3 main prayers in Orthodoxy. Prayers you need to know

Seven Basic Christian Prayers
These are the prayers that every believer should read at least once a week. But it’s better - every day, or even several times a day.

JESUS ​​PRAYER .

God Jesus Christ,
Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner (3 times).
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

LORD'S PRAYER .

Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be it your 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, as we forgive our debtors, and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 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 TO THE HOLY VIRGIN .

Mother of God, Virgin, rejoice! 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.

ABOUT, Holy Virgin, Mother of the Lord, Queen of heaven and earth! Listen to my much-painful sighing of our soul, look down from Thy holy height upon us, who worship Thy Most Pure Image with faith and love! Behold, we are 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 who grieve and are burdened! Help us the weak, quench our sorrow, guide us who are erring on the right path, heal and save the hopeless, grant us the rest of our lives in peace and silence. Grant a Christian death, and at the terrible judgment of Your Son, the merciful Intercessor will appear to us, may we always sing, magnify and glorify You, as the good Intercessor of the Christian race, with all those who have pleased God. Amen!

PRAYER 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, true from God, born, not created, Consubstantial with the Father, by Him all things were. For our sake, man, and for 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, and His kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the life-giving, 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. Tea of ​​the resurrection of the dead. And the life of the next century. Amen.

ALIVE IN HELP …

Living in the help of the Most High, he will settle in the shelter of the Heavenly God. Says the Lord: Thou art my Protector and my Refuge, my God, and I trust in Him. For He will deliver you from the snare of hunters, and from rebellious words, His lashes will overshadow you, and under His wing you hope: His truth will surround you with weapons. Do not be afraid from the fear of the night, from the arrow that flies during the day, from the things that pass in the darkness, from the fallings, and from the demon of the midday. A thousand will fall from your country, and darkness will be at your right hand, but it will not come close to you, otherwise you will look at your eyes, and you will see the reward of sinners. For You, O Lord, are my hope, You have made the Most High your refuge. Evil will not come to you, and wound will not come close to your body, as His Angel commanded you, keeping you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their arms, but not when you dash your foot on a stone, step on an asp and a basilisk, and cross a lion and a serpent. For I have trusted in Me, and I will deliver, and I will cover, and because I have known My name. He will call to me, and I will hear him: I am with him in sorrow, I will destroy him, and I will glorify him, I will fill him with long days, and I will show him My salvation.

PRAYER TO THE GUARDIAN ANGEL .

Holy Angel of Christ, falling to you I pray, my holy guardian, devoted to me for the preservation of my soul to my sinful body from holy baptism, but with my laziness and my evil custom I have angered your most pure lordship and driven you away from me with all the cold deeds and slander , envy, condemnation by contempt, disobedience, brotherly hatred and resentment, love of money, adultery, rage, stinginess, gluttony without satiety and drunkenness, verbosity, evil thoughts and crafty ones, proud custom and lustful indignation, driven by self-will for all carnal lust. Oh, my evil will, even dumb beasts don’t do it! How can you look at me, or approach me, like a stinking dog? Whose eyes, Angel of Christ, look upon me, entangled in evil in vile deeds? But how can I ask for forgiveness with my bitter and evil and crafty deed, I fall into misery all day and night and at every hour? But I pray to you, falling down to my holy guardian, have mercy on me, your sinful and unworthy servant (name), be my helper and intercessor against the evil of my opponent, with your holy prayers, and make me a partaker of the Kingdom of God with all the saints, always, and now , and ever and ever. Amen.

PRAYER TO THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL .

Lord, Great God, King without beginning, send Your Archangel Michael to help Your servants (name). Protect us, Archangel, from all enemies, visible and invisible. Oh, Lord the Great Archangel Michael! Destroyer of demons, forbid all enemies who fight with me, and make them like sheep. And humble their evil hearts and crush them like dust in the face of the wind. Oh, Lord the Great Archangel Michael! Six-winged first prince and governor heavenly powers, Cherubim and Seraphim, be our helper in all troubles, sorrows and sorrows, a quiet refuge in the desert and on the seas. Oh, Lord the Great Archangel Michael! Deliver us from all the charms of the devil when You hear us, sinners, praying to You and calling on Your Holy name. Hasten our help and overcome all those who oppose us with the power of the Honest and Life-giving Cross of the Lord, the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos, the prayers of the holy Apostles, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Andrew Christ for the Fool's sake, the holy prophet Elijah and all the holy great martyrs, the holy martyrs Nikita and Eustathius and all our reverend fathers, who have pleased God from the ages and all the holy heavenly powers. Oh, Lord the Great Archangel Michael! Help us sinners (name) and deliver us from coward, flood, fire, sword and from vain death, from great evil, from the flattering enemy, from the reviled storm, from the evil one, deliver us always, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen. Holy Archangel Bozhy Michael, with Your lightning sword, drive away from me the evil spirit that tempts and torments me. Amen.

Photo: shutterstock.com

There are a great many prayers in Orthodoxy. They vary in importance and frequency. Some of them are read constantly, others only on special occasions.

A series of prayers are used in worship. They are not called prayers, but liturgical texts and have their own special names: kontakion, troparion, stichera. There are also prayers and canons that are read only by the priest, and parishioners are prohibited from reading them.

Types of prayers by content

According to the content of prayer, prayers can be divided into four types:

• Praise. This highest form a prayer in which a Christian does not ask God for anything, but only glorifies Him. A type of prayer of praise is doxology - the glorification of all three persons of the Holy Trinity. The most famous is the so-called small doxology (“Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit...”), which always ends church prayers and hymns. There is also a great doxology (“Glory to God in the highest”), which is sung at the end of Matins .
• Thank you note, or thanksgiving prayer. In meaning, it is close to laudatory: a person thanks the Lord for everything he has.
• Repentant. In such a prayer, the believer repents, that is, he admits his sins before God and asks for His forgiveness.
• Petition, or petitionary prayer. Such prayers are said when God’s help or consolation is needed in trouble, need or illness. Before asking, you should always read a prayer of repentance.

Eucharistic canon

The Euchrist canon is a part of the Liturgy during which the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ takes place. He read quietly by the priest at the altar, while the choir performs chants.

The Eucharistic canon refers to the so-called secret prayers and cannot be said by parishioners; it is read only by the priest.

There are some prayers that every Christian should know by heart:

• Lord's Prayer ""
• prayer to the Holy Spirit "",
• prayer Mother of God « »,
• prayer to the Mother of God ""

They are used both in home prayer and in worship services.

Orthodox prayer “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty”

The prayer that begins with these words is called the Creed and is one of the most important prayers. Unlike other prayers, the Creed does not contain an appeal to God, the Mother of God, saints or angels, but is set out in short form the whole essence of Orthodox Christian teaching. A person who does not agree with the statements listed in the Creed, or simply does not understand them, cannot be called an Orthodox Christian.

This is one of two prayers that are sung aloud at the Liturgy by all those praying in the church, and not just by the singers. Before baptizing a child, future godparents must learn the Creed by heart: the godfather or godmother pronounces it during the sacrament.

Orthodox prayer “Our Father” - interpretation and essence

The Lord's Prayer is also called the Lord's Prayer - this is the prayer that the Lord Jesus Christ taught to His disciples. It sets out all the requests that a Christian should offer to God.

According to this prayer, a true believer

• believes that God lives forever in heaven
• praises the name of God
• awaits the coming of the Kingdom of God
• submits to the will of God
• asks God to grant him what he needs to live
• he himself forgives those who are guilty before him and prays to God to forgive his sins
• asks God to deliver him from the temptations and power of the devil.

"Our Father", like the Creed, sung by all worshipers in the church during the Liturgy. This prayer also need to know by heart.

Prayer "King of Heaven"

The Prayer to the Holy Spirit is better known by its first two words - “To the King of Heaven.” This is an appeal to the Holy Spirit, who comes from God the Father and sanctifies the entire Church with His grace. Without the grace of the Holy Spirit it is impossible to be saved, so Christians must call on the Holy Spirit to help them.

All those present in the church at Great Vespers on the Day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit sing “Heavenly King” aloud along with the church choir.

Jesus Prayer

The Jesus Prayer occupies a special place among Orthodox prayers. It is very short and sounds like this: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

What is the power of the Jesus Prayer?

The Jesus Prayer is known in monasteries Orthodox Church since ancient times. Its constant repetition out loud, in a whisper or in the mind, is one of the main Orthodox monastic practices. According to Orthodox teaching, it is saving for a person to pronounce the very name of our Lord Jesus Christ: the name of God is a kind of icon (image of God), and, pronouncing it with reverence, prayerfully, a person is sanctified by God's grace. And disrespectful, careless treatment of the name of God (blasphemy and especially blasphemy) is blasphemy that offends God.

Jesus Prayer - how to pray correctly?

The continuous repetition of the Jesus Prayer can only be practiced under the guidance of a priest.

To do this, you need to take a blessing, and also be able to constantly tell this priest about your spiritual state.

Independent, uncontrolled practice of the continuous Jesus Prayer is dangerous both for the spiritual state and for mental health.

Another practice must be distinguished from the continuous Jesus Prayer. Sometimes priests may give general recommendation: for example, all parishioners of the temple during Lent should read the Jesus Prayer 10 times a day. Or in the rule of St. Seraphim of Sarov for the laity it is recommended from time to time to say “Lord, have mercy” or “Most Holy Theotokos, save us.” This is not continuous prayer and does not require special spiritual direction.

Prayers to the Mother of God and Saints

In addition to appeals to the Lord God, the most important prayers also include prayers praising the Most Holy Theotokos, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. The Christian Church considers the Mother of God superior to saints and even angels.

The prayers “Mother of God, Virgin, Rejoice” and “It is worthy to eat” are part of the daily prayer rule and are constantly used in worship.

A short prayer to the Mother of God - “Most Holy Theotokos, save us!” - It is recommended to say it as often as possible during the day.

Why do we pray to saints?

In addition to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Christians also pray to the saints. Saints are people upon whom God's grace descended during their lifetime. After death, they ascended to God in heaven and there they eternally glorify His greatness. However, out of their mercy, the saints do not forget those who remained on earth. They hear our prayers and forever intercede for us before God.

Veneration of the saints

Christians venerate saints as their intercessors before God, and also as an example for themselves. Looking at the actions of the saints, a Christian learns to please God and do the right thing - as Christ commanded him. The Church has honored saints from the very beginning of its existence. The first saints were the apostles - the disciples of Christ.

Feats of Martyrs

In the first three centuries of the existence of the Christian Church, believers were persecuted by the authorities, first Jewish, then Roman. The Jews considered Christ a false messiah, and His followers - dangerous heretics and blasphemers. The Romans demanded that all their subjects honor the emperor as a deity.

Christians did not give divine honors to anyone other than God. Many were forced to make sacrifices to the emperor or pagan deities, but believers preferred to die rather than betray God. These people were called martyrs. Their remains (relics) were taken and kept by their fellow members of the community. This is how the tradition of venerating saints and their relics arose.

Our heavenly patrons and intercessors

Every person has two heavenly patrons:

• guardian angel whom God sends to a person at baptism, and
• a saint with whom a person shares the same name.

Both of these wonderful intercessors always help a person, wish him salvation and all the best. Therefore, you should always turn to them in prayer. Prayers to the guardian angel and saint are included in the daily prayer rule.

What is a prayer service?

A prayer service is a special, short service addressed to the Lord God, the Mother of God or some saint. The rite of prayer is, in fact, an abbreviated and simplified Matins.

In church, prayer services are usually served after the Liturgy, sometimes after Matins and Vespers. A prayer service can be served not only in church, but also at home and in nature. Public prayer services are held in holidays and on special occasions (such as during disasters). Private prayer services are held according to the needs of parishioners.

Thanksgiving prayer

In case of need or at someone’s request, they perform petitionary prayers. Reasons for a petitionary prayer can be illness, epidemic, enemy invasion, travel, new business, natural disasters, infertility.

Peculiarity thanksgiving prayer is that it is served only to the Lord Jesus Christ and only after the Liturgy. In a prayer of thanksgiving, believers express their gratitude to God for His help. It must be served if the Lord has heard the prayers and the difficult situation has been resolved. After all, even if we turn to saints for help, help always comes only from God.

How to order a prayer service

When a Christian wants to ask for help or express gratitude to God for all the good that God sends him in life, he orders a prayer service in the church. To order a prayer service, you need to go to the candle box and write a note. It should list:

• type of prayer service (if it is a petition, indicate the need),
• who to serve the prayer service (to the Lord God, the Most Holy Theotokos or saints - indicate the names of the saints),
• for whom the prayer service will be served (names in the church version, in full form).

A child under 7 years of age is considered an infant, and accordingly, the note is written as “baby” and the name in the genitive case.

My mother always considered herself a non-believer... Of course, Soviet upbringing! But everything ends sooner or later. One day she began to pray. This happened during a stunning and terrible thunderstorm. Yes, I was scared... I prayed furiously! What’s surprising is that at that moment she was reading prayers that were familiar to me.

The Holy Fathers call Orthodoxy the most higher education. Comprehension of it begins with studying the basics, with those prayers that every Orthodox Christian should know. To know in the same way that a chemist knows the periodic table, a musician knows notes, etc.

Simply knowing is not enough; prayer must be comprehended, but this is not given immediately. Step by step, memorizing prayers by heart, comprehending their meaning, we find a prayer book in our hearts. Printed edition- this is wonderful, but you don’t always have it at hand.

A believer has two wings - faith and prayer. Prayer is the breath of life. A believer who has lost prayer also loses his faith. The Holy Fathers spoke about the feat of prayer. Why?

When taking up the work of prayer, it is necessary to prepare your soul for temptations. Making a good start is not easy, sometimes it takes many years of life, but this is exactly what is necessary.

Our Father…

A prayer that every Orthodox Christian should know without question, for it was established by God Himself. We read this prayer in the Four Gospels:

Christ said that this prayer alone is enough, since the main meaning of turning to God does not lie in verbosity, but in the human heart.

“Our Father” has a specific canon, which includes all the fundamental principles of a person’s appeal to the Creator:

• Glorifying God
• Humility,
• Repentance, without which no prayer is possible,
• A request for daily needs.

In this prayer, a person does not talk about his immediate need, he asks the Lord to reveal the will of God to him in order to follow it. This prayer should be read only after we have forgiven everyone who has upset us, otherwise the words “and forgive us our debts...” will be completely impossible to say.

Jesus Prayer

It is impossible not to know this prayer: short, repentant, familiar even to children. It is very similar to the publican's prayer, but there is a slight difference in the text and a very big difference in the way it is applied. The Jesus Prayer is read by monks, saying it constantly. It is through this prayer that they gain unceasing prayer; it is for the creation of such prayer that monks need rosaries. In ancient times, incurable ailments were healed with it.

The Jesus Prayer is a prayer in His name, established by Him. Such prayer is considered a Divine gift that cannot be found “suddenly.”

Symbol of faith

The creed is a statement of faith Orthodox man, his agreement with all the events that happened more than 2000 years ago. This prayer should especially be read in moments of despair, in moments of doubt, since by its affirmation it destroys these doubts. If there is doubt in even one line of the prayer, then something is wrong with faith.

Rejoice to the Virgin Mary

This prayer is like pure crystal. The words were spoken by righteous Elizabeth when she met the Virgin Mary who came to her. At that moment, Elizabeth was not idle and the baby leaped in her womb. Then she realized that she had met not just her relative, but the Mother of God. This is how this prayer was born.

They read it when in doubt, temptation, enticement and in spiritual joy. In the first cases, a special rule is used:

• Before reading the prayer itself, the words are said: “your proposal, to the enemy, on your head, Virgin Mary, help me,”
• They read “Rejoice to the Virgin Mary” many, many times while it is being read, in order to ward off obsession.

Prayer to the Guardian Angel

The morning rule anticipates the coming day. In the morning we each prepare for our service and, of course, we pray to the Guardian Angel to protect us from all evil. This prayer must definitely be taught to children; it will always protect them:

“Angel of God, my holy Guardian, save me from all evil. Amen"

When you pray to your Guardian Angel, do not forget to pray to your Saint with the same words.

Prayer before any undertaking

An amazing, heartfelt prayer to the Lord should be the threshold of every endeavor. Sometimes, before starting any task, they read “To the Heavenly King,” but more often they read a special prayer:

We ask not only for help in our work or enterprise, we ask that our work not be directed against the will of God. It is very important. But you don’t immediately realize this importance.

Penitential Psalm

Psalm 50 was written by King David after he had fallen greatly. His fall was a real disaster. It also led him to deep repentance. Repentance is a gift that we ask God for daily. It’s like we’re running after him, but we can’t catch up with him. Repentance... Let us, Lord, make at least the beginning of it on earth. It is difficult, but without repentance a person’s soul cannot be saved.

Alive in Help

Psalm 90 is the strongest psalm, which is difficult to memorize, but necessary. He helps us in difficult times when there is no visible way out. By reading the psalm, we protect ourselves and our loved ones, we gain strength to overcome fear. We read what is said about this in prayer: “thousands will fall from your country...”

Very often, Psalm 90 is read at the exodus of the soul, facilitating the transition of the soul from time to eternity.

Trisagion

An amazing prayer that the Angels brought to man. You can always read it! She is always present in prayer books and accompanies temple services. It is brilliantly simple and pure:

Prayer for sleep

When a Christian wakes up, he prays about the coming day. As he falls asleep, he prays for the coming night. Falling asleep without prayer? Scary. You need to know the prayer for the coming sleep firmly.

Prayers you need to know

To everyone baptized in Orthodox faith a person must know three prayers. Of course, there are prayer books that indicate “prayer for every need” - morning prayer, for starting any new business, prayer before a meal, and many others. Not everyone knows them by heart, and it is quite acceptable to turn to a prayer book and say prayers as needed in printed form. However, an Orthodox Christian must know these three prayers by heart so that he can read them at any time in his life and teach them to others.

Related articles:
- Morning and evening prayers. Follow-up to Holy Communion
- Symbol of faith. With explanations.
— A short prayer book for the beginning Orthodox Christian

1 The main prayer of a Christian is “Our Father”

Our Father, who art in heaven!
Hallowed be Thy name,
may your kingdom come,
Thy will be done
as in heaven and on earth.
Our daily bread...

People who have recently come to faith are often interested in the answer to the question: what prayers do you need to know? On this issue, it is better to consult with your confessor, if you have not yet acquired one, then with any priest of the church where you started going.

However, there are basic necessary prayers that every Orthodox Christian needs to know. You can find them in any prayer book. This is Our Father, Virgin Mary, Hail, Trisagion, a prayer to the Guardian Angel, a prayer to the saint after whom you are named (heavenly patron).

The texts of these Orthodox prayers are simple, and even a child can learn them. You can find them in Orthodox prayer books for the laity, sold in icon shops and online stores specializing in the sale of church literature.

The necessary prayers must be learned by heart

In addition to the most necessary prayers listed, you can also choose those prayers from the prayer book that you especially like...

Psalm 90 “Living Help”

Our Father

Mother of God

The shortest prayer to the Mother of God

Symbol of faith

Prayer to all saints and ethereal heavenly powers

Troparion to the Martyr, tone 4

Kontakion to the Martyr, tone 6

Nikolai Ugodnik

May God rise again

Psalm 90 “Living Help”

Psalm 90 “Living Help”
Or the Praise of David's songs,
Not inscribed with Jew, 90

Living in the help of the Most High, he will settle in the shelter of the Heavenly God.
Says the Lord: Thou art my intercessor and my refuge, my God, and I trust in Him.
For Toy will deliver you from the snare of the trap, and from rebellious words,
His blanket will cover you, and under His wing you will hope: His truth will surround you with weapons.
Do not be afraid from the fear of the night, from the arrow flying in the days,
from things moving in the darkness, from the cloak, and the midday demon.
Thousands will fall from your country, and darkness will fall at your right hand, but it will not come near you:
both by your eyes...

Instructions

"In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen." After asking the Lord for help, be sure to receive a Blessing with these words. Don’t forget about such a short prayer as “Lord, bless!” It is this prayer that must be said before starting any business.

"Lord have mercy!" says everyone who has accidentally or intentionally committed any sin. You need to say this prayer 3 times if you glorify the Lord, 12 times if you ask for a blessing, and 40 times if you ask to sanctify your whole life.

To such short prayers prayers of praise also need to be included, in which there is not a single request, but only the offering of praise to God. It sounds like this: “Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee!”

A Christian believer should also know the appeal to Jesus Christ: “Lord Jesus Christ! Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen". By saying the words of this prayer, a person asks for intercession for...

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What prayers do you need to know by heart?

What prayers do you need to know by heart?

Hello, dear visitors of the Orthodox website “Family and Faith”!

Every Orthodox Christian must know by heart the Lord's Prayer: “Our Father...”, since it is this that is read before eating food.

Also, it is necessary to know the Creed by heart in order to firmly know the main dogmas of the Orthodox faith.

Of course, knowing two prayers by heart is not enough. Hence the question: what prayers, in addition to the above, should an Orthodox Christian know by heart?

Archpriest Vadim Novikov answers:

First, you need to know:

Ten Commandments of God's Law:

1) I am the Lord your God, let there be no gods for you other than Me.
2) Thou shalt not make for thyself an idol or any likeness, such as the tree in heaven (i.e. above), and the tree on earth below, and the tree in the waters under the earth: thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them.
3) You did not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4)…

Perhaps every person is familiar with such a state when the soul is disturbed by something unclear and vague concern for the fate of loved ones, everyday problems and adversities lie like a stone on the heart.

How to get rid of this heaviness and find ground under your feet?

Prayers are important and beautiful, without exception. After all, each of them was born in the depths of the soul of those who turned to the Lord, each of them contains the best human feelings - love, faith, patience, hope... And each of us probably has (or will have) our own favorite prayers, those that somehow especially consonant with our soul, our faith.

But there are three main prayers, which you must know by heart and understand the meaning of...

Prayers are important and beautiful, without exception. After all, each of them was born in the depths of the soul of those who turned to the Lord, each of them contains the best human feelings - love, faith, patience, hope... And each of us probably has (or will have) our own favorite prayers, those that somehow especially consonant with our soul, our faith.

But there are three main prayers, which any Christian must know by heart and understand the meaning of; they are the basis of the foundations, a kind of ABC of Christianity.

The first of them is the Creed

The Creed is a brief statement of the foundations of Orthodox doctrine, compiled in the 4th century. It is necessary for a believer to know and understand it, so let’s read it translated into modern Russian:

I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of everything visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only one, begotten of the Father before all time; as Light from Light, true God from God...

Prayers that you should know by heart!

Publican's Prayer

God, be merciful to me, a sinner (Bow).

And in the morning, and in the evening, and at the beginning of each prayer service:

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.

Trisagion

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Read three times, with the sign of the cross and a bow from the waist). Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages, amen.

Prayer to the Holy Trinity

Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, in Your name...

Types of prayers by content

Eucharistic canon

The most important and important prayers of Christians

Orthodox prayer “I believe in one God...”, or the Symbol of Faith

Orthodox prayer “Our Father” - interpretation and essence

Prayer to the Holy Spirit “Heavenly King”

Jesus Prayer

Prayers to the Mother of God and Saints

How to order a prayer service and what is a thanksgiving prayer service

There are a great many prayers in Orthodoxy. They vary in importance and usage. Some of them are read constantly, others only on special occasions.

A series of prayers are used in worship. They are not called prayers, but liturgical texts and have their own special names: kontakion, troparion, stichera. There are also prayers and canons that are read only by the priest, and parishioners are prohibited from reading them.

Types of prayers by content

As you know, every person baptized in the Orthodox faith should know at least three prayers - and if, for example, you are offered to become a godparent, at the rite of baptism the priest will certainly ask you if you know them.

Of course, there are prayer books that indicate “prayer for every need” - morning prayer, for starting any new business, prayer before a meal, and many others. Not everyone knows them by heart, and it is quite acceptable to turn to a prayer book and say prayers as needed in printed form.

However, an Orthodox Christian must know these three prayers by heart, so that he can read them at any time in his life and teach them to others - this is what is first and foremost required of godparents in relation to their godfather.

The first one is main prayer Christian - "Our Father"

Our Father, who art in heaven x!
Hallowed be Thy name,
may your kingdom come,
Thy will be done
I am in heaven and on earth.
Our bread for us...

- The Publican's Prayer

- Our Father

- Virgin Mary, rejoice!

- Worthy to eat

- To the King of Heaven

- Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3 times)

— Holy Trinity, have mercy on us!

- May God rise again!

- Lord, give me peace of mind...

— Jesus Prayer

Publican's Prayer

God, be merciful to me, a sinner. (Bow)

Our Father, who art in heaven!

Hallowed be Thy name,

may your kingdom come,

Thy will be done

as in heaven and on earth.

and forgive us our debts,

just as we also leave our debtors;

and do not lead us into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Virgin Mary, rejoice!

Rejoice, Virgin Mary,
Blessed Mary, the Lord is with you,
…

For example, many prayers must be read out loud and always very loudly, expressively, so that your voice sounds confident and firm. You must first create the appropriate mood for facing Higher Power- By God. Some prayers (mostly impromptu ones) should never be said in front of someone...

Prayers, contrary to widespread belief, for the most part play the role not so much of a comforter for the human race and not so much the role of begging before God, but rather the role of spiritual and hygienic means of our everyday life. A good prayer, and even one pronounced correctly, can be many hundreds of times more useful and effective than a steam room, shower, or massage. This is explained simply. Prayer influences the word - the root cause Power of all Existence and it is aimed directly at the essence of a person. Its effect is immediate, but its consequences are stable and long-term. But reading prayers requires skill, knowledge of some basic rules and requirements.

For example, many prayers must be read out loud and always very loudly, expressively, so that your voice sounds confident and firm. You must first create for yourself the appropriate mood of standing before the Higher Power - God. Some prayers (mostly impromptu ones) should never be said in front of someone else. They…

Today, you can often see prayer books in the hands of Christian believers - books that contain prayers to God for different cases life. In the morning and evening, such believers also often pray with memorized words. And many Christians directly declare that they do not pray to God because they do not know prayers. What prayers do you need to know, and how to pray to God correctly?

A number of theologians teach their parishioners that prayer from the prayer book will help the believer and is pleasing to God. For example, in the book “How to Pray Correctly According to the Teachings of the Holy Fathers” (Moscow, 2002) the process of morning and evening prayer is described: “ Prayer Rule which should be performed morning and evening: “Glory to Thee, naked God, glory to Thee”; “King of Heaven”; "Trisagion"; "Our Father"; “Lord, have mercy” - 12 times; “Come, let us worship”; Psalm 50; "Symbol of faith"; “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice” - 3 times. After this, 20 prayers “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me” - with each prayer, bow to the ground. Then another 20 similar prayers and...

Memo for an Orthodox Christian Memo for an Orthodox Christian

About some foundations and rules of church life

I. What an Orthodox Christian should know
II. How to behave in a temple
III. About Confession
IV. About communion
V. Commemoration and prosphora. Memorial service and prayer service
VI. Rules concerning the relationship of a lay person to his confessor
VII. Major holidays of the year
VIII. Posts
IX. Home prayer and spiritual reading

Introduction

Christianity is not just a theory, a worldview, and not only a moral teaching, but new life, which covers all areas human existence: mental, moral and spiritual. One cannot be a Christian if there is no inner conviction in the truth of Christ’s teaching. You also cannot be one if you do not set yourself the task of fulfilling the moral commandments of the Gospel. But conviction and morality are, rather, only a means for main goal Christian life - spiritual communion with God, acquisition of the Spirit of God...

Here we must immediately say that the most powerful prayer is the “Our Father,” for Jesus Christ himself taught us to pray this way.

“Our Father, who art in heaven!

Hallowed be Thy name,

may your kingdom come,

Thy will be done

as in heaven and on earth.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our debts,

just as we leave to our debtors;

and do not lead us into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

However, besides the Lord’s Prayer, there are other powerful prayers that help us in certain situations. We are not always able to build our own happiness. A person can sometimes be weak, any of us may lose willpower, but despite this, everyone wants to be happy. To achieve this very happiness, there are strong prayers that help us find what we want. But existence strong prayers does not say that you can sit, nothing...

Rules of prayer and words of prayer.

Today there are no people in the world who do not know the meaning of the word “prayer.” For some these are just words, but for others it is much more – it is a conversation with God, an opportunity to thank Him, ask for help or protection in righteous deeds. But do you know how to properly pray to God and saints in different places? Today we will talk exactly about this.

How to pray correctly at home, in church, in front of an icon, relics, so that God hears and helps us: Orthodox church rules

Each of us has prayed to God at least once in our lives - maybe it was in church, or maybe the prayer was a request for help in difficult situation and was expressed in her own words. Even the most persistent and strong personalities sometimes they turn to God. And in order for this appeal to be heard, one must adhere to the Orthodox church rules, which will be discussed further.

So, the first question that concerns everyone is: “How to pray correctly at home?” You can and even need to pray at home, but there are prescribed church rules that should be followed:

1. Preparation for prayer:

• Before prayer, you should wash, comb your hair and dress in clean clothes.
• Approach the icon with reverence, without shaking or waving your arms
• Stand straight, lean on both legs at the same time, do not shift, do not stretch your arms and legs (stand almost still), prayer on your knees is allowed
• It is necessary to mentally and morally tune in to prayer, banish all distracting thoughts, focus only on what you are going to do and why

• If you do not know the prayer by heart, you can read it from the prayer book
• If you have never prayed at home before, just read the “Our Father” and you can then ask/thank God in your own words for some deed
• It is better to read the prayer out loud and slowly, with reverence, passing every word “through” yourself
• If, while reading the prayer, you are distracted by any sudden thoughts, ideas or desires to do something right at that moment, you should not interrupt the prayer, try to drive away the thoughts and concentrate on the prayer
• And, of course, before saying the prayer, after its completion, if required, then during its reading, you should definitely sign yourself with the sign of the cross

1. Completing prayer at home:

• After you pray, you can do absolutely any business - be it cooking, cleaning or receiving guests.
• Usually at home the morning and evening prayers, as well as prayers before and after meals. Prayers are allowed at home and in “emergency situations” when one overcomes fear for family and friends or has serious illnesses.
• If you don’t have icons at home, you can pray in front of a window facing the east or in any place convenient for you, imagining the image of the one to whom the prayer is addressed.

Prayer at home or in church

The next equally important question: “How to pray in church?”:

• There are two types of prayers in the church - collective (common) and individual (independent)
• Church (common) prayers are performed simultaneously by groups of acquaintances and strangers under the guidance of a priest or priest. He reads a prayer, and everyone present listens carefully and repeats it mentally. It is believed that such prayers are stronger than single ones - when one is distracted, the rest will continue the prayer and the distracted one can easily join it, again becoming part of the flow
• Individual (single) prayers are performed by parishioners during the absence of services. In such cases, the worshiper chooses an icon and places a candle in front of it. Then you should read the “Our Father” and a prayer to the one whose image is on the icon. Praying out loud in full voice is not allowed in church. You can pray only in a quiet whisper or mentally.

The following is not allowed in the church:

• Individual prayer out loud
• Prayer with your back to the iconostasis
• Prayer while sitting (except in cases of extreme fatigue, disability, or serious illness that prevents the person from standing)

It is worth noting that in prayer in church, as in prayer at home, it is customary to make the sign of the cross before and after prayer. In addition, when visiting a church, the sign of the cross is performed before entering the church and after leaving it.

Prayer before the icon. You can pray in front of the icon both at home and in church. The main one is the rule of conversion - the prayer is said to the saint in front of whose icon you are standing. This rule cannot be broken. If you do not know where the icon you need is located in the church, you can check with the ministers and nuns.

Prayers to the relics. Some churches have relics of saints; you can venerate them any day through special glass sarcophagi, and big holidays– it is allowed to venerate the relics themselves. In addition, it is believed that the relics of saints have very great power, so it is customary to turn to them for help in prayers.

It is no secret that few people have been able to venerate the relics and read the prayer in full, because, as usual, the queue creates a huge pressure on the one who is in front of the relics. Therefore, it is customary to do this:

• First, in the church they light a candle and pray in front of the icon of the saint whose relics they want to venerate
• They go to venerate the relics, and at the moment of the application they express their request or gratitude in a few words. This is done in a whisper or mentally.

The application to the relics is considered one of the most ancient rituals in Christianity and carries great significance for true believers.

What basic prayers should an Orthodox Christian know and read?

As we previously mentioned, in prayers a person can ask for help, thank for help, ask for forgiveness or praise the Lord. It is according to this principle (by purpose) that prayers are classified:

• Prayers of praise are prayers in which people praise God without asking for anything for themselves. Such prayers include praises
• Prayers of gratitude are prayers in which people thank God for help in business, for protection in important matters who got along
• Prayers of petition are prayers in which people ask for help in worldly affairs, ask for protection for themselves and loved ones, ask for speedy recovery etc.
• Prayers of repentance are prayers in which people repent of their actions and words spoken.

It is believed that every Orthodox Christian should always remember the words of 5 prayers:

• "Our Father" - The Lord's Prayer
• “To the King of Heaven” - a prayer to the Holy Spirit
• “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice” - prayer to the Mother of God
• “It is worthy to eat” - prayer to the Mother of God

The Lord's Prayer: words

It is believed that Jesus Christ himself read this prayer, and then passed it on to his disciples. “Our Father” is a “universal” prayer - it can be read in all cases. Usually, home prayers and appeals to God begin with it, and they also ask for help and protection.

This is the first prayer that children should learn. Usually, “Our Father” is familiar from childhood, and almost everyone can recite it by heart. This prayer can be read mentally for your protection in dangerous situations; it is also read over the sick and small children so that they sleep well.

Prayer “Alive in Help”: words

One of strongest prayers considered "Alive in Help". According to legend, it was written by King David, it is very old, and therefore strong. This is a prayer-amulet and a prayer-assistant. It protects against attacks, injuries, disasters, evil spirits and its influence. In addition, it is recommended to read “Alive in Help” for those who are going on an important task - on a long journey, for an exam, before moving to a new place.

Alive in Help

It is believed that if you sew a piece of paper with the words of this prayer into the belt of your clothes (or better yet, even embroider them on the belt), then good luck awaits the person wearing such an outfit.

Prayer “Creed”: words

Surprisingly, the Creed prayer is not actually a prayer. This fact is recognized by the church, but still the “Creed” is always included in the prayer book. Why?

Symbol of faith

At its core, this prayer is a collection of dogmas Christian faith. They must be read at evening and morning prayers, and are also sung as part of the Liturgy of the Faithful. In addition, by reading the Creed, Christians repeat the truth of their faith over and over again.

Prayer for neighbors: words

It often happens that our family, loved ones or friends need help. In this case, you can read the Jesus Prayer for your neighbors.

• In addition, if a person is baptized, you can pray for him in home prayer, pray in church and light candles for health, order notes about his health, in special cases (when a person really needs help) you can order a magpie for health.
• It is customary to pray for baptized relatives, loved ones and friends in the morning prayer rule, at the very end.
• Please note: you cannot light candles in church for unbaptized people, you cannot order notes and magpies about health. If an unbaptized person needs help, you can pray for him in home prayer in your own words, without lighting a candle.

Prayer for the departed: words

There are events that are beyond anyone's control. One such event is death. It brings grief, sadness and tears to a family where a person passes away. Everyone around mourns and sincerely wishes the deceased to go to Heaven. It is in such cases that prayers for the deceased are used. Such prayers can be read:

1. At home
2. In the church:

• Order a memorial service
• Submit a note for commemoration at the liturgy
• Order a magpie for the repose of the soul of the deceased

It is believed that after death a person will face the Last Judgment, at which they will ask about all his sins. The deceased himself will no longer be able to alleviate his suffering and his fate at the Last Judgment. But his relatives and friends can ask for him in prayers, give alms, order magpies. All this helps the soul get to Heaven.

IMPORTANT: Under no circumstances should you pray, light candles for the repose of the soul, or order magpies for a person who has committed suicide. In addition, this should not be done for the unbaptized.

Prayer for enemies: words

Each of us has enemies. Whether we like it or not, there are people who envy us, who do not like us because of their faith, personal qualities or actions. What to do in such a situation and how to protect yourself from negative impacts?

• That's right, pick up a prayer for the enemy and read it. Usually this is enough for a person to lose interest in you and stop taking any negative actions, speaking out, etc.
• There are sections in prayer books devoted specifically to this issue. But there are times when home prayer alone is not enough

If you know that a person has a negative attitude towards you and on this basis constantly creates problems for you, then you should go to church.

In church you need to do the following:

• Pray for the health of your enemy
• Light a candle for his health
• IN difficult cases you can order this person a magpie for his health (but only on the condition that you know for sure that the enemy is baptized)

In addition, every time you pray for your enemy, ask the Lord for patience to endure this.

Family prayer: words

Christian believers believe that the family is an extension of the church. That is why it is customary in many families to pray together.

• In houses where families pray, there is a so-called “red corner” where icons are placed. Usually a room is chosen for it in which everyone can fit in for prayer in such a way as to see the icons. The icons, in turn, are placed in the eastern corner of the room. As usual, the father of the family reads the prayer, the rest repeat it mentally
• If there is no such corner in the house, it’s okay. Family prayer can be said together before or after meals

• All family members, except the youngest children, participate in family prayer. Older children are allowed to repeat the words of the prayer after their father
• Family prayers are very strong amulet for family. In such prayers you can ask for the whole family at once or for one person. In families where it is customary to pray together, real Christians grow up who are able to pass on their faith to their children.
• In addition, there are cases when such prayers helped the sick to recover, and married couples who long time I can’t have children or find the happiness of parenthood.

Is it possible and how to pray correctly in your own words?

As we previously told you, you can pray in your own words. But this does not mean that you just went into church, lit a candle and asked or thanked God for something. No.

There are also rules for praying in your own words:

• You can pray in your own words in the morning and evening rules between prayers
• Before praying in your own words, you should read the Lord's Prayer.
• Prayer in your own words still includes the sign of the cross
• They pray only in their own words for the unbaptized and people of other faiths (only in cases of extreme necessity)
• You can pray in your own words in home prayers and in church, but you should adhere to the rules
• You cannot pray in your own words, just as you cannot say an ordinary prayer, and at the same time ask for punishment for someone

Is it possible to read prayers in modern Russian?

Opinions differ on this matter. Some clergy say that prayers should be read only in the church language, others - that there is no difference. Usually a person turns to God in a language he understands, asking for something that is understandable to him. Therefore, if you have not learned “Our Father” in the church language or address the saints in your own language, which you understand, there is nothing wrong with that. It’s not for nothing that they say, “God understands every language.”

Is it possible to read prayers during menstruation?

In the Middle Ages, girls and women were prohibited from attending church during menstruation. But the origins of this issue have their own story, which confirms the opinion of many - You can pray and attend church during your period.

Today it is allowed to attend church and pray at home in front of icons during menstruation. But when visiting church, some restrictions still apply:

• During this period you cannot receive communion
• You cannot venerate relics, icons, or the altar cross given by the priest.
• It is prohibited to consume prosphora and holy water.

In addition, if a girl does not feel well during this special period, it is still better to refuse to attend church

Is it possible to read prayers from a computer or phone electronically?

Modern technologies are breaking into all areas of life, and religion is no exception. Reading prayers from electronic media screens is possible, but not advisable. If you have no other choice, you can read it once from the screen of your tablet/phone/monitor. The main thing in prayer is not the source of the texts, but the spiritual mood. But please note that It is not customary to read prayers in churches from a phone. Ministers or nuns may reprimand you.

Is it possible to read a prayer from a piece of paper?

• If you pray at home or in church and do not yet know the text of the prayer very well
• If you are in church, then the “cheat sheet” should be on clean slate, you should not rustle it or crush it. According to generally accepted rules, in church it is allowed to read prayers from the prayer book

Is it possible to read prayers in transport?

You can pray in public transport. It is advisable to do this while standing, but if it is not possible to stand (for example, the transport is full), reading prayers while sitting is allowed.

Is it possible to read a prayer to yourself in a whisper?

Prayers are read aloud on rare occasions, so It is considered quite normal to pray in a whisper or mentally. In addition, during general (church) prayer it is not even customary to whisper. You listen to the prayer that the priest reads, you can mentally repeat the words, but under no circumstances out loud. Family prayers or independent home prayers are read aloud when you pray alone.

Is it possible to say prayers after eating?

Orthodox Christians have a good family tradition– prayers before and after meals.

• It is permissible to say a prayer after eating only if you said a prayer before eating
• The prayer books contain special prayers before and after meals. They can be read both sitting and standing
• Young children are baptized by their parents during prayers. It is forbidden to start eating before the end of the prayer.

The ritual itself can occur in several ways:

• One person reads the prayer, the rest repeat it mentally
• Everyone reads a prayer out loud together
• Everyone mentally reads a prayer and makes the sign of the cross.

Is it possible to read prayers while sitting at home?

There are several ways to pray at home; we discussed them above. According to the rules, you can only pray while standing or kneeling. It is allowed to pray at home in a sitting position in several cases:

• A disability or illness that prevents a person from praying while standing. Bedridden patients are allowed to pray in any position that is convenient for them
• Extreme fatigue or exhaustion
• You can pray while sitting at the table before and after meals

Is it possible to read prayer at home only in the morning or only in the evening?

Reading prayers in the morning and evening is called morning and evening rules. Of course, you can pray only in the evening or only in the morning, but if possible it is better to do it both in the morning and in the evening. Also, if you feel the need to pray, but do not have a prayer book, read the Lord's Prayer 3 times.

Is it possible for a Muslim to recite the Lord's Prayer?

The Orthodox Church does not encourage such experiments in faith. Most often, priests answer this question with a decisive “no.” But there are also priests who try to get to the bottom of the problem - and if the need to read the Lord’s Prayer comes from the depths of the soul of a Muslim or Muslim woman, then in rare cases they give permission to read this particular prayer.

Is it possible to recite the prayer of detention to pregnant women?

The prayer for detention is considered a very powerful amulet, but at the same time, not all clergy recognize it as a prayer. It is usually read at home in front of a lit candle.

According to most priests, pregnant women should not read this prayer. If pregnant women have a need or are worried about the health of their baby, they are recommended to read special prayers for bearing a child, about healthy child and about saving the child for Mother Matrona.

Is it possible to read several prayers in a row?

Several prayers in a row are allowed to be read in the morning and evening rules, as well as for those people who feel the need for it. If you are just taking your first steps towards God, it is better to turn to him with one prayer in full concentration than with a dozen prayers with a mess in your head. It is also permissible, after reading “Our Father,” to pray in your own words, to ask or thank God for protection and help.

Is it possible for lay people to recite the Jesus Prayer?

There is an opinion that lay people should not say the Jesus Prayer. The ban on the words “Lord Jesus Christ, Sin of God, have mercy on me, a sinner” for the laity existed for a long time for one reason only - monks turned to God with such a prayer, and lay people often heard this appeal in church language did not understand it and could not repeat it . This is how an imaginary ban on this prayer arose. In fact, every Christian can say this prayer, it heals and clears the mind. You can repeat it 3 times in a row or using the rosary method.

Is it possible to read prayers not in front of an icon?

You can't pray in front of an icon. The Church does not prohibit saying prayers at the table (prayers before and after meals), prayers for protection and intercession in critical situations, prayers for recovery and healing can also be read over the sick. After all, in prayer, the presence of an icon in front of the person praying is not the main thing, the main thing is the mental attitude and readiness to pray.

Is it possible for pregnant women to read a prayer for the deceased?

Today it is not considered a sin for a pregnant woman to attend church. It is also not prohibited to order a magpie for the health of yourself, your relatives and loved ones. You can submit notes for the repose of the souls of deceased relatives.

But in most cases, priests still do not recommend pregnant women to read prayers for the deceased. This is especially true for the first 40 days after the death of close relatives. In addition, pregnant women are prohibited from ordering a magpie for the repose of acquaintances or friends.

Is it possible to read a prayer to an unbaptized person?

If an unbaptized person feels a craving for Orthodoxy, he can read orthodox prayers. In addition, the church will recommend that he read the Gospel and think about further baptism.

Is it possible to read prayers without a candle?

The presence of a candle when reading a prayer is desirable and pious, but its presence is not a prerequisite for prayer. Since there are moments of urgent need for prayer, and there is no candle at hand, prayer without it is allowed.

As you can see, there are rules for reading prayers, but most of them are optional. Remember, when saying a prayer, the most important thing is not the place or the method, but your mental attitude and sincerity.

Video: How to read morning and evening prayers correctly?