Church Slavonic language
Why does an Orthodox Christian need a prayer book in Church Slavonic? It is necessary to understand what a prayer book is and what is the significance of the Church Slavonic language in Russian Orthodoxy.
Church Slavonic is the ancient traditional language of worship in the Orthodox countries of Eastern Europe. It is based on the Old Church Slavonic language, the writing system of which was developed by the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius in the 9th century. These Byzantine preachers created an alphabet and writing for the Christian education of pagan Slavic tribes. This was necessary to create translations of the Bible and liturgical books. At that time, the Slavic peoples did not yet have their own written language.
Orthodox prayer
The Old Church Slavonic language was largely based on one of the ancient Bulgarian dialects, well known to Cyril and Methodius. Slavic dialects were widely used in northern Greece, where the brothers were born. Also, the new language absorbed elements of the linguistics of the Greek sacred books.
Quite quickly, the use of Old Church Slavonic spread beyond the boundaries of the Church. For many centuries it became literary and was used for teaching literacy, developing and simplifying along the way. Only in the 19th century was the language supplanted from almost all spheres of life by the Russian literary language. The latter was significantly enriched precisely thanks to Church Slavonic.
Sacred Language of the Church
So, Church Slavonic returned to its original and main function - use in divine services and prayers. The Church does not abandon it, considering it a spiritual treasure, a sacred instrument of communication with God and knowledge of His Word. This language provided magnificent examples of church hymnography and was sanctified by thousands of years of use in worship. It has become an integral part of the Russian Orthodox tradition and is of great importance for understanding the entire Russian culture. Hegumen Agafangel (Gagua) speaks about prayers in Church Slavonic:
“Liturgical texts are masterpieces of sacred poetry of a special type and order. Orthodox church services are called poeticized, iconographic, singing theology.”
The Church continues to address God in the Church Slavonic language and calls believers to do so. This language is incomparably more poetic and sublime than modern Russian. Only a language created within and for the Church is capable of so subtly conveying the relationship between the Creator and His creation and describing deep spiritual concepts. Priest Andrei Chizhenko notes that the Church Slavonic language, like icons, candles, censer with incense, is characterized by “transmundaneity”, “separation” from everything familiar in everyday life:
“This is an exclusively liturgical language, not used in everyday communication. It’s like our verbal “incense,” which we put into the censer of our hearts, praying and censing to the Almighty God.”
What is a prayer book
This is the name given in Christianity to a collection of prayer texts used by believers in everyday religious life and in special circumstances. The standard Orthodox prayer book includes the most commonly used sacred texts. For example, morning and evening prayers in Church Slavonic. They are read daily by Christians to keep them “spiritually fit.” Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov explains:
“Prayer rules keep the person praying in a saving disposition of humility and repentance... strengthening him with hope in the All-Good and All-Merciful God, delighting him with the peace of Christ, love for God and his neighbors.”
The prayer book in Church Slavonic also contains a sequence that prepares a Christian for one of the main Church Sacraments - Holy Communion. In it, the believer eats the Body and Blood of Christ under the guise of consecrated bread and wine. A person is united with the Lord, a mysterious sanctification and renewal of soul and body occurs.
Priest Valery Dukhanin notes that the above prayer rules were compiled by outstanding holy theologians. Therefore, they contain the entire palette of feelings and thoughts necessary for the soul to approach God. Thus, reading prayers spiritually connects us with both the Lord and His righteous ones.
In the prayer book you can find many other sacred texts: daily appeals to the guardian angel and heavenly patron, prayers before and after meals, various canons and akathists. Finally, Orthodox Christians resort to prayer books in special life situations. So, there are prayers read when traveling, when sick, etc. Special collections are published for children, the visually impaired, warriors and other categories of believers.
Daily Evening Prayer
Authentic Christian life cannot be imagined without prayer. This is a way of connection, communication between man and God. With prayer you can offer praise to God, your repentance, prayers or thanksgiving. But the basis of any real prayer is always love for the Creator, the desire to get closer to Him and find His saving grace. A heartfelt and humble appeal to the Almighty will never go unanswered. Every Christian should strive to fulfill the commandment of unceasing prayer. But the minimum necessary for a believer is daily morning and evening prayers.
Evening prayers
The evening rule also has the name “prayers for those going to bed,” that is, “prayer for those going to bed.” Many people mistakenly say “for bedtime” and thereby distort the meaning of the phrase. The evening prayer rule includes various appeals to God, the Holy Trinity, the Mother of God, and the Holy Cross. We thank God for the past day, confess our daily sins, ask for protection from earthly and spiritual enemies, help in keeping the commandments and God's will. The rule also contains the prayer of St. John Chrysostom, which clearly unites all these needs and aspirations of a Christian. It consists of 24 parts, which correspond to the number of hours in a day.
Prayer book in Church Slavonic
Most Orthodox prayer books are published in Church Slavonic. But in some collections the font is also Church Slavonic (with specific letters, established abbreviations and superscripts). Such prayer books are suitable only for experienced church-going Christians who can read the ancient sacred language. In other collections the spelling is “civilian”. That is, for example, morning prayers in Church Slavonic are presented in modern Russian letters. These prayer books are used by the majority of believers.
For new Christians who have only recently entered the Church, it is better to resort to prayer books with a civil font and a parallel translation into Russian. Or use collections completely translated into modern language.
A prayer book in Church Slavonic plays an important role in the life of an Orthodox Christian. This is a reliable assistant in communicating with God and the saints, in saving the soul. But the prayer book cannot replace all spiritual literature. On the contrary, he should encourage one to study it.
It is also important to remember that a full understanding of prayers is impossible without knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. For example, in the first lines of the canon for Holy Communion, the Lord is glorified as “having divided the sea” and “leading people out of the work of Egypt.” These words refer us to the Old Testament book of Exodus, which tells about the long-awaited liberation of God's chosen people from slavery in Ancient Egypt.
Orthodox Life
Archpriest Vladimir Puchkov explains.
Among other misconceptions that exist in the church environment, the belief that prayer should be solely a matter of desire takes its place. Personally, I have heard more than a dozen times from a variety of people that it is difficult for them to pray regularly in the mornings and evenings. Therefore, they pray from time to time. The argument is always the same: you can’t pray without desire! Moreover, this is said every time with such conviction as if it were true. This is understandable: it’s really not easy to read the morning and evening rules every time, but here is such an excuse. Although, to tell the truth, rather than make such arguments, it is better to remain silent.
In fact, the basis of the foundations of prayer is self-compulsion. Of course, prayer without desire will not bring anywhere near the fruits that a sincere appeal to God with desire and faith gives. However, it would be useful to ask ourselves: how often do we have the desire to pray? That's the whole point, it's not often. So infrequently that if we turned to God only when there is a desire, then we would pray, at best, once every couple of months. That is why prayer is so in demand in the church environment, as they say, under pressure, because the skill of prayer is developed precisely with its help. In other words: if you want to learn to pray with desire, try to pray despite reluctance. That is, in the same evening prayers, in addition to turning to God and gratitude for the day, what is important is the fact that they are not just a set of prayers, but, first of all, a “rule.” The fact that it has become the norm, the fact that it disciplines, makes not only prayer, but also ordinary life orderly, measured, calm.
In this regard, by the way, a number of questions lose all meaning. For example, is reading evening prayers in Old Church Slavonic or reading in Ukrainian or Russian also acceptable? It is clear that in the context of the current political situation, the issue of language is on everyone’s lips, including among individual church people. However, this fact does not at all make the issue of language fundamental. Firstly, the incomprehensibility of the Church Slavonic language is clearly exaggerated: it is enough to read the evening prayers in Old Church Slavonic carefully for a month or two and their meaning, in general, will become quite clear. To eliminate confusion associated with individual words and expressions, there are both special dictionaries and the Internet. Secondly, the Church has never prohibited reading prayers in Russian, Ukrainian or any other language. Reading the same evening prayers in Old Church Slavonic is a common practice. Reading in Russian or Ukrainian is acceptable particulars.
Or, for example, is it permissible to read abbreviated ones instead of full prayers? It is clear that if the evening rule is significant and important, primarily as a rule, then it is no longer so important which prayers and in what quantity to read. Of course, reading all the evening prayers before going to bed is the best option. However, situations are different. If, for example, a person is forced to work most of the day and there is neither time nor energy left for normal prayer, then it is much better to read two or three prayers regularly than the full rule when necessary. The same can be said about mothers of small children who have no time at all. It happens that a person, over many years of church membership, has become so accustomed to a rule that he recites it by heart without thinking or delving into it. In this case, it would be useful to start reading something else for a while instead of the usual evening prayers. Psalms, for example. Again, because what is important in the rule is, first of all, the very fact of prayer before going to bed.
So, to summarize what has been said, the importance of both the daily prayer rule and regular self-motivation to fulfill it. Both of them originate in the centuries-old experience of the Church, which, in turn, is salutary for every person who has taken the path of salvation and devoted his life to fulfilling the commandments of God.
See also: What is the meaning and importance of morning prayers?
Morning Rule Prayer
Having risen from sleep, I bring the midnight hymn to Ti, O Savior, and falling down crying to Ti: do not let me fall asleep in a sinful death, but have mercy on me, crucify yourself with your will, and hastening to raise me who lies in laziness, and save I stand in prayer and in dreams By night shine upon me a sinless day, O Christ God, and save me.
Translation: Rising from sleep, I bring the midnight song to You, Savior, and falling at Your feet, I cry to You: do not let me fall asleep in sinful death, but have pity on me, You who voluntarily endured crucifixion, and quickly raise me, lying carelessly, and save me standing before You in prayer. And after a night’s sleep, send me a clear, sinless day, O Christ God, and save me.
Morning prayers
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen
Publican's Prayer
God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
Initial prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
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. (2)
Trisagion
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3) Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake. Lord have mercy. (3). Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. (3)
Lord's Prayer
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.
Troparia Trinity
Having risen from sleep, we fall down to Thee, the Good One, and cry out to Thee, the Mightier, the angelic song: Holy, Holy, Holy art thou, O God, have mercy on us through the Mother of God. Glory: From bed and sleep You have raised me up, O Lord, enlighten my mind and heart, and open my lips to sing to You, Holy Trinity: Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O God, have mercy on us through the Mother of God. And now: Suddenly the Judge will come, and every deed will be laid bare, but we call with fear (4) at midnight: Holy, Holy, Holy art thou, O God, have mercy on us by the Mother of God. Lord have mercy. (12)
Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity
Having risen from sleep, I thank Thee, Holy Trinity, for for the sake of Thy goodness and long-suffering, Thou hast not been angry with me, lazy and sinful, nor hast Thou destroyed me with my iniquities; but you usually loved mankind and in the despair of the one who lay down, you raised me up to practice and glorify Your power. And now enlighten my mental eyes, open my lips to learn Thy words, and to understand Thy commandments, and to do Thy will, and to sing to Thee in heartfelt confession, and to sing Thy all-holy name, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages. centuries. Amen.
Come, let us worship our King God. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King God. Come, let us bow and fall down to Christ Himself, the King and our God.
Psalm 50
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the multitude of Your mercies, cleanse my iniquity. Above all, wash me from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin; for I know my iniquity, and I will take away my sin before me.
I have sinned against You alone and have done evil before You, so that You may be justified in Your words and triumph over the judgment of You. Behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and my mother gave birth to me in sins. Behold, you have loved the truth; You have revealed to me the unknown and secret wisdom of Yours. Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. My hearing brings joy and joy; humble bones will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and cleanse all my iniquities. 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. Reward me with the joy of Your salvation and strengthen me with the Lord’s Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your way, and the wicked will turn to You. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salvation; My tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness.
Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise. As if you had desired sacrifices, you would have given them: you do not favor burnt offerings. The sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; God will not despise a broken and humble heart. Bless Zion, O Lord, with Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then favor the sacrifice of righteousness, the offering and the burnt offering; Then they will place the bullock on Your altar.
Symbol of faith
I believe in one God the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, born, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, to Whom all things were. For our sake, man and our salvation came down from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became human. She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And again the coming one will be judged with glory by the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I hope for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the next century. Amen.
First prayer of Saint Macarius the Great
God, cleanse me, a sinner, for I have done nothing good before You; but deliver me from the evil one, and may Thy will be done in me, may I open my unworthy lips without condemnation and praise Thy holy name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages Amen.
Second prayer, of the same saint
Rising from sleep, I bring the midnight hymn to Ti, Savior, and falling down crying to Ti: do not let me fall asleep in a sinful death, but be gracious to me, crucified by will, and hasten me lying in laziness, and save me in standing and in prayer, and in sleep Rise up nightly for me a sinless day, O Christ God, and save me.
Prayer three, of the same saint
To You, Lord, Lover of Mankind, having risen from sleep, I come running, and I strive for Your works with Your mercy, and I pray to You: help me at all times, in every thing, and deliver me from all worldly evil things and the devil’s haste, and save me, and bring us into Your eternal Kingdom. For You are my Creator and the Provider and Giver of every good thing, and all my hope is in You, and I send up glory to You, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer four, of the same saint
Lord, Who through Your many goodness and Your great bounty has given me, Your servant, the passing time of this night without misfortune to pass away from all evil that is contrary to me; You Yourself, Master, the Creator of all things, grant me with Your true light and an enlightened heart to do Your will, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Fifth prayer, Saint Basil the Great
Lord Almighty, God of hosts and all flesh, living in the highest and looking down on the humble, testing the hearts and wombs and innermost parts of men, the fore-foreseen One, the Beginningless and Ever-Everlasting Light, with Him there is no change or overshadowing; Himself, Immortal King, accept our prayers, even now, boldly for the multitude of Your bounties, from the bad lips we create towards You, and forgive us our sins, whether in deed, word, and thought, knowledge, or ignorance, we have sinned; and cleanse us from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. And grant us with a cheerful heart and a sober thought to pass through the whole night of this present life, awaiting the coming of the bright and revealed day of Your Only Begotten Son, the Lord and God and our Savior Jesus Christ, in which the Judge of all will come with glory, to whom he will give to each according to his deeds; May we not fall and become lazy, but be watchful and raised up for the work that is to come, and prepare for the joy and Divine palace of His glory, where those who celebrate the unceasing voice and the ineffable sweetness of those who behold Your face, the ineffable kindness. For You are the true Light, you enlighten and sanctify all things, and all creation sings to You forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer six, of the same saint
We bless you, O highest God and Lord of mercy, who always does great and unexplored, glorious and terrible things to us, countless in number, giving us sleep for the repose of our weakness, and the weakening of the labors of the arduous flesh.
We thank Thee, for Thou didst not destroy us with our iniquities, but Thou didst usually love mankind, and in desperation, Thou didst raise us up to glorify Thy power. In the same way, we pray for Your immeasurable goodness, enlighten our thoughts, our eyes, and raise our minds from the heavy sleep of laziness: open our lips, and fulfill Your praise, so that we can unwaveringly sing and confess to You, in all, and from all, to the glorified God, To the Beginningless Father, with Your Only Begotten Son, and Your All-Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Seventh prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos
I sing Thy grace, O Lady, I pray to Thee, my mind is filled with grace.
Go right and teach me the path of Christ’s commandments. Strengthen your children to songs, driving away despondency and sleep. Bound by the captivity of the Falls, allow me through Your prayers, Bride of God. Preserve me in the night and in the day, delivering me to those who fight against the enemy. She who gave birth to God, the life-giver, was killed by my passions and revived. Who gave birth to the non-evening Light, enlighten my blind soul. O wondrous Lady of the Palace, create for me the house of the Divine Spirit. You who gave birth to a doctor, heal my soul of many years of passion. Worried by the storm of life, guide me towards the path of repentance.
Deliver me from eternal fire, and from evil worms, and from tartar. Do not show me joy as a demon, who is guilty of many sins. Create me again, having promised to be insensible, Immaculate, without sin. Show me the strangeness of all kinds of torment, and implore the Lord to all. Heavenly grant me joy with all the saints. Most Holy Virgin, hear the voice of Your indecent servant. Give me a stream of tears, Most Pure One, cleansing the filth of my soul. I bring lamentations from my heart to You continually, be zealous, Lady. Accept my prayer service and bring it to the blessed God. Transcending Angel, create me above the fusion of the world. Light-bearing heavenly Seine, direct spiritual grace in me. I lift up my hand and my lips to praise, defiled by filth, O All-Immaculate One.
Deliver me from the dirty tricks that are strangling me, diligently begging Christ; To Him is due honor and worship, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer eight, to our Lord Jesus Christ
My most merciful and all-merciful God, Lord Jesus Christ, for the sake of love you came down and became incarnate for many reasons, so that you would save everyone.
And again, Savior, save me by grace, I pray to You; Even if you save me from works, there is no grace and no gift, but more than debt. Hey, abundant in generosity and ineffable in mercy! Believe in Me, you say, O my Christ, you will live and will not see death forever. Even if faith in You saves the desperate, behold, I believe, save me, for You are my God and Creator.
Let faith instead of works be imputed to me, O my God, for you will not find works to justify me. But may my faith prevail instead of all, may it answer, may it justify me, may it show me to be a partaker of Your eternal glory. Let Satan not kidnap me, and boast to the Word that he has torn me away from Your hand and fence; but either I want, save me, or I don’t want, O Christ my Savior, let me soon, I will soon perish: For you are my God from my mother’s womb. Grant me, O Lord, now to love Thee, as sometimes I have loved that same sin; and again work for You without laziness, just as you worked before the flattering Satan. Above all, I will serve You, my Lord and God Jesus Christ, all the days of my life, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Ninth prayer to the Guardian Angel
Holy Angel, standing before my accursed soul and my passionate life, do not leave me, a sinner, nor depart from me for my intemperance.
Do not give room to the evil demon to possess me through the violence of this mortal body; strengthen my poor and thin hand and guide me on the path of salvation.
To her, holy Angel of God, guardian and patron of my accursed soul and body, forgive me everything, I have offended you so greatly all the days of my life, and if I sinned this past night, cover me on this day, and save me from every opposite temptation May I not anger God in any sin, and pray for me to the Lord, that He may strengthen me in His passion, and show me worthy as a servant of His goodness. Amen.
Prayer tenth, to the Most Holy Theotokos
My Most Holy Lady Theotokos, with Your saints and all-powerful prayers, take away from me, Your humble and accursed servant, despondency, oblivion, foolishness, negligence, and all the nasty, evil and blasphemous thoughts from my accursed heart and from my darkened mind; and extinguish the flame of my passions, for I am poor and damned. And deliver me from many and cruel memories and enterprises, and free me from all evil actions. For Thou art blessed from all generations, and glorified is Thy most honorable name forever and ever. Amen.
Prayerful invocation of the saint whose name you bear
Pray to God for me, holy servant of God (name), as I diligently resort to you, a quick helper and prayer book for my soul.
Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.
Troparion to the Cross and prayer for the fatherland
Save, O Lord, Thy people, and bless Thy inheritance, granting victories to Orthodox Christians against resistance, and preserving Thy residence through Thy Cross.
Prayer for the living
Save, Lord, and have mercy on my spiritual father (name), my parents (names), relatives (names), bosses, mentors, benefactors (their names) and all Orthodox Christians.
Prayer for the departed
Rest, O Lord, the souls of Your departed servants: my parents, relatives, benefactors (their names), and all Orthodox Christians, and forgive them all sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven.
End of prayers
It is worthy to eat as truly to bless Thee, Theotokos, Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and 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. (5) Glory, and now: Lord, have mercy. (3) Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Thy Most Pure Mother, our reverend and God-bearing fathers and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Prayer from the evening rule
Eternal God and King of every creature, who has made me worthy even at this hour to achieve, forgive me the sins that I have committed on this day in deed, word and thought, and cleanse, Lord, my humble soul from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. And grant me, Lord, in the night of this dream to pass away in peace, so that, rising from my humble bed, I will please Your most holy name, all the days of my life, and will stop the enemies of the flesh and the barren who fight me ́tnyya. 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 forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Translation: Eternal God and King of all creation, who has made me worthy to live to this hour! Forgive me the sins that I committed on this day in deed, word and thought, and cleanse, Lord, my humble soul from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. And grant me, Lord, to spend this night in peaceful sleep, so that, rising from my humble bed, I may please Your most holy name all the days of my life and defeat the enemies who attack me - carnal and incorporeal.
And deliver me, Lord, from vain thoughts that defile me, and vicious desires. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and always, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Content:
Why do you need to read the evening rule (evening prayers)
The evening rule is performed daily with the goal of preventing the cessation of prayer life. In the prayer rule (evening, morning, read throughout the day), as in any large and difficult matter, “inspiration”, “mood” and improvisation are not enough. With the evening rule, a Christian ends the day and prepares for bed. The evening rule reminds of the sins that a person committed during the day. Evening prayer comforts and gives hope in God's mercy. This is why the evening rule is so important.
Start of the evening rule
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Initial prayer
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.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
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.
Trisagion
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake. Lord have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory, and now:
Lord's Prayer
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.
Troparion of the Evening Rule
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 may please Your most holy name, all the days of my life and will trample the fleshly and incorporeal enemies who 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 2, Saint Antiochus, to our Lord Jesus Christ
To the Almighty, the Word of the Father, who is perfect himself, Jesus Christ, for the sake of Thy mercy, never leave me, Thy servant, but always rest in me. Jesus, good Shepherd of Your sheep, do not betray me to the sedition of the serpent, and do not leave me to the desires of Satan, for the seed of aphids is in me. Thou, O Lord God worshiped, the Holy King, Jesus Christ, preserve me as I sleep with an unflickering light, by Thy Holy Spirit, with whom Thou hast sanctified Thy disciples. Grant, O Lord, to me, Thy unworthy servant, Thy salvation on my bed: enlighten my mind with the light of reason of Thy Holy Gospel, my soul with the love of Thy Cross, my heart with the purity of Thy word, my body with Thy passionless passion, preserve my thought with Thy humility, and uplift I am in time like Your praise. For Thou art glorified with Thy Beginningless Father and with the Most Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
Prayer 3, to the Holy Spirit
Lord, Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of Truth, have mercy and have mercy on me, Thy sinful servant, and forgive me the unworthy, and forgive me all that I have sinned today like a man, and moreover, not like a man, but also worse than cattle, my free sins and involuntary, driven and unknown: those who are evil from youth and science, and those who are evil from impudence and despondency. If I swear by Your name, or blaspheme in my thoughts; or whom I will reproach; or slandered someone with my anger, or saddened someone, or became angry about something; either he lied, or he slept in vain, or he came to me as a beggar and despised him; or made my brother sad, or married, or whom I condemned; or became proud, or became proud, or became angry; or standing in prayer, my mind is moved by the wickedness of this world, or I think about corruption; either overeated, or drunk, or laughing madly; either I thought evil, or saw someone else’s kindness, and my heart was wounded by it; or dissimilar verbs, or laughed at my brother’s sin, but mine are countless sins; Either I didn’t pray for the sake of it, or I didn’t remember what other evil things I did, because I did more and more of these things. Have mercy on me, my Creator Master, Thy sad and unworthy servant, and leave me, and let me go, and forgive me, for I am Good and Lover of Mankind, so that I may lie down in peace, sleep and rest, the prodigal, sinful and damned one, and I will bow and sing , and I will glorify Your most honorable name, with the Father and His Only Begotten Son, now and ever and forever. Amen.
Prayer 4, St. Macarius the Great
What will I bring to You, or what will I reward to You, O most gifted Immortal King, generous and philanthropic Lord, since you were lazy in pleasing me, and did nothing good, you brought the conversion and salvation of my soul to the end of this day? Be merciful to me, a sinner and naked of every good deed, raise up my fallen soul, defiled in immeasurable sins, and take away from me all the evil thoughts of this visible life. Forgive my sins, O One Sinless One, even those who have sinned this day, in knowledge and ignorance, in word, and deed, and thought, and with all my feelings. You Yourself, covering me, save me from every opposing situation with Your Divine power, and ineffable love for mankind, and strength. Cleanse, O God, cleanse the multitude of my sins. Deign, Lord, to deliver me from the snare of the evil one, and save my passionate soul, and overshadow me with the light of Your face, when You come in glory, and now make me sleep without condemnation and without dreaming, and keep the thought of Your servant untroubled, and put away all the work of Satan. from me, and enlighten the intelligent eyes of my heart, so that I may not sleep into death. And send me an Angel of peace, guardian and mentor of my soul and body, that he may deliver me from my enemies; Yes, rising from my bed, I will bring you prayers of gratitude. Yes, Lord, hear me, your sinful and wretched servant, with your will and conscience; Grant that I have risen to learn from Thy words, and the despondency of demons is driven away from me, to be made by Thy Angels; may I bless Your holy name, and glorify, and glorify the Most Pure Mother of God Mary, Who hast given us sinners intercession, and accept this one praying for us; We see that He imitates Your love for mankind, and does not stop praying. By that intercession, and the sign of the Honest Cross, and for the sake of all Thy saints, keep my poor soul, Jesus Christ our God, for Thou art holy and glorified forever. Amen.
Prayer 5
Lord our God, who have sinned in these days in word, deed and thought, as He is Good and Lover of Mankind, forgive me. Grant me a peaceful and serene sleep. Send Your guardian angel, covering and keeping me from all evil, for You are the guardian of our souls and bodies, and we send glory to You, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer 6
Lord our God, in the worthlessness of faith, and we call upon His name above every name, grant us, who are going to sleep, a weakening of soul and body, and keep us from all dreams and dark pleasures except; restrain the desire of passions, extinguish the kindling of bodily rebellion. Grant us to live chastely in deeds and words; Yes, a virtuous life is receptive, Your promised good things will not fall away, for Blessed are You forever. Amen.
Prayer 7, St. John Chrysostom (24 prayers, according to the number of hours of the day and night)
Lord, do not deprive me of Your heavenly blessings. Lord, save me from eternal torment. Lord, whether I have sinned in mind or in thought, in word or in deed, forgive me. Lord, deliver me from all ignorance and oblivion, and cowardice, and petrified insensibility. Lord, deliver me from every temptation. Lord, enlighten my heart, darken my evil lust. Lord, as a man who has sinned, You, as a generous God, have mercy on me, seeing the weakness of my soul. Lord, send Your grace to help me, that I may glorify Your holy name. Lord Jesus Christ, write me Your servant in the book of animals and grant me a good end. Lord, my God, even if I have done nothing good before You, grant me, by Your grace, to make a good beginning. Lord, sprinkle the dew of Your grace in my heart. Lord of heaven and earth, remember me, Thy sinful servant, cold and unclean, in Thy Kingdom. Amen. Lord, accept me in repentance. Lord, don't leave me. Lord, do not lead me into misfortune. Lord, give me a good thought. Lord, give me tears and mortal memory, and tenderness. Lord, give me the thought of confessing my sins. Lord, give me humility, chastity and obedience. Lord, give me patience, generosity and meekness. Lord, plant in me the root of good things, Thy fear in my heart. Lord, grant me to love You with all my soul and thoughts and to do Your will in everything. Lord, protect me from certain people, and demons, and passions, and from all other inappropriate things. Lord, weigh that you have done as You willed, that Your will be done in me, a sinner, for Thou art blessed forever. Amen.
Prayer 8, to our Lord Jesus Christ
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of Your most honorable Mother, and Your disembodied Angels, Your Prophet and Forerunner and Baptist, the God-speaking Apostles, the bright and victorious martyrs, the reverend and God-bearing fathers, and all the saints through the prayers, deliver me from my present demonic situation. To her, my Lord and Creator, do not want the death of a sinner, but as if he were converted and live, grant me conversion, the accursed and unworthy; take me away from the mouth of the destructive serpent, who yawns to devour me and bring me to hell alive. To her, my Lord, is my consolation, Who for the sake of the accursed one has clothed himself in corruptible flesh, pluck me from accursedness, and grant consolation to my more accursed soul. Plant in my heart to do Thy commandments, and forsake evil deeds, and receive Thy blessedness: for in Thee, O Lord, have I trusted, save me.
Prayer 9, to the Most Holy Theotokos, Peter of Studium
To Thee, Most Pure Mother of God, I fall down and pray: Consider, O Queen, how I continually sin and anger Thy Son and my God, and many times when I repent, I find myself lying before God, and I repent in trembling: will the Lord strike me down, and hour by hour I do the same again? ; I pray to this leader, my Lady, Lady Theotokos, to have mercy, strengthen me, and grant me good works. Believe me, my Lady Theotokos, for the Imam is by no means in hatred of my evil deeds, and with all my thoughts I love the law of my God; But we do not know, Most Pure Lady, from where I hate, I love, but I transgress what is good. Do not allow, O Most Pure One, my will to be fulfilled, for it is not pleasing, but may the will of Thy Son and my God be done: may He save me, and enlighten me, and give me the grace of the Holy Spirit, so that I may cease from here from filthiness, and so on may I live as commanded Your Son, to Him belongs all glory, honor and power, with His Originless Father, and His Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer 10, to the Most Holy Theotokos
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 You I will find paradise, O Virgin Mother of God, the only Pure and Blessed.
Prayer 11, 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. Glory, and now:
Lord have mercy. (Thrice)
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.
Prayer of Saint John of Damascus
Master, Lover of Mankind, will this coffin really be my bed, or will you still enlighten my damned soul during the day? For seven the grave lies ahead, for seven the death awaits. I fear Your judgment, O Lord, and endless torment, but I do not stop doing evil: I always anger You, the Lord my God, and Your Most Pure Mother, and all the Heavenly powers, and my holy Guardian Angel. We know, Lord, that I am unworthy of Your love for mankind, but I am worthy of all condemnation and torment. But, Lord, whether I want it or not, save me. Even if you save a righteous man, nothing great; and even if you have mercy on a pure person, nothing is marvelous: you are worthy of the essence of Your mercy. But surprise me, a sinner, with Thy mercy: for this show Thy love for mankind, so that my malice may not overcome Thy unspeakable goodness and mercy: and as you wish, arrange a thing for me.
Enlighten my eyes, O Christ God, so that not when I fall asleep into death, and not when my enemy says: “Be strong against him.” Glory: Be the protector of my soul, O God, as I walk in the midst of many snares; deliver me from them and save me, O Blessed One, as a Lover of Mankind. And now: Let us incessantly sing with our hearts and lips the Glorious Mother of God and the Most Holy Angel of Saints, confessing this Mother of God as truly having given birth to us God incarnate, and praying unceasingly for our souls.
Prayer to the Honest Cross (Mark yourself with a cross, cross your bed and say a prayer to the Honest Cross)
May God rise again, and may His enemies be scattered, and may those who hate Him flee from His presence. As smoke disappears, let them disappear; as wax melts in the presence of fire, so let demons perish from the face of those who love God and signify themselves with the sign of the cross, and who say in joy: Rejoice, Most Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, drive away the demons by force on you of our Lord Jesus Christ, who descended into hell and trampled upon the power the devil, and who gave us His Honest Cross to drive away every adversary. O Most Honest and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord! Help me with the Holy Virgin Mary and with all the saints forever. Amen.
Or briefly:
Protect me, Lord, by the power of Your Honest and Life-giving Cross, and save me from all evil.
Prayer
Weaken, forgive, forgive, O God, our sins, voluntary and involuntary, even in word and in deed, even in knowledge and in ignorance, even in days and nights, even in mind and in thought: forgive us everything, for it is good and Lover of Humanity.
Prayer
Forgive those who hate and offend us, Lord Lover of Mankind. Do good to those who do good. Grant to our brothers and relatives the same petitions for salvation and eternal life. Visit those who are infirm and grant healing. Manage the sea as well. For travelers, travel. Help Christians. Grant forgiveness of sins to those who serve and forgive us. Have mercy on those who have commanded us unworthy to pray for them according to Your great mercy. Remember, Lord, our fathers and brothers who have fallen before us, and give them rest, where the light of Your face shines. Remember, Lord, our captive brothers and deliver me from every situation. Remember, Lord, those who bear fruit and do good in Your holy churches, and give them petitions for salvation and eternal life. Remember, Lord, us, humble and sinful and unworthy Thy servants, and enlighten our minds with the light of Thy mind, and guide us on the path of Thy commandments, through the prayers of our Most Pure Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary and all Thy saints: for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages. . Amen.
Everyday confession of sins
I confess to You, Lord my God and Creator, in the One Holy Trinity, glorified and worshiped, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, all my sins, which I have committed all the days of my life, and for every hour, both now and in days gone by. and nights, by deed, by word, by thought, by gluttony, drunkenness, secret eating, idle talk, despondency, laziness, bickering, disobedience, slander, condemnation, neglect, pride, avarice, theft, unspeaking, foulness, money-grubbing, jealousy, envy, anger, memory malice , hatred, covetousness and all my feelings: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch and my other sins, both mental and physical, in the image of my God and Creator I have angered You, and my neighbor for being untruthful: regretting these, I blame myself for You, my God I imagine, and I have the will to repent: then, Lord my God, help me, with tears I humbly pray to Thee: forgive me my sins by Thy mercy, and absolve me from all these words that are spoken before Thee, for Thou art Good and Lover of mankind.
When you go to bed, say:
In Your hands, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, I commend my spirit: You bless me, You have mercy on me and grant me eternal life.
Amen.
*** After reading the last evening prayer, they no longer do any evening chores, but after crossing themselves they go to bed, trusting in the mercy of God.
*** There are two ways to read the evening rule. 1. The first part of the evening rule is read until dismissal. After reading the first part of the evening rule, you are allowed to finish some work and drink tea before going to bed. End of the evening rule. The remaining evening prayers are read. 2. After finishing all the evening activities, the entire evening rule is read (the rule for going to bed or the evening prayer rule), after which no more work is allowed to be done.
Prayer to the Lord
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.
Translation: Our Father who is in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; Give us our daily bread today; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Prayer to the heavenly patron
Pray to God for me, holy servant of God (or: holy servant of God) (name of the saint), as I diligently resort to you, a quick helper and prayer book (or: a quick helper and prayer book) for my soul.
Translation: Pray to God for me, holy saint of God (or: holy servant of God) (name), for I diligently resort to you, a quick helper and prayer book (or: a quick helper and prayer book) for my soul.
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