Prayers

ABOUT PRAYER

Prayer is living water, with which the soul quenches its thirst.

All people need prayer, more than trees need water. Because neither trees can bear fruit if they do not absorb water through their roots, nor will we be able to bear the precious fruits of piety if we are not nourished by prayer. Therefore, even when we get out of bed, we should anticipate the sun by serving God; and when we sit at the table for lunch and when we prepare for rest. Or better said – every hour we should offer a prayer to God, thereby crossing with the help of a prayer a path that is equal to the length of the day.

Saint John Chrysostom

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If the demons begged the Lord not to send them into the abyss and their request was fulfilled, how much sooner will the prayers of us who have clothed ourselves in Christ be answered when we pray to be delivered from mental (spiritual) death? Therefore, let us dedicate ourselves to prayer, because its power is great.

Antiochus Pandect

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A selection of thoughts from the book: “My Life in Christ”, Saint John the Righteous of Kronstadt

Prayer is spiritual breathing; praying, we breathe the Holy Spirit: “Pray to God with the Holy Spirit” (Jud. 1:20). All church prayers are the breath of the Holy Spirit, as if they were spiritual air and, at the same time, light, spiritual flame, spiritual food and spiritual clothing.

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When you pray to the Lord, look inside yourself with the eyes of your heart, look at your soul; The Lord is there, in your thoughts and in the right movements of your heart, just as He is outside you and in every place. “He is close to you – in your mouth and in your heart” (Rom. 10:8), and not only in the heavens or in the abyss.

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Prayer must always be sincere and perfectly free, never imposed, forced by custom or habit, in general, it must be a free and conscious outpouring of the soul before God. “Before God I pour out my soul” (Prayer of Anna, mother of Samuel).

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Let those who pray believe that the Bishop will give them everything that is useful there and then, where and when they did not expect it.

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When praying, always firmly believe and remember that every thought and word of yours can become action, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Lk. 1:37).
Guard the word, the precious word: ” But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. ” (Mt. 12:36).

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Someone once during the time of prayer – while he was emptyly enumerating words, sleepy and sick both in soul and body, woke up asking himself the question: “Who are you talking to, my soul? “. Having then presented the living Lord before him, he began to pray with great affection and tears; his dull attention sharpened, his mind and heart enlightened, and he revived completely. That’s what it means to imagine the Lord in front of you and to be in His presence. “If you, my soul,” he continued, “don’t dare to talk senselessly and thoughtlessly with people who are higher than you for fear of being offended, then how dare you talk senselessly and thoughtlessly with the Lord?”

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Do not miss the opportunity to pray for any person, at his own request or the request of his relatives or friends. The Lord looks favorably on the prayer we offer with love and on our boldness before Him. In addition, praying for others is also of great benefit to the one who prays for them: it purifies the heart, strengthens faith and hope in God, and ignites love for God and neighbor.

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1. The Our Father

Resurrection of Christ, fresco by Uroš Predić,
crypt of the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles in Ruma, 1904

Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amin.

2. The Creed: The Symbol of Faith

The Holy Trinity, on the vault above the altar in
Krušedol Church of the Annunciation, 18th century

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages.
Light of light; true God of true God; begotten, not made;
of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made;
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven,
and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate,
and suffered, and was buried. And the third day He arose again,
according to the Scriptures, and ascended into Heaven,
and sits at the right hand of the Father;
and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead;
Whose Kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life,
Who proceeds from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified;
Who spoke by the prophets.
In one Holy, Ortodox, and Apostolic Church.
I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.
I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amin.

3. Hail Mary

Theotokos with Christ, throne icon in the chapel Saint Great Martyr
Demetrius in Patriarchal Palace in Sremski Karlovci, the work of Uroš Predić, 1896

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amin.

4. The Jesus Prayer: Lord Have Mercy

Nativity of Christ, iconostasis in the temple
of Grgeteg monastery, Uroš Predić, 1901

Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

5. Prayer of the Hours

Jesus Christ, throne icon from temple
Saint Archdeacon Stefan in Sremska Mitrovica, around 1775

Thou who at every season and every hour,
in Heaven and on earth art worshipped and glorified,
O Christ God; long-suffering, merciful and compassionate;
Who lovest the just and showest mercy upon the sinner;
Who callest all to salvation through the promise of blessings to come.
O Lord, in this hour receive our supplications,
and direct our lives according to Thy commandments.
Sanctify our souls.
Purify our bodies. Correct our minds;
cleanse our thoughts; and deliver us from all tribulations,
evil, and distress. Surround us with Thy holy angels;
that, guided and guarded by them, we may attain to the unity of the faith,
and unto the knowledge of Thine unapproachable glory.
For Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amin.

6. Morning Prayers

God the Father, Teodor Kračun, iconostasis of Novo Hopovo monastery,
Treasury of the Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Sremski Karlovci, 17th century

TO THE HOLY TRINITY:
Having arisen from sleep,
we fall down before Thee,
O Blessed One, and sing to Thee,
O Mighty One, the angelic hymn: Holy! Holy! Holy!
art Thou, O God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Do Thou, O Lord,
Who hast raised me from my bed and from sleep, enlighten my mind and heart,
and open my lips that I may praise Thee,
O Holy Trinity: Holy! Holy! Holy! art Thou, O God;
through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amin.
The Judge will come suddenly and the acts of every man will be revealed;
but with fear we cry in the middle of the night: Holy! Holy! Holy! art Thou, O God;
through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.

7. Before and after Meals

BEFORE MEALS:

Holy Trinity, Patriarchal Palace in Sremski Karlovci

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amin.

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amin.
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
O Christ our God, bless the food, drink, and fellowship of Thy servants,
for Thou art holy always, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amin.

AFTER MEALS:

Wedding in Cana of Galilee, Krušedol Monastery, 18th century

We give thanks to Thee, O Christ our God,
that Thou hast satisfied us with Thy earthly blessings;
deprive us not also of Thy Heavenly Kingdom.
As Thou didst come to Thy disciples and didst grant them peace;
so come to us and save us, O Savior.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amin.
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Blessed is God, Who has fed and nourished us with His bountiful gifts by His grace and compassion always,
now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amin.

8. Evening Prayers

Tempting of Christ, the Upper Church in Sremski Karlovci, Dimitrije Bačević from 1760 and 1761

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us;
for laying aside all excuse, we sinners offer to Thee,
as to our Master, this supplication: Have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Lord, have mercy on us, for in Thee have we put our trust.
Do not be angry with us, nor remember our iniquities,
but look down on us even now, since Thou art compassionate,
and deliver us from our enemies. For Thou art our God, and we are Thy people;
we are all the work of Thy hands, and we call on Thy name.
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amin.
O blessed Theotokos, open the doors of compassion to us whose hope is in you,
that we may not perish but be delivered from adversity through you,
who are the salvation of the Christian people.