In ancient times, when people lived in communities and large families, the choice of work was small: herd cattle, cultivate the land and you will be well-fed. Nowadays, a person’s personality has developed and changed, and it is not enough for him to simply be well-fed. I want to dress better, eat better, and have fun at work. You have to choose a type of activity that is sometimes far from simple food production. Does a believer ever think about how to turn to God? Is there any prayer to find a job?
Interesting. The Lord in the Gospel parable “about the talents” talks about three slaves to whom the master distributed talents (the monetary unit of ancient times), expecting their increase. The two slaves acted wisely with the money, putting it to work and making a profit. And the third, in order not to lose the silver, buried it in the ground, because he did not want to work, and was afraid of the master’s anger. As a result, he found himself out of favor, and the expression “bury talent in the ground” began to refer to a lazy, and therefore poor, person.
Fulfilling the Lord’s commandment to increase “talents,” a person chooses a type of activity that allows him to live with dignity and not forget about God. Prayer for finding a job should be the first step in this difficult choice.
Which saint should I pray to find a job?
The closest intercessors before God are the saints who lived on earth as ordinary people, who worked and pleased the Lord. Now they pray to God for help for their descendants - people who want to imitate the example of their lives.
Which saints in particular can be prayed to in order to find a good job?
The First Helper in the organization of life is the Most Holy Theotokos. Many of Her images are glorified by miracles; in front of any icon you can ask for help in finding a job.
Healthy. The people have developed a tradition of turning to the Mother of God in urgent need in front of the image of the “Quick to Hear”. Reading the akathist for several days accustoms the mind to glorify the Most Holy Virgin, and She successfully arranges the affairs of Her prayer books.
Icon of Our Lady of the Don
Working specialties
When choosing a job, a Christian first of all remembers Joseph the Betrothed, the named father of Christ. He was a carpenter. Although his family lived modestly, Joseph had several plots of land with which he provided for his own sons. The Lord gave everything to Joseph for the sake of his hard work. You can pray to Joseph the Betrothed for a good job that will please and please God.
This is what the holy prophet David said: “Never have I seen a righteous man beggars or his children asking for bread.”
Another holy worker is the Apostle Paul . His main activities were traveling and preaching among newly converted Christians. But he did not allow himself to live at the expense of others. Having learned to sew tents, Pavel provided for his modest needs on the road. Travelers pray to the Apostle Paul to find convenient and honest income.
The apostles Peter and John lived by fishing. Those who want to take on a difficult fishing life can turn to them for help.
Righteous Joseph, Betrothed to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Troparion to the Apostles
Holy apostles, pray to the Merciful God that He may grant remission of sins to our souls.
The patron saint of peasants, farmers, and all workers of the land is St. Spyridon of Trimifun. In his earthly life, as a bishop, he did not give up rural work, raising goats and sheep. The saint sold animals to provide for his own children, alms to the poor and loans to merchants who found themselves in difficult situations.
Saint Spyridon was not attached to money, but for the sake of his labors, faith and mercy, the Lord gave his family everything they needed. You can pray to Spyridon of Trimifuntsky to find work in the agricultural field with full confidence that your request will be heard.
Saint Spyridon of Trimifuntsky
Troparion to Spyridon of Trimythus
At the first council, you appeared as a champion and wonderworker, God-bearing Spyridon, our father. In the same way, you cried out to the dead in the tomb, and you turned the serpent into gold, and you always sang holy prayers to you, and you had angels co-serving with you, most sacred one. Glory to Him who gave you strength, glory to Him who crowned you, glory to Him who heals you all.
Service sector specialties
Those who want to devote themselves to serving the sick and infirm (nurses, orderlies, social workers, teachers in children's institutions) should contact the Holy Martyr Elizabeth. Princess Elizaveta Fedorovna was the wife of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, son of Alexander II. After the death of her husband from a terrorist bomb, she devoted herself to serving her neighbors, setting up the Martha and Mary Convent of Mercy in Moscow at her own expense. In addition to the sick and elderly, the monastery accepted street children and poor girls, who were trained and employed. In 1918, Elizaveta Feodorovna, together with the nun Varvara and several princes of the Romanov dynasty, was executed by Latvian riflemen in the city of Alapaevsk.
Venerable Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth
Troparion to Elizabeth
Having hidden your princely dignity with humility, / God-wise Elizabeth, / you honored Christ with the deep service of Martha and Mary, / you have purified yourself with mercy, patience and love, / as you offered a righteous sacrifice to God / We, who honor your virtuous life and suffering, / as a true mentor We earnestly ask you: / Holy Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth, / pray to Christ God / to save and enlighten our souls.
Even the unattractive profession of a cemetery worker is sanctified by the exploits of saints. Those who want to try themselves in everything related to seeing off the last journey, pray to St. Mark the Grave Digger of Pechersk. The strict monk Mark lived in the 11th century in the Kiev Pechersk Monastery.
His duty was to dig graves for his dying brothers. Constantly remembering death, the monk prayed a lot to the Lord and diligently carried out the assigned work. God glorified His saint during his lifetime: the dead obeyed him.
One day, a monk, who ordered a grave from Mark for himself in a convenient, beautiful place, found another brother buried in it. Taking offense at the holy gravedigger, he began to point out that the deceased brother should not have taken someone else’s place. Then the Monk Mark turned to the dead man: “Brother, get up, go to another grave!” and the dead man obeyed, awakening horror and repentance in the customer.
Venerable Mark of Pechersk, Grave Digger
Those looking for work as a cook, restaurant worker, or anything related to cooking turn to St. Euphrosynus. This saint lived in the 9th century in one of the Palestinian monasteries. Efrosin worked modestly in the kitchen, performed secret deeds for the Lord, and none of the brothers could imagine that he had become pleasing to God. This was revealed to one of the priests.
Wanting to see heaven, the presbyter asked God to show it at least in a dream. One day, dozing off, he saw the Garden of Eden and the cook Efrosin in it. The priest was surprised that an inconspicuous kitchen worker was in heaven and asked him to take a paradise apple as a souvenir. Efrosin gave him the fruit and the dream ended. Waking up, the priest found an unusual fragrant apple in his hand and told the brethren about the vision. This did a disservice to the modest Euphrosynus: avoiding fame, he was forced to secretly leave the monastery.
Common Troparion to the Reverend Fathers
In you, father, it is known that you were saved in the image: / for you accepted the cross, you followed Christ, / and you taught in action to despise the flesh, for it passes away, / to be diligent about the souls, things that are immortal. / In the same way, the angels also rejoice, Reverend [name of the rivers], your spirit.
The most extensive field of activity - trade - also has its patron saints. When submitting your resume to the exchange, you can mentally turn to the holy martyr John of Sochava. John lived in the 14th century and was engaged in trade. He constantly prayed to God and therefore was successful in all his affairs, providing for himself and giving alms to the poor. One day, due to the slander of envious people, John was captured by pagan fire-worshippers. Refusing to accept their faith and firmly confessing Christ, he died from sophisticated torture. God glorified John of Sochava: through his prayers, believing merchants successfully conduct business for the glory of the Lord.
Venerable John of Sochava
Troparion to John of Sochava
Caring for life on earth with kindness, through suffering, / with alms, and frequent prayers, and tears, / and courageously striving towards suffering, / you denounced the Persian wickedness. /Thou art also the affirmation of the Church, /and praise of Christians, /John of ever-memorial.
Saints who help in every need
Those who have not decided on their choice of profession should turn to the saints, who help in any difficult situations. First of all, they remember the patron saint whose name they bear.
- Prayers to Nicholas the Wonderworker for help in business
- Prayers to the Kizi martyrs for work
- Orthodox prayer for difficulties at work
Then they include the akathist to St. in the prayer rule. Nicholas the Wonderworker, a strong man of prayer before God for all workers. For help in finding work they turn to newly glorified saints - St. Blessed Xenia of Petersburg and Matrona of Moscow.
These holy women lived among the people and saw their needs every day, helping as best they could. Seeing such virtue, the Lord fulfilled their prayers. Now, standing before the throne of God, they have even greater power to pray for people.
Many pilgrims come to the chapel at the grave of St. Xenia of Petersburg and bring notes with secret requests. Many of them relate to finding work - the basis of existence in big cities. According to the testimonies of visitors, no one is left without the help of the holy prayer book.
Holy Blessed Xenia of Petersburg
Prayer of Xenia of St. Petersburg
O holy all-blessed mother Ksenia! You who lived under the shelter of the Most High, led and strengthened by the Mother of God, endured hunger and thirst, cold and heat, reproach and persecution, received the gift of clairvoyance and miracles from God and rested under the shadow of the Almighty. Now the Holy Church, like a fragrant flower, glorifies you.
Standing at the place of your burial, before your holy image, as if you were alive and present with us, we pray to you: accept our petitions and bring them to the Throne of the Merciful Heavenly Father, as you have boldness towards Him. Ask those who flow to you for eternal salvation, for our good deeds and undertakings to receive a generous blessing, and for deliverance from all troubles and sorrows.
Stand before our All-Merciful Savior with your holy prayers for us, unworthy and sinners. Help, holy blessed mother Xenia, to illuminate the infants with the light of holy baptism and to seal them with the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit, to educate boys and girls in faith, honesty, fear of God and grant them success in learning; heal the sick and ailing, send down love and harmony to families; Honor those who are monastics to fight a good fight and protect them from reproach, strengthen the shepherds in the strength of the Holy Spirit, preserve our people and country in peace and tranquility, pray for those deprived of communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ in the dying hour.
You are our hope and hope, quick hearing and deliverance, we send thanks to you and with you we glorify the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
People constantly flocked to the blessed Matrona of Moscow, blind from birth, asking for her prayers. Possessing the gift of insight, she knew the thoughts and needs of everyone. Those who knew Matrona (she died in 1952) note her taciturnity and kindness to everyone. “When I die,” she said, “come to me, light a candle and ask for your need. And the Lord will manage everything.” The relics of Blessed Matrona rest in the Moscow Intercession Monastery, where pilgrims constantly pray. The proverb says that one does not go to an empty well for water. Indeed, the help of Saint Matrona is felt by everyone who turns to her with faith.
St. Matrona Moscow
Prayer to Matrona of Moscow
O blessed Mother Matrono, with your soul standing in heaven before the Throne of God, with your body resting on earth, and exuding various miracles by the grace given from above.
Look now with your merciful eye on us, sinners, in sorrows, illnesses and sinful temptations, our waiting days, comfort us, desperate ones, heal our fierce ailments, from God we are allowed by our sins, deliver us from many troubles and circumstances, pray to our Lord Jesus Christ forgive us all our sins, iniquities and falls, in whose image we have sinned from our youth even to this day and hour, and through your prayers having received grace and great mercy, we glorify in the Trinity the One God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever. Amen.
When looking for work they also pray to St. Martyr Tryphon . The martyr lived in Asia Minor in the 3rd century. For his firm confession of faith in difficult times for Christians, the Lord gave him the power to drive out harmful insects from the fields and cure diseases. For a long time, and after his martyrdom, people turned to him precisely for this. But the Lord’s generosity through the prayers of the martyrs is limitless.
In addition:
- Prayers to Matrona of Moscow for help in her work
- Prayers to Spyridon of Trimifuntsky
- Prayer to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker for help in business
One day, Ivan the Terrible's falconer named Tryphon lost his beloved royal falcon. For this he was threatened with the punishment of losing a good position at that time. The falconer searched for the bird for a long time, prayed to his patron, and, tired, fell asleep in the forest. In a dream, the martyr Tryphon appeared to him with a falcon on his hand. When he woke up, the falconer discovered something missing near him.
Holy Martyr Tryphon
Troparion martyr. Tryphon
Divine food, most blessed, / enjoying endlessly in Heaven, / cover your memory with songs of glorification / and save from all need, / drive away animals that harm the fields, / so that we always cry out to you in love: / Rejoice, Tryphon, strengthening of the martyrs.
Remembering this legend, believers ask St. Tryphon to arrange his life, find a good position. The small ancient temple of Martyr Tryphon is located in Moscow, inconspicuous among the high-rise buildings. It was built on the very spot where the missing falcon was found. Before the revolution, in the temple there was a reliquary with particles of the martyr’s relics and his miraculous icon, popularly nicknamed “Ambulance”. Currently, this icon can be seen in the Znamensky Church of Pereyaslavl Sloboda.
Why are you unlucky with work?
Deep down, every person is honest with himself. Therefore, first you need to figure out the reasons, answer the question of why things aren’t going well at work. Perhaps the Lord calls for humility and we need to start small. It often happens that a job seeker looks at advertisements in a certain category, but the employer he needs is in another. A broader search will solve this problem.
Psychological interview techniques are a good way to make a more favorable impression on the hiring manager. Internet access and a free half hour with a cup of coffee will easily fill knowledge gaps. A certain posture, gestures, gaze - all this influences decision making on a subconscious level.
Appearance, smell, and clothing are of great importance during an interview. After all, based on these signs, the employer determines what kind of cooperation with the applicant will be. A shocking appearance is appropriate at a holiday, carnival, but not in an office or office of the production personnel department. The HR manager may decide that a shocking employee will bring chaos to the team and, most likely, will refuse.
If all the conditions are met, but still nothing works out with employment, you can only hope for help from above. A prayer for finding a good job, said with faith and a pure heart, will definitely help.
Thanksgiving for all God's mercy
Any business must begin with a prayer to the Lord. Orthodox Christians are accustomed to regularly thanking the Creator for everything given to him. To be able to work fully, you need health, physical strength, developed intelligence, education, etc. The Lord gives us all this, so we need to be grateful. Life is unpredictable, you can lose your ability to work at any moment. If you can’t get to church and order a prayer service, you need to repeat more often out loud or to yourself: “Thank God for everything!” No strong prayer to find a new good job will be heard if there is no gratitude to the Lord for everything.
God protects us, helps us and arranges everything so that our soul can find salvation. Sometimes we urgently demand, passionately want to fill a certain vacancy, but it just doesn’t work out: our passport or work book is lost, the car gets sprayed on the way to an interview, or some other trouble happens. It’s worth stopping and thinking about whether this is really necessary or whether it’s worth taking a break and thinking it over again.
Thanksgiving prayer for finding a good job:
We thank Thee, Lord our God, for all Thy good deeds, even from the first age to the present, in us, Thy unworthy servants (names), who were, known and unknown, about those revealed and unmanifested, even those who were in deed and in word: who loved us as and You deigned to give Your Only Begotten Son for us, making us worthy to be worthy of Your love.
Grant with Your word wisdom and with Your fear inhale strength from Your power, and whether we have sinned, whether willingly or unwillingly, forgive and not impute, and keep our soul holy, and present it to Thy Throne, having a clear conscience, and the end is worthy of Thy love for mankind; and remember, O Lord, all who call upon Thy name in truth, remember all who desire good or evil against us: for all are men, and every man is in vain; We also pray to You, Lord, grant us Your great mercy.
