The meaning and power of the prayer to All Saints
Many people who are far from faith are perplexed why they should turn to “intermediaries” when praying to the righteous, when they can pray to the Savior himself. But sincere Christians have been accustomed for centuries to honor saints, turning to them with requests for help. Moreover, believers note the great power of such conversions.
Each of the righteous is endowed with a great gift of mercy, which they use to help people. For example, who can calculate the number of miraculous deeds that took place thanks to the intercession of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker?
When starting an act of prayer, clearly define what exactly your desire will be.
Do not think that a prayer is some kind of magic spell, and immediately after pronouncing it you will find your long-awaited betrothed or your illness will miraculously go away. Only the Savior knows when to fulfill a request made to him.
In Christianity, it is customary to associate each of the righteous with a certain sphere of existence: some grant us their intercession in matters of healing, others help resolve difficult everyday situations, diminish mental suffering, and others are called upon to strengthen us in faith.
You should not turn to saints asking for material benefits - such prayers are contrary to Christian morality. It is also not customary to order a prayer service for improvement of material well-being - if this were practiced, all clergy would have long ago become the wealthiest people.
When turning to the saints, we never say “Save!”, we pray for their intercession before the Lord, because only he is the true Savior.
The significance of prayer to the righteous is enormous, while sinners are burdened with the burden of their own deeds. Pray with sincere faith and fervent hope that your appeal will be heard, and you will definitely see how merciful our Lord is, because He overshadows with His grace everyone who believes in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Video “Prayer to all saints and Ethereal Heavenly Forces”
The video contains the text of a prayer to all saints and the Ethereal Heavenly Powers for the healing of muteness.
What is holiness?
“Be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Gospel of Matthew 5:48). These words of Holy Scripture indicate that the goal of every believer's life should be to achieve holiness. Holiness is a state when the Holy Spirit constantly dwells in a person (First Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians, 6:17). According to the teachings of the Church, every Christian can achieve holiness. Therefore, prayer to all saints is a natural element of Orthodoxy.
Prayer
The Monk Justin (Popovich) of Cheli (1894-1979) said: “To become completely holy, both soul and body, this is our calling (First Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians, 5: 22-23). This is not a miracle, but a norm, a rule of faith, logic and the nature of the gospel faith. The commandment of the Holy Gospel is clear and extremely clear: “Following the example of the Holy One who called you, be holy in all your actions” (First Epistle of the Apostle Peter, 1:15). And this means: according to the Holy Christ, Who, having become incarnate and becoming a man, revealed in Himself a completely holy life, and as such commands people: “Be holy, because I am holy” (First Epistle of the Apostle Peter, 1:16). He has the right to command this, for, having become a man, he, through His Holy Self, gives people all the divine powers necessary for a holy and pious life in this world.”
Prayer to all saints and Ethereal Heavenly Forces
Holy God and rest in the saints, glorified by the thrice-holy voice in heaven from Angels, praised on earth by man in His saints: having given grace to each by Thy Holy Spirit according to the bestowal of Christ, and by that ordaining Thy holy Church to be Apostles, prophets, and evangelists , you are shepherds and teachers, preaching in their own words.
You yourself, who act all in all, have accomplished many holiness in every generation and generation, having pleased you with various virtues, and leaving us with an image of your good deeds, in the joy that has passed, prepare, in it the temptations themselves were, and help us who are attacked. Remembering all these saints and praising their godly lives, I praise You Himself, who acted in them, and believing in Your goodness, the gift of being, I diligently pray to You, Holy of Holies, grant to me a sinner to follow their teaching, and moreover, by Your all-effective grace, the heavenly ones with them be worthy of glory, praising Your most holy name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
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What does holiness give?
A person who has achieved holiness constantly feels within himself love for the Creator and for everything around him. Externally, holiness in a person has various manifestations. In the form of selflessness and humility. Willingness to do good even to enemies. Fearless confession of the Orthodox faith. Contempt for the pleasures of the flesh and glory. Christian holiness does not mean sinlessness, but a persistent and consistent aversion to sin.
The prayer to all saints should not be misleading. Holiness and sinlessness are not synonymous (except in one example, the Lord Jesus Christ). After all, saints are also people who could have made mistakes in their earthly lives.
According to Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh (1914-2003), “a person’s holiness, of course, is combined with some degree of sinfulness. Because a person gives himself to God and says: Lord, I want to be Yours and only Yours! And at the same time, there is still imperfection in it, which must be processed and gradually disappear. Here are the two poles of holiness: the Divine holiness of the Savior Lord Jesus Christ and the embryonic holiness of the one who gives himself, as it were, as the property of God.”
Feast of All Saints
No one knows how many saints have appeared in the history of mankind, only God alone. Those whose names and exploits were known were canonized by the Church. Canonization is the declaration of glorification with appropriate veneration. The names of such saints of God are included in each Local Orthodox Church in the “Saints”. The “Simonopetrovsky Synaxarion” (a set of calendars of all Local Churches), which was compiled by Hieromonk Macarius of the Simonopetrov Monastery (Athos, Greece), indicates that by 1996 the Orthodox Church glorified 3911 names of saints.
The list is constantly updated to this day. For example, in 2000, the Russian Orthodox Church canonized almost a thousand more saints of God as holy martyrs and confessors.
Unknown saints
However, many saints still remained hidden from other believers. For example, in the first centuries of Christianity, many ascetics went into the desert and lived alone. Their spiritual exploits were unknown to other people.
Elder Paisiy Svyatogorets (1924-1994) said about such saints: “Many unknown saints help us, although we don’t even know them. For me these are the greatest saints. They have no glory from men, but only from God. Out of their great humility, they earnestly asked God - so my thoughts tell me - to remain in obscurity, not to have honors from people, but to continue to help them “in secret.” We should especially honor and especially thank such unknown saints, because they silently help us with their prayers and their silent example, their obscurity.”
Orthodoxy lacks information about the names of some saints. They remained nameless. For example, 1003 Nicomedia Martyrs (commemorated on February 20, new style). Or 14 thousand Bethlehem infant martyrs (commemorated on January 11, new style).
In order to honor the memory of all the “known and unknown” saints of God, the Orthodox Church established the Feast of All Saints. It falls on the first Sunday after the Holy Trinity. The Russian Orthodox Church also has the feast of All Saints who shone in the Russian land (the second Sunday after the day of the Holy Trinity). Although the prayer to all saints can be read on any day, not only on these holidays.
How to prepare for reading?
Before reading, you need to mentally and physically prepare for prayer. During the week you must observe strict fasting, not eating anything that is prohibited by Lent. During this time, you need to ask for forgiveness from everyone you have offended recently. You can’t think about bad things; it’s better to drive away thoughts that depress you. Before praying, you need to take a shower and clean the room where the prayer will be held. No animals or people should be present in the room; treatment should take place in complete solitude. Thoughts and soul must be pure before the Lord. Sincerely read the text, as stated above, petitions will only help if the prayer comes from the heart. If you are pursuing some selfish goals in your petition, then you should not expect help from the Lord.
The Christian faith allows a desperate person to pray to the Saint and receive help from the Almighty. The most important thing you need to know is what you want to turn to God or a Saint with, you need to know exactly which Saint will help you and what kind of appeal you need to turn to him with. All this can be found out by coming to the temple. There you will receive support and blessing in your endeavor. The priest will help the temple visitor choose an icon, a prayer, and also indicate the frequency of prayer. You can also confess to God before the sacred conversion.
Orthodox prayers before icons
You can pray at home in front of icons, as in church, about anything. Prayers for healing and health, prayers for children, for parents, for living and deceased relatives and friends - if you list all the possible types of prayers, not even a day is enough. You can turn to the image of Jesus Christ at any time and with any problem; he will always hear you and help you. Regardless of the very reason why you seek help, this icon will always have a positive effect.
The most revered icon among Orthodox Christians is the icon of the Mother of God. They also turn to the Queen of Heaven on any issue. The queen will always pray for the person who asked her for help before Jesus and the Lord God. The Blessed Virgin Mary will never leave a person in trouble and will accept everyone who definitely wants to learn how to pray in front of an icon. And you can always purchase images of Saints in various ways in any online store or at church kiosks.
Popular prayers before icons
- "Mother of Tikhvin"
- "Our Lady of Kazan"
- "Mother of Seven Shots"
- "Vladimir Mother of God"
- "Iverskaya Mother"
- "Feodorovskaya Mother"
When praying and asking for help, you should always mention your Guardian Angel and Patron. When performing the rite of baptism, a person has his own Guardian Angel, who intercedes and protects the baptized person throughout his life. Each of the listed saints will definitely hear what words of prayer you say and how you pray. He will help you deal with the situation correctly.
Which icons should you pray to?
If you do not know how to pray at home in front of an icon, first of all, pray to the image of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. They are considered “universal”, capable of helping with any request.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
“O Most Holy Virgin, Mother of the Lord, Queen of Heaven and Earth! Hear the much-painful sighing of our souls, look down from Thy holy height upon us, who with faith and love worship Thy most pure image. Behold, immersed in sins and overwhelmed by sorrows, looking at Your image, as if You were alive and living with us, we offer our humble prayers. The imams have no other help, no other intercession, no consolation except You, O Mother, of all those who mourn and are burdened! Help us, the weak, satisfy our sorrow, guide us, the erring, on the right path, heal and save the hopeless, grant us the rest of our lives to spend in peace and silence, grant us a Christian death, and at the Last Judgment of Your Son, the merciful Intercessor will appear to us, and always We sing, magnify and glorify Thee, as the good Intercessor of the Christian race, with all those who have pleased God. Amen." Read more…
The Blessed Virgin Mary stands above all saints, and she will always protect and support you in difficult times. And the Iveron Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos can help save your home from enemies.
- If your date of birth falls on 12.22-22.01 , then the image of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” is best suited for you. Guardian Angels are represented here by Saint Sylvester and Venerable Seraphim of Sarov.
- For those born on the dates of 01/21-20/02 , such saints as Athanasius and Cyril will be suitable, and their icons of the Mother of God “Vladimir” and “Burning Bush” will provide them with protection.
- For people born 02.21-20.03 , you can use the image of the Iveron Mother of God. Saint Alexius will serve as the Guardian Angel in this case, and Milentius of Antioch will also help.
- If you were born 03/21-20/04 , pray at the icon of the Kazan Mother of God. Saints such as Sophrony and Innocent of Irkutsk will be able to provide you with considerable help.
- An icon such as the “Support of Sinners” and the Iveron image of the Mother of God will provide protection to those born on 04/21-20/05 . They are protected by such saints as Stepan and Tamara and the Apostle John the Theologian.
- If you were born on May 21-06, 21 , you should pray at the image of “Seeking the Lost,” “Burning Bush,” and “Vladimirskaya.” And Saints Alexei of Moscow and Constantine were assigned to such people as heavenly guards.
- If your birth date falls on 06/22-22/07 , then in this case you can use the image “Joy of All Who Sorrow”, as well as the “Kazan Icon of the Mother of God”.
- Those born 07.23-23.08 are protected by the image of the “Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary”.
- If you were born on 08.24-23.09 , then you can pray at the image of the “Burning Bush” and “Passionate Bush”. Guardian Angels are represented by Saints Alexander, John and Paul.
- The icon of the Pochaev Mother of God “The Burning Bush” and “The Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord” will help people born on 24.09-23.10 . The Guardian Angel is represented by Saint Sergius of Radonezh.
- If your date of birth falls on any day from 10/24-11/22 , the image of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” and “Jerusalem” will help you.
- Those who were born from November 23-21, 2012 should ask for the intercession of the images of the Mother of God “Tikhvinskaya and “Znamenie”. And the guardian angels of such people are Saint Nicholas the Pleasant and Saint Barbara.
What prayers should be read before icons?
Before you pray, do not forget that a person cannot always be in the positions prescribed by rituals. So, for example, some older people are simply not able to make prostrations at home correctly. There are also people who are unable to stand the service of Mass on their feet.
This also applies to fasting: for example, concessions are made for the sick, pregnant and nursing mothers, and the elderly. “There is no sin in food,” say the priests, blessing believers for some deviations from the strict dogmas of Orthodoxy.
And if, due to your physical condition, you cannot pray to the icons correctly, you need to sit down or even lie down.
The most important aid in prayer is icons. Orthodox Christians read prayers in front of images, and it is very important that the icon does not replace the object of prayer. After all, the icon serves only as a reminder and a kind of symbol of the reality that lies behind it. The image in prayer serves as a means by which a person correctly expresses his love to the Savior and the Mother of God.
As Orthodoxy shows, an image should not serve as an idol; each person prays for his loved ones not because God needs a reminder of how to save them, but then because he wants to take part in saving each other.
And it will be right if every Orthodox Christian, going to bed in the evening, will definitely read simple words of prayer to God.
You do not have to buy exactly the icon that suits you and pray exclusively to your holy guardians. For example, if your Guardian Angel is Saint Constantine, but St. Nicholas the Wonderworker has always been closer to you, contact him.
How should you pray in front of an icon?
Every Orthodox person can get an answer on how to pray correctly at home in front of an icon, and it doesn’t matter at all when he prays. The main thing is that you must start and end your prayer appeal correctly. To begin, approach the image and completely focus your attention on prayer, being sure to throw away everyday worries.
Before you start reading various prayers at home, you need to tune in spiritually and convince yourself that the Holy One hears you. At the same time, you need to remember that the prayer should be addressed to the image of Jesus or the saint who is depicted on it.
Prayer to the image of the Savior Jesus Christ
“We worship Your Most Pure Image, O Good One, asking for forgiveness of our sins, O Christ God, by the will of You you deigned to ascend in the flesh to the Cross, so that You may deliver what You have created from the work of the enemy, so we cry out to You with hope: Lord God, my Savior, come to for me who is perishing and heal my incurable illnesses.”
If you do not know what words of prayer to pronounce, then you can read it in your own words, but in a critical situation that requires special prayerful diligence, prepare for the prayer by learning it by heart.
Before praying, you should also be sure to cleanse yourself. When you approach the image at home, cross yourself and bow. The sign of the cross, performed correctly and with faith, will frighten any demon and bring joy to sinful passions.
Video: Prayers before icons
Specifics of the image and origin of the name
The word “icon” means “image,” that is, a mirroring of reality in some form. The icon of “All Saints” takes its name from the rite of baptism. When such a sacrament occurs, each Christian is assigned a heavenly protector who protects him from adversity throughout his life. They turn to the patron in any difficult situation. The name “All Saints” suggests that the icon depicts all the defenders of man, that is, it is a universal image. If you decide to appeal to all the saints, then choose just such an icon.
Images of the All Saints icon can be found in different versions. Some of the oldest images date back to the 5th-7th centuries. Such icons were painted in Greece, on the island of Athos. At the top of the icon is the Holy Trinity, in the center is the Father, on the right is the Son, the Spirit is above the Father and the Son. Sometimes the Spirit is represented on an icon in the form of a dove. Next comes a series of figures HEADED BY THE Mother of God (Lady Theotokos) and John the Baptist. The icon also depicts John the Baptist and the faces of other saints.
Kontakion, voice 8*
Like the firstfruits of nature, to the Planter of creation,/ the universe brings to You, Lord, God-bearing martyrs./ By those prayers in the deep world Thy Church, // Thy residence, has been preserved by the Mother of God by many more kindly
Translation: As the first fruits of nature, to the Planter of all creation, the universe brings, to You, O Lord, God-bearing martyrs. Through their prayers and the intercession of the Mother of God, preserve Your Church - Your people in deep peace, O Most Merciful One.
The process of reading a prayer correctly
First of all, it is worth remembering that the divine petition cannot be read as a school poem, a drill, or a memorized verse from a piece of paper. Those who really need help turn to the Lord; prayer must come from the heart. Sincere reading of the plot will help to achieve effective conversion. A person must truly feel prayer, let the appeal to God pass through himself. This works best in difficult times, when you let go of your hands. It is common for people to pray to the Lord during times of devastation; on a subconscious level, a person believes that the Almighty powers will be able to help him in his accomplishments and endeavors. Conquer yourself and overcome the dark streak in life.
Every Saint has the gift of forgiveness and mercy. The main thing is to choose the right Saint to whom the sacred prayer is performed. First of all, heavenly forces protect a person from the effects of demonic attacks and physical enemies. The Archangel performs his function and before praying it is worth knowing exactly which Saint the divine petition should be read to. For some it helps with infertility, for others it comes with a request for success in the financial sphere. Before reading the appeal, you need to find out which deity it will be addressed to. If you neglect this point, then you should not wait for a solution to a life problem.
Prayer 1**
To you, O all holiness, as guiding lamps, who with your deeds illuminated the path of the Heavenly sunrise, I, a great sinner, humbly bow the knee of my heart and from the depths of my soul I cry: beg for me, O Lover of Mankind May the Lord of God not allow us to wander further into the paths of sin, but may He enlighten us my mind and heart with the light of my grace, as if we illuminate and strengthen it, I will be able to continue the rest of my earthly life on the right path without stumbling and through your intercession to the Most Good Lord I will be honored to be a small partaker of your spiritual meal in the Heavenly Palace of the King of Glory. To Him, with His Beginning Father and the Most Holy, Good and Life-Giving Spirit, be glory, honor and worship forever and ever. Amen.
Troparion, voice 4*
And throughout the whole world Thy martyr,/ as with scarlet and visor,/ Thy Church is adorned with the blood,/ with them cries out to Thy Christ God:/ unto Thy people Thy bounties have come down,/ peace Grant to Thy habitation, // and to our souls great mercy.
Translation: With the blood of Your martyrs who suffered throughout the world, clothed as in purple and fine linen, through their lips Your Church cries out to You, O Christ God: “Send down Your mercies to Your people, grant peace to Your people and great mercy to our souls!”
