love You.
Most merciful Master, grant us a humble spirit, so that our souls may find peace in You.”
“Most Holy Mother of the Lord, ask, O Merciful One, for us a humble spirit.
All saints, you live in heaven and see the glory of the Lord, and your spirit rejoices - pray that we too may be with you. My soul is also drawn to see the Lord and misses Him in humility, as unworthy of this good.
Merciful Lord, teach us Your humility by the Holy Spirit.
Lord, correct us, as a tender mother corrects her little children.
Let every soul know the joy of Your Coming and the power of Your help. Give coolness to the suffering souls of Your people, and teach us all through the Holy Spirit to know You. The human soul languishes on earth. Lord, even with his mind he cannot be strengthened in You, because he does not know You and Your goodness.”
“O Lord, teach us by Your Holy Spirit to be obedient and self-controlled. Give us the spirit of Adam's repentance and tears for our sins. May we praise and thank You forever. You gave us Your most pure body and blood, so that we could live forever with You, and be where You are, and see Your glory.”
“Lord, let the peoples of the whole earth know how much You love us and what a wonderful life You give to those who believe in You.
Have mercy on me, O God, Thy fallen creation.
How many times have You given me Your grace, and I have not kept it, because my soul is vain; but my soul knows You, my Creator and God, and therefore I seek You, weeping, as Joseph wept for his father Jacob at the tomb of his mother, being taken into Egyptian slavery.
I offend You with my sins, and You leave me, and my soul misses You.
O Holy Soul, do not leave me. When You leave me, bad thoughts come to me and my soul misses You to the point of great tears.”
How to pray for the envious
Lord, enlighten the mind and heart of this Thy servant to the knowledge of Thy great, countless and unfathomable gifts, which they have received from Thy innumerable bounties, for in the blindness of their passion they have forgotten Thy rich gifts, and impoverished themselves to be considered rich in Thy blessings, and For this reason, he looks with delight at the goodness of Thy servants, in the image, O most unspeakable Goodness, who has mercifully inflicted everyone who is contrary to his power and according to the intention of Thy will. Take away, O all-merciful Master, the veil of the devil from the sight of the heart of Thy servant and grant him heartfelt contrition and tears of repentance and gratitude, so that the enemy does not rejoice over him, captured alive from him into his will, and may he not be snatched from Thy hand.
Prayers for the success of every business of the Athonite elder Kirik
God bless! God help me! Without God's help we cannot do anything useful or saving; and if we do anything without asking God for gracious help for our work, then we only reveal our spiritual pride and resist God. But by calling on the name of God we receive a blessing from the Lord... At every smallest task and the beginning of this task: whether we are walking on a level place or on a rough road (this word means our various kinds of affairs and activities in all types and kinds) - always call on the Lord about help, otherwise there will be no prosperity.”
Biography of Afanasy Afonsky
Born into a pious family in the city of Trebizond, Saint Athanasius (at baptism he was named Abramius) was distinguished by piety and prudence from childhood. Left an orphan, thanks to his meek disposition and ability to learn, the young man received an excellent education, being brought up in the house of an imperial official. He had a bright future ahead of him.
But luxury and vanity were alien to Athanasius, and he soon took monastic vows in a monastery. All his life he dreamed of solitude, avoiding honor and clergy, even going to the holy Mount Athos to visit the hermits, calling himself Barnabas. There he hid from worldly temptations, offering prayers to God, reflecting on the Kingdom of God.
The fame of the wonderful monk spread throughout the world, and, thanks to his faithful service to the Lord, Athanasius soon managed to build a monastery on Mount Athos with the help of money given to him by his confessor Nicephorus. Soon the Lavra will become a holy place for pilgrims.
However, during the construction of the Lavra, the devil more than once interfered with the holy work, but the Mother of God herself appeared to Athanasius, promising to become the Housekeeper of the monastery. More than once I had to say a prayer to Athanasius of Athos to our Lord so that he would enlighten and help in construction; he even left the site of the future Lavra, but the Lord brought him back.
Many buildings were erected on the Holy Mountain where monks and hermits could study and live. People from all over the world came to the Lavra built by Athanasius to study, hermits went for healing - spiritual and physical.
As the abbot of the monastery, Athanasius lived like a real hermit - modestly, without excesses, helping the sick and orphans, who with hope offered up a prayer to the Monk Athanasius of Athos, thanking him for his wisdom and meekness of soul.
The Reverend died when he once again climbed onto the scaffolding, observing the construction. The unfinished dome collapsed, taking Athanasius and five monks with it. For three hours the monks raked out the rubble, hearing the voice of the Reverend: Glory to Thee, God! Lord Jesus Christ, help me!
However, Saint Athanasius was dead and buried only on the third day, until three thousand inhabitants of the Athos monastery said goodbye to him. His body was not subject to decay, and from the wound received from the fall, holy blood flowed, which the monks collected in a vessel, and it subsequently healed many suffering people.
Troparion and Kontakion to St. Athanasius of Athos
Troparion, tone 3
Even in the flesh, you were amazed at your angelic life, how you came out with your body to the invisible plexus, ever glorious, and you wounded the demonic regiments; Therefore, Athanasius, Christ rewarded you with rich gifts; For this reason, Father, pray for our souls to be saved.
Kontakion, tone 8
As the viewer’s immaterial beings are quite numerous and active as an all-true storyteller, your flock calls to you, O God-speaker: do not be impoverished, praying for your servants, to get rid of misfortunes and treatment, crying out to you: Rejoice, Father Athanasius.
The miraculous deeds of the holy elder
During his lifetime, Saint Athanasius was famous for his gift of healing. People with serious illnesses came to him from many places, and through the prayer of the monk they received deliverance from their ailments. There is a legend that those who touched the abbot did not encounter illness for the rest of their lives.
Also, Saint Athanasius of Athonite is known for his prayers for Christians on their deathbeds. Thanks to the intercession of the saint, they received forgiveness of all sins and, reconciled with God, left this world.
