Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov) in his “Teaching on the Prayer Rule” wrote: “Rule! What a precise name, borrowed from the very effect produced on a person by prayers called the rule! The prayer rule guides the soul correctly and holy, teaches it to worship God in Spirit and Truth (John 4:23), while the soul, left to itself, could not follow the correct path of prayer. Due to her damage and darkening by sin, she would constantly be seduced to the sides, often into the abyss, now into absent-mindedness, now into daydreaming, now into various empty and deceptive ghosts of high prayerful states, created by her vanity and voluptuousness.

Prayer rules keep the person praying in a saving disposition, humility and repentance, teaching him constant self-condemnation, feeding him with tenderness, strengthening him with hope in the All-Good and All-Merciful God, delighting him with the peace of Christ, love for God and for his neighbors.”

From these words of the saint it is clear that it is very saving to read the morning and evening prayer rules. It spiritually takes a person out of the confusion of night dreams or daytime worries and puts him before God. And the human soul enters into communication with its Creator. The grace of the Holy Spirit descends on a person, brings him into the necessary repentant mood, gives him inner peace and harmony, drives away demons from him (“This generation is driven out only by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21), sends down God’s blessing and strength to him especially since the prayers were written by holy people: Saints Basil the Great and John Chrysostom, Saint Macarius the Great and others. That is, the structure of the rules is very useful for the human soul.

Therefore, of course, reading the morning and evening prayer rules every day, so to speak, is the necessary minimum for an Orthodox Christian. Moreover, it does not take much time. For someone who has gotten into the habit of reading, it takes about twenty minutes in the morning and the same in the evening.

If you don’t have time to read the morning rule all at once, then break it into several parts. “Little Cap” from the beginning to “Lord have mercy” (12 times), inclusive, can, for example, be read at home; The following prayers are during pauses in work or during your daily activities. This, of course, needs to be confessed, but it’s better than not reading it at all. We are all human, and it is clear that we are very sinful and busy. You also regulate the end of your morning prayers yourself. This concerns the commemoration. You can read the extended commemoration or the shortened one. At your discretion, depending on the time available.

A fairly common mistake of new Orthodox Christians is reading the evening prayer rule immediately before going to bed. You sway, stagger, mutter words of prayer, and you yourself think about how to lie down in bed under a warm blanket and fall asleep. So it turns out – not prayer, but torment. Mandatory hard labor before bed.

In fact, the evening prayer rule is read somewhat differently. Hegumen Nikon (Vorobiev) wrote that after evening prayers you can leave time to talk and drink tea.

That is, in fact, you can read the evening prayer rule from the beginning to the prayer of St. John of Damascus “O Lord, Lover of Mankind...” If you, dear brothers and sisters, have noticed, then before this prayer there is a prayer of dismissal: “Lord Jesus Christ, the Son God... have mercy on us. Amen". It really is a vacation. You can read the evening prayers up to and including it long before bedtime: at six, seven, eight o’clock in the evening. Then go about your daily evening activities. You can still eat and drink tea, as Father Nikon said, and communicate with loved ones.

And starting with the prayer “Lord, Lover of Mankind...” and until the end, the rule is read immediately before going to bed. During the prayer “May God rise again,” you need to cross yourself and you can cross your bed and house to the four cardinal directions (starting, according to the Orthodox tradition, from the east), protecting yourself, your loved ones and your home with the sign of the cross from all evil.

After reading the second half of the evening prayers, nothing is eaten or drunk. In the prayer “In Thy hands, O Lord...” you ask God for a blessing for a good sleep and surrender your soul to Him. After this you should go to bed.

I would also like to draw your attention, dear brothers and sisters, to the rule of St. Seraphim of Sarov. Many understand it as reading three times a day (morning, lunch, evening) certain prayers “Our Father” (three times), “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice...” (three times) and the Creed (once). But it is not so. In addition to reading the rule three times, the Monk Seraphim said that in the first half of the day a person should read the Jesus Prayer almost all the time, or, if people are around, in his mind “Lord, have mercy,” and after lunch, instead of the Jesus Prayer, “Most Holy Theotokos, save me, a sinner."

That is, Saint Seraphim offers a person spiritual exercise in continuous prayer, and not just a relief from the evening and morning prayer rules. You can, of course, read the prayer according to the rule of St. Seraphim of Sarov, but only then you need to follow all the instructions of the great elder.

Therefore, I repeat once again, the morning and evening prayer rule is the necessary minimum for an Orthodox Christian.

I would also like to draw your attention, dear brothers and sisters, to a fairly common mistake that we often make.

Saint Ignatius warns us about it in the above-mentioned work: “When performing the rule and bows, one must not rush; It is necessary to perform both the rules and bows with as much leisure and attention as possible. It is better to say fewer prayers and bow down less, but with attention, than a lot and without attention.

Choose for yourself a rule that corresponds to your strengths. What the Lord said about the Sabbath, that it is for man, and not man for it (Mark 2:27), can and should be applied to all pious deeds, as well as to the prayer rule. A prayer rule is for a person, and not a person for a rule: it should contribute to a person’s achievement of spiritual success, and not serve as an inconvenient burden (onerous duty), crushing bodily strength and confusing the soul. Moreover, it should not serve as a reason for proud and harmful conceit, for harmful condemnation of loved ones and humiliation of others.”

The Monk Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain wrote in his book “Invisible Warfare”: “...There are many clergy who deprive themselves of the saving fruit of the world from their spiritual works by procrastinating on them, believing that they will suffer damage if they do not complete them, in false confidence , of course, that this is what spiritual perfection consists of. Following their will in this way, they work hard and torment themselves, but do not receive true peace and inner peace, in which God truly finds and rests.”

That is, we need to count our strength in prayer. You should sit down and think about the time that everyone has. If you, for example, are a freight forwarder in a trading company and are on the road from morning to night, or you are married, work and still need to devote time to your husband, children, and organize family life, then perhaps the morning and evening prayer rule is enough for you and reading two chapters of "The Apostle", a chapter of the Gospel per day. Because if you also take upon yourself to read various akathists, several kathismas, then you will have no time left to live. And if you are a pensioner or work somewhere as a security guard or at another job, with free time, then why not read akathists and kathismas.

Explore yourself, your time, your capabilities, your strengths. Balance your prayer rule with your life so that it is not a burden, but a joy. Because it is better to read fewer prayers, but with heartfelt attention, than to read a lot, but thoughtlessly, mechanically. Prayer has power when you listen and read it with your whole being. Then a life-giving spring of communication with God will flow into our hearts.

Priest Andrey Chizhenko

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

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

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.

From Easter to Ascension, instead of this prayer, the troparion is read:

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and giving life to those in the tombs . (Thrice)

From Ascension to Trinity, we begin prayers with “Holy God...”, omitting all the preceding ones.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)

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 to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

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.

Tropari

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.

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 and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, so that we may not perish, but may we 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 will please Your most holy name all the days of my life, and will trample the fleshly and incorporeal enemies that 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 insolence 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 made me sad, or about what I was angry about; 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, Saint 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 keep the thoughts of Your servant without dreaming, and untroubled, and all the work of Satan take me away 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, consider that you do as you will, that your will be done in me, a sinner, for blessed are you 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 Thee I will find paradise, O Virgin Mother of God, the only Pure One and Blessed One.

Prayer 11, to the Holy Guardian Angel

To the 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 I may not anger my God in any sin; 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.

From Easter to Ascension, instead of this prayer, the chorus and irmos of the 9th song of the Easter canon are read:

The angel cried out with grace: Pure Virgin, rejoice! And again the river: Rejoice! Your Son is risen three days from the grave and raised up the dead; people, have fun! Shine, shine, new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord is upon you. Rejoice now and be glad, O Zion. You, Pure One, show off, O Theotokos, about the rise of Your Nativity .

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

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: “Let us be strong against him.”

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

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 and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Let us ceaselessly sing with our hearts and lips the Glorious Mother of God and the Most Holy Angel, confessing this Mother of God as truly having given birth to God incarnate for us, and praying unceasingly for our souls.

Sign yourself with the sign of the cross.

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 face of fire, so let demons perish from the presence 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. Contribute to the Orthodox 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 forgive me from all these things 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.

Notes:

- Printed in italics (explanations and names of prayers) are not readable during prayer.

- When it is written “Glory”, “And now”, it must be read in full: “Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”, “And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen"

- In the Church Slavonic language there is no sound ё, and therefore it is necessary to read “we are calling”, not “we are calling”, “yours”, not “yours”, “mine”, not “mine”, etc.

How to learn to understand prayers?

Translation of the words of prayers from the prayer book for the laity from Church Slavonic, clarification of the meaning of prayers and petitions. Interpretations and quotes of the Holy Fathers. Icons.

Evening prayers (for bedtime)

Prayers for the future

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

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother, our reverend and God-bearing fathers and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.

Heavenly King...*

Tropari

Trisagion according to Our Father.*

*For an explanation of the initial prayers, see " "

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.

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.

Open the doors of mercy for us, Blessed Mother of God, so that those who trust in You may not perish, but may be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race.

They are perplexed by any answer - without finding any justification for themselves (to be perplexed - not to know what to do, to be inexperienced; the word answer here is a translation of the Greek word "defense", "justification" - cf. Russian: "to call to account").

Prayer 1, St. Macarius the Great, to God the Father

Eternal God and King of every creature, who has made me worthy even at this hour, forgive me the sins I have committed this day in deed, word and thought; and cleanse, Lord, my humble soul from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. And grant me, Lord, to pass through this dream in peace at night, so that, having risen 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 that fight me. Deliver me, Lord, from vain thoughts that defile me, and from evil lusts. For Thine 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.

Even at this hour, to reach this hour - to live up to this hour (to reach this hour - to achieve). Even I created - which I created (made). Humble - here: pathetic, worthless (take care of yourself from the terrible danger of false humility and proud recognition of yourself as humble!). To pass this dream in the night - to sleep through this night, to “go the distance” of this night’s sleep. From my humble bed (in some prayer books: from my humble bed) - from my pitiful, meager bed (humble often means: “low, base” even just in the physical sense). Popper - I will overcome, I will trample.

The lusts of the evil ones are evil desires.

And deliver me, Lord, from vain thoughts that defile me, and from evil lusts. These words of the prayer are peculiarly echoed by other words from the teaching of the Monk Macarius on prayer: “The true basis of prayer is this: to be attentive to thoughts and to perform prayer in great silence and peace. A person praying must direct all his effort to thoughts and that serves as food for evil thoughts , then to cut off, but to direct one’s thoughts to God and not to fulfill one’s desires, but to gather whirling thoughts from everywhere together, distinguishing natural thoughts from evil ones. The soul under sin is likened to a large forest on a mountain or reeds on a river, or some kind of thorns and more often. tree, therefore those who intend to pass by this place must stretch out their hands forward and with effort and difficulty move apart the branches in front of them. Likewise, the soul is surrounded by a whole forest of thoughts inspired by a resistive force, which is why great diligence and attentiveness of the mind are required in order for a person to distinguish between alien thoughts inspired by a resistive force. by force."

To the Almighty, the Word of the Father, the perfect One 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 Your holy Gospel, my soul with the love of Your Cross, my heart with the purity of Your word, my body with Your impassive passion; Preserve my thought with Your humility, and raise me up in time like Your praise. For Thou art glorified with Thy Beginningless Father and with the Most Holy Spirit forever.

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 as a man, and moreover, not as a man, but worse than cattle, my voluntary and involuntary sins , known and unknown; those who are evil from youth and science, and those who are evil from insolence 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; or I thought evil, or saw someone else’s kindness, and was wounded in my heart 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.

All, as many as You have sinned - everything in which I have sinned before You (all, as many as I have sinned - I have sinned). Today - today. Moreover - and moreover. Grief is worse, more bitter. Even - which. From youth - from youth, from a young age (and not “because of youth”). Evil comes from science - from evil teaching. From impudence - from shamelessness, insolence. Or else - if. I swore - I swore.

Blasphemed e - blasphemed him (further in the prayer there follows a number of verbs in the form of the 1st person past tense - aorist; reproach - I reproached; slander - I slandered; saddened - I saddened, etc.). It's bad - it's not time. Svadih - excited quarrels, quarreled someone. I stand in prayer - when I stood in prayer. Moved by the deceit of this world, he rushed towards the worldly (towards the lies of this world).

***

Evil - evil, bad. Having seen someone else's kindness - seeing someone else's beauty (or good qualities in general: kindness means both external beauty and perfection in general). I was wounded by that in my heart - I was wounded in my heart by it. Inappropriate verbs - said something inappropriate, obscene. My essence is countless sins - while my sins are countless. But all and more of these deeds - because I did all this and more.

At the beginning of the prayer and at the end of it, despondency is mentioned among the causes of numerous sins: ... Forgive all, O great One, those who have sinned ... from despondency ... Have mercy on me, my Creator Master, Thy sad and unworthy servant ... Dejection is one of the eight main passions, and the fight against this passion is inevitable for every Christian.

***

“This evil spirit reminds the one who begins to pray about the necessary things to do and uses every trick just to distract us from the conversation with the Lord with some plausible pretext.”

Venerable John Larch

***

“The soul, wounded by the arrow of this ruinous passion, actually falls asleep for any striving for virtue and observation of its spiritual feelings... The main thing that produces in us the spirit of despondency is that it makes us lazy, discourages us from business and teaches idleness. He doesn’t think about anything else, like food and belly, until, having met somewhere a fellowship in some man or woman, numb in the same coldness, he gets involved in their affairs and needs... The main thing to counteract him will be: don’t give in, stay busy ".

Venerable John Cassian the Roman

***

This prayer of repentance contains a whole list of sins that we commit daily; In order for this daily repentance to be sincere, one must delve into the essence of the sins confessed here, in their connection and difference.

Some of them deserve special mention.

...If I swear by Your name... These are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself: Again you have heard what was said to the ancients: do not break your oath, but fulfill your oaths before the Lord. But I say to you: do not swear at all: not by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King; Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. But let your word be: yes, yes; no no; and anything beyond this is from the evil one (Matt. 5:33-37).

Undoubtedly, the words of the evening confession of sins speak not only about an immediate oath, but also about any violation of the 3rd commandment of the Law of God - about deification and taking the name of God in vain (note that violation of the same commandment includes catechism and inattention in prayer - like uttering name of God with violation of reverence and deceit).

...Or blasphemy in my thoughts... These words are used to confess blasphemous thoughts - disgusting, dirty thoughts and ideas that arise primarily during prayer and during divine services.

“Whoever is troubled by the spirit of blasphemy and who wants to get rid of it, let him know without a doubt that it is not his soul that is guilty of such thoughts, but an unclean demon... Therefore, we, despising him and imputing the thoughts he puts in for nothing, will say to him: Get away from Me , Satan: I will worship the Lord My God and serve Him alone (cf. Matthew 4:10);

“Whoever has won victory over this passion has cast aside pride.” “Let us stop judging and condemning our neighbor, and we will not be afraid of blasphemous thoughts: for the cause and root of the second is the first.” The prayer-confession also draws our attention to these sins against one’s neighbor, internally connected with blasphemy:

Venerable John Larch

***

“It is not good to be angry, either without a reason or for a good reason; for this is rightly forbidden by the Lord (see: Matt. 5:22).”

Venerable John Cassian the Roman

***

Anger is permissible only at demons and at yourself: “Be angry at sin, that is, at yourself and at the devil, so as not to sin against God.”

Venerable Hesychius of Jerusalem

***

...Or my brother was saddened... It would seem that this sin was just discussed; but above we were talking about sadness caused by manifestations of anger, and my brother can be saddened by inattention, unreasonableness, and simply my general sinfulness.

...Or svdih... Swaditi - to quarrel, to arouse discord.

...Or whom I condemn... Let us recall the words of the apostle: Whoever curses his brother or judges his brother, he is cursed by the law and judged by the law; and if you judge the law, then you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one Lawgiver and Judge, who can save and destroy; and who are you who judges another? (James 4:11-12).

...Either he became proud, or became angry, or became angry... But it was already said above: or about what he became angry; is this a repeat? Perhaps the prefix once indicates a different quality, a different level of professed passion: a fairly strong grip of anger (being angry can also refer to a fleeting feeling).

...Or seeing the kindness of someone else, and being wounded by it in the heart... Wounded by the heart - that is, he was wounded in the very heart, received a painful heart wound (ulcer).

The ambiguity of the word kindness allows us to attribute this phrase both to the temptation of someone’s external beauty (voluptuous thoughts, burning and painful), and to envy, which is always painful; apply these words to your own mental pain.

...Or did you laugh at my brother’s sin, but my essence is countless sins... Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not feel the beam in your eye? Or how will you say to your brother: “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” but behold, there is a beam in your eye?

Prayer 4, Saint 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.

Greatly gifted - bestowing great gifts, generous. Like me being lazy to please You - like me being lazy to serve You. And having done nothing good, he has done nothing good. You brought it to the end - You brought it to the end. Past - past. Building - here: arranging. Naked of every deed is good - deprived of any good deeds (the image of grace, as well as good deeds, as clothing that clothes a person, is repeated repeatedly in the New Testament and very often in liturgical poetry and ascetic literature. Compare the words of God Almighty in the Apocalypse: Behold, I go like a thief: blessed is he who watches and keeps his clothes, lest he walk naked and lest they see his shame - Rev. 16:15).

Even those who have sinned - with whom I have sinned before You (even - who have sinned - I have sinned: the form of the 1st person singular of the past tense - aorist). From every adverse situation - from every onslaught of evil.

Lukavago - here: Devil. Passionate - full of passions, subject to passions. When - when. Detel - business, activity. Drive away - drive away. To her - yes, truly.

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, to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

What I have sinned - what I have sinned. Yako - how. Mi - to me. Because You are - because You are.

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; calm 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.

More than that. When I weaken, it’s a relief.

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.

I have sinned - I have sinned (past tense - aorist). Ezhe darkened - which darkened (pomrachi is also an aorist, but the form of the 3rd person). Below the animals - in the book of life. Even though I have done nothing good, I have done nothing good. Studnago - vile (literally: shameful; stud - shame).

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.

"How to read the prayers of St. Chrysostom (24 in evening prayers for bedtime)? Read them before the prayer book so that your attention is concentrated... But repeat mentally at all times. This is the best way to accustom yourself to remembrance of God, and this remembrance is the basis of spiritual life "Bows from the waist, and sometimes to the ground." - “You can use the prayers of St. Chrysostom instead of your home rule in the morning. Memorize them and think about each one... In them, the whole spiritual life is remembered... Determine how many times each one is commemorated so that you stand in prayer for the same amount of time as you usually stand for the rule. You can also add your prayers to it - choose from the psalms: whichever verse suits your heart, write it down... Using these prayers with attention, you will soon become accustomed to standing in prayer without being distracted. Insert the Jesus Prayer into their midst, for example, saying ten times: “Lord. , do not deprive me of Your heavenly blessings,” add: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” - “The purpose of short prayers is to promote the collection of thoughts and sobriety. Strength is not in words, but in feeling for God. It will soon be formed among those who work on prayer. This is mental prayer. The mind, standing in the heart, sees God and intelligently confesses to Him by calling upon Him... Feeling for God is unceasing prayer without words.”

Prayer 8, to our Lord Jesus Christ

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of Thy Most Honest Mother, and Thy disembodied Angels, Thy 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.

...I do not want the death of a sinner, but rather to turn and live to be him... The prayer quotes the words of the Lord from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel: I do not want the death of a sinner, but to turn the wicked from his way and live to be him (Ezek. 33:11).

Prayer 9, to the Most Holy Theotokos, Peter of Studium

Here is this verse in the Russian translation of the Bible: Tell them: As I live, says the Lord God, I do not want the death of the sinner, but that the sinner should turn from his way and live.

Turn yourselves, turn from your evil ways; Why should you die, O house of Israel?

This prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos is the cry of a man who has learned how little his will to good can resist sin. And repentance, completely sincere, and love with all one’s thoughts for the law of God, and hatred of evil deeds in themselves are not capable of saving a person from slavery to sin. The words of this prayer are close to the words of the Apostle Paul: ... I am carnal, sold under sin. For I don’t understand what I’m doing: because I don’t do what I want, but what I hate, I do. If I do what I do not want, then... it is no longer I who do it, but the sin that lives in me. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh;

Prayer 10, to the Most Holy Theotokos

because the desire for good is in me, but I don’t find it to do it. I don’t do the good that I want, but I do the evil that I don’t want. If I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin living in me. And so I find the law that when I want to do good, evil belongs to me. For according to the inner man I delight in the law of God; But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members (Rom. 7:14-23).

Overcoming and defeating the law of sin is possible only with God's help, by the power of God's grace, which we cry for in our prayers.

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; Yes, I will 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 One.

Passionate - 1) subject to passions; 2) unhappy, suffering; both meanings are combined here.

My belly is my life. By You - here: With Your help, through You. I will find it - I will find it.

Prayer 11, to the holy Guardian Angel

To the chosen Voivode, victorious, as having been delivered from the evil, let us write thanks to Thy servant, the Mother of God, but as having an invincible power, free us from all troubles, let us call Thee: Rejoice, Unmarried Bride.

Mounted Voivode - invincible Voivode (mounted - invincible in battles).

Victorious - victorious (singing, that is, a victorious song). As if they got rid of the evil ones - because they got rid (literally: as if they got rid of) from evil (from troubles).

Thanksgiving - thanksgiving (thanksgiving song). Let us sing to You - we sing praises (literally: we write) to You. As one who has power - (You), as one who has strength.

Rejoice - the greeting of the Archangel Gabriel, brought to us by the Gospel - both before the Nativity of Christ and after it was a common greeting in Greek - the same as our “hello”. In the appearance of the Angel, in his wondrous and mysterious words, the inner meaning of the greeting, forgotten in everyday life, of course, was renewed and shone with all its strength; Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos (and every later inspiredly composed akathist), all permeated with this “Rejoice!” and sparkling with the joy of majesty, also resurrects the dormant meaning of the Greek word in everyday language.

But in the Russian (and Old Russian) language they greeted each other not with the word “rejoice”, but with the word “hello” (in which we usually forget wishes for health).

“Rejoice” remains for us a word always richer, more special - a conscious word of joy, a unique greeting for the Most Pure Virgin Mary and the saints of God.

To the elected Voivode, victorious... Almost all of us are accustomed to hearing these words as a single whole, so we do not feel the structure of the phrase (quite simple): (to whom?) To the elected Voivode (we) sing (what?) a victorious thanksgiving, that is, a victorious song of gratitude, (why?) as if they got rid of the evil ones - because they got rid of troubles.

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.

By You - here: through You, by Your intercession. Under the roof - under cover.

The prayers “Glorious Ever-Virgin...” and “All my hope...” are the creations of St. John of Damascus.

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.

The creator of this prayer, Saint John the Great, repeated it after each verse of the psalms he read according to the rule, thus constantly raising the mind to the Most Holy Trinity.

End of prayers

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, the real Mother of God.

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.

We see that after those prayers that in the section “Morning Prayers” are final and are marked with the words “End of prayers”, in the section “Prayers for the future” (in most prayer books) there are some more prayers that more directly relate to going to bed (the prayer of St. John of Damascus is supposed to be read, pointing to the bed; when reading the prayer “May God rise again,” both the bed and the four cardinal directions are overshadowed with the sign of the cross). One of the consequences of this: we can more flexibly adapt the general rule to our own living conditions, to our internal state. So, for some people (or in some life circumstances) it is more convenient to read the first part of the prayers for bed the next evening, quite early - perhaps before all the affairs are completely completed - and immediately before going to bed, already near your bed, read the remaining prayers.

The joint reading of bedtime prayers for the future - for example, in a family - can be completed with “It is worthy to eat...” and a general blessing, and prayers starting with the prayer of St. John of Damascus can be read to everyone... at their bedside.

This practice existed in Ancient Rus'. Under Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century, there was a custom to add a few more prayers, literally going to sleep and to his bed (the composition of these prayers did not coincide with ours).

/Addition by Archpriest Sergius Pravdolyubov.

Here you go. Mi - to me. Well - so, I know. Yako - here: what. If only you save the righteous - because if you save the righteous. Nothing great - there is nothing great in it (great - great). And if you have mercy on a pure person, nothing is surprising - and if you have mercy on a pure person, there is nothing surprising in that. They are worthy, because they are worthy. About this - here: in this, by this. Unspeakable - unspeakable.

Enlighten my eyes, O Christ God, so that not when I fall asleep into death, and not when my enemy says: “Let us be strong against him.”

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.

Let us silently sing to the Glorious Mother of God and the Most Holy Angel with our hearts and lips, who confess this Mother of God as having truly given birth to God incarnate, and who continually prays for our souls.

I have strengthened myself - I have strengthened myself (past tense - aorist). We are, of course, talking about the invisible enemy - the devil.

Those who confess this Mother of God - confessing (openly proclaiming) that She is the Mother of God.

Enlighten my eyes, O Christ God, so that not when I fall asleep into death, and not when my enemy says: “Let us be strong against him.” These are the words from the psalm: Look, hear me, O Lord my God, enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep into death, lest my enemy say: I will be strong against him (Ps. 12:4-5).

Mark yourself with a cross and say prayer to the Holy Cross

May God rise again, and may His enemies be scattered, and may those who hate Him flee from His face. As smoke disappears, let them disappear; just as wax melts in the face of fire, so let demons perish from the face of those who love God, and those who sign the sign of the cross, and who joyfully say: Rejoice, Most Pure and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, drive away demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who descended into hell, on you, and who trampled down the power of 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.

If they are wasted, they will be scattered. Enemies - enemies.

May God rise again, and may His enemies be scattered... The beginning of the prayer is taken from the psalm: May God rise again, and His enemies may be scattered, and may those who hate Him flee from His face. As smoke disappears, let them disappear; as wax hides from the presence of fire, so let sinners (sinners) perish from the presence of God (Ps. 67:1-2).

These same verses of the psalm are sung at the Easter service, interspersed with the troparion of Easter. The words about the Lord Jesus Christ, who descended into hell and trampled upon the power of the devil, also remind us of the troparion (trampling death by death) and other Easter hymns. The power of the Cross of the Lord is inseparable from the Resurrection of Christ; the death and Resurrection of Christ make the Cross a “sign of victory,” which is why this prayer, pronounced with faith and love for the Honest Cross, is so powerful to drive away the forces of evil from us.

Or briefly a prayer for the Cross

Prayer

Protect me, Lord, by the power of Your Honest and Life-giving Cross, and save me from all evil.

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.
PREFACE
If I do not understand the meaning of the words, then I am a stranger to the speaker, and the speaker is a stranger to me... For when I pray in an unknown language, then although my spirit prays, my mind remains fruitless... I will begin to pray with the spirit, I will begin to pray with the mind; I will sing with the spirit, I will sing with the mind too. (1 Cor. 14.11-14.15)
This prayer book is intended for people taking their first steps in the Church, for those who for some reason do not have the opportunity to learn and understand the Church Slavonic language. It includes abbreviated morning and evening rules, the sequence and canon for Holy Communion, as well as a reminder for Holy Communion. All this is offered in an adequate translation from Church Slavonic into Russian. The Missionary Prayer Book has passed theological and philological examination. When compiling the prayer book, realizing the impossibility of preserving the divine beauty of Church Slavonic poetry, the compiler was guided by the desire to convey the meaning of the prayers as accurately as possible. In the future, you, dear reader of the Lord, will need a complete prayer book, which is used by the majority of Orthodox Christians. The choice of translation was carried out on a large number of sources, the main of which was the book “Prayers and chants of the Orthodox prayer book with translation into Russian, explanations and notes by Nikolai Nakhimov. Kyiv: Prologue, 2003.” I would be deeply grateful for any valuable comments and suggestions.
Alexander Bozhenov

Continued Prayers and Notes

MORNING PRAYERS

Rising from sleep, before any other activity, stand reverently, presenting yourself before the All-Seeing God, and, placing the sign of the cross on yourself, say:

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

After this, wait a little so that all your feelings calm down and your thoughts leave everything earthly. And then say the following prayers, without haste, with heartfelt attention. Do this before beginning any prayer.

Publican's Prayer(Gospel of Luke, chapter 18, verse 13)

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

Beginning prayer

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Trisagion
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Bow)
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Bow)

Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse our sins. Lord, forgive our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Lord's Prayer
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Troparion to the Most Holy Trinity
Rising after sleep, we fall at Your feet, O Good One, and we proclaim an angelic song to You, O Mighty One: “Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O God, through the prayers of the Mother of God have mercy on us.”
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. You raised me from my bed from sleep, Lord! Enlighten my mind and heart, and open my lips to sing to You, Holy Trinity: “Holy, Holy, Holy You, O God, through the prayers of the Mother of God have mercy on us.”
And now and always and forever and ever. Amen. Suddenly the Judge will come, and everyone’s deeds will be revealed. Let us exclaim with fear at midnight: “Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O God, through the prayers of the Mother of God have mercy on us.”

Lord have mercy. (12 times)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity
Rising after sleep, I thank You, Holy Trinity, that by Your great mercy and long-suffering, You, God, were not angry with me, lazy and sinful, and did not stop my life in the midst of my iniquities, but showed me Your usual love for mankind, and raised me up sleeping to bring You morning prayer and glorify Your power. And now enlighten my thoughts, so that I may learn Your word, understand Your commandments and do Your will. And open my mouth to glorify You with a grateful heart and sing Your most holy name, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Psalm 50

Symbol of faith
1. I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, everything visible and invisible. 2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all time, true God, begotten of true God, just as light is born of light, begotten and not made, consubstantial with God the Father and through whom the whole world came into being . 3. He came down from heaven for us people and our salvation, and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became a true man. 4. Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. 5. And rose again on the third day, as was foretold in the Scriptures. 6. And ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. 7. And who will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and of His kingdom there will be no end. 8. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father, Who is to be worshiped and Who is to be glorified equally with the Father and the Son, who spoke through the prophets. 9. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. 10. I acknowledge one true baptism in life for cleansing from sins. 11. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and 12. another, eternal life in the age to come. Amen.

Prayer 1, Saint Macarius the Great
God, cleanse me, a sinner, for I have never done anything good before You. Deliver me from evil, and let Your will be done in me. Grant me, without being condemned, to open my unworthy lips and praise Your holy name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 2, of the same saint
Rising from sleep, in the middle of the night I bring You a song, O Savior, and falling at Your feet, I cry out to You: do not let me sleep in sinful death, but have pity on me, O voluntarily Crucified One! 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.

Prayer 3, of the same saint
Lord, Lover of Mankind, getting up after sleep, I hasten to You and, by Your mercy, I begin to do things pleasing to You. I pray to You: help me always and in everything, and deliver me from all evil in the world and from the devil’s temptation, and save me, and bring me into Your eternal Kingdom. For You are my Creator and Source and Giver of every good. All my hope is in You, and I give You praise, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 4, of the same saint
Lord, by Thy abundant goodness and by Thy great mercy, Thou hast given me, Thy servant, to spend the past time of this night without misfortune and any enemy evil. You Yourself, Lord, Creator of all things, grant me, in the light of Your truth, to fulfill Your will with an enlightened heart, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 5, St. Basil the Great
Lord, Almighty, God of disembodied forces and all flesh, living on the heights of heaven and looking over the valleys of the earth, observing hearts and thoughts, and clearly knowing the secrets of men, beginningless, eternal and unchanging Light, Which leaves no shadowed place on Its path! You Yourself, immortal King, accept our prayers, which we now, hoping for the abundance of Your compassion, make to You from unclean lips, and forgive us our sins, committed by us in deed, word and thought, voluntarily and involuntarily, and cleanse us from all uncleanness of the flesh and spirit. And grant us with a watchful heart and a sober thought to live the whole night of this earthly life, in anticipation of the coming of the bright and glorious day of the second coming of Your Only Begotten Son, the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, when the common Judge will come with glory to reward everyone according to his deeds. May He find us not lying down and sleepy, but awake and risen, in the midst of fulfilling His commandments, and ready to enter with Him into the joy and divine palace of His glory, where the unceasing voices of those who triumph and the inexpressible joy of those who see the indescribable beauty of Your face. For You are the true Light, enlightening and sanctifying the whole world, and You are glorified by all creation forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer to the Guardian Angel
Holy Angel, appointed to watch over my poor soul and unhappy life, do not leave me, a sinner, and do not depart from me for my intemperance. Do not allow the evil demon to subjugate me through this mortal body. Take my unfortunate and drooping hand tightly and lead me to the path of salvation. Oh, holy Angel of God, guardian and patron of my poor soul and body! Forgive me for everything I have done to offend you all the days of my life, and if I sinned in any way last night, protect me this day. And protect me from every temptation of the enemy, so that I do not anger God with any sin; and pray for me to the Lord, so that He will strengthen me in His fear and make me a slave worthy of His mercy. Amen.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
My Most Holy Lady Theotokos, with Your holy and all-powerful prayers, drive away from me, Your insignificant and unfortunate servant, despondency, oblivion, unreason, negligence, and all nasty, evil and blasphemous thoughts from my unfortunate heart and from my darkened mind, and extinguish the flame of my passions for I am poor and weak. Deliver me from many destructive memories and intentions, and free me from all evil influences. For You are blessed from all generations, and Your most honorable name is glorified forever and ever. Amen.

Prayerful invocation of the saint whose name you bear and other saints dear to your heart
Pray to God for me, holy saints of God (names), for I diligently resort to you, quick helpers and prayer books for my soul.

Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos
Virgin Mary, 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.

Troparion to the Cross and prayer for the Fatherland when attacked by enemies
Save, Lord, Your people, and bless those who belong to You, helping Orthodox Christians defeat their enemies, and preserving Your Church by the power of Your Cross.

Prayer for health and salvation of the living
Save, Lord, and have mercy on my spiritual father, my parents, brothers and sisters, relatives, bosses, benefactors, and all my neighbors and friends (their names), and all Orthodox Christians. Give them Your earthly and heavenly blessings, and do not deprive them of Your mercies, visit them, strengthen them, and by Your power grant them health and salvation of the soul: for You are good and love people. Amen.

Prayers 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 their sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven.
With the saints, rest, O Christ, the souls of Your servants: our forefathers, fathers and brothers, where there is no illness, no sorrow, no mental suffering, but endless life.

End of prayers
It is truly worthy to glorify You as the Mother of God, always Blessed and Immaculate, and the Mother of our God. We magnify You as the true Mother of God, who gave birth without illness to God the Word, worthy of greater honor than the Cherubim, and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice)

EVENING PRAYERS, BEFORE BEDTIME

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Beginning prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers 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, Spirit of truth, Who exists everywhere and fills the whole world, Source of blessings 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. (Bow)
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Bow)
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Bow)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. 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 to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Lord's Prayer

Tropari
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us! Finding no justification for ourselves, we, sinners, offer this prayer to You as to the Master: “Have mercy on us!”
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. God! Have mercy on us, we trust in You. Do not be very angry with us and do not remember our iniquities: but turn Your gaze on us even now, since You are merciful. And deliver us from our enemies: after all, You are our God and we are Your people, we are all the creations of Your hands and we call on Your name.
And now and always and forever and ever. Amen. Open to us, blessed Mother of God, the door to God’s mercy, so that we, who trust in You, do not perish, but through You we get rid of troubles: after all, 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 all creation, who has made me worthy to live until 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 carnal and spiritual impurity. And grant me, Lord, to spend this night in peace, so that, rising from sleep, all the days of my life I will do what is pleasing to Your most holy name and defeat the enemies who attack me - carnal and incorporeal. And deliver me, Lord, from the vain thoughts and vicious desires that defile me. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and always, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 2, Saint Antiochus to Our Lord Jesus Christ
Almighty, Word of the Father, Jesus Christ! Being yourself perfect, according to Your great mercy, never leave me, Your servant, but always remain in me. Jesus, good Shepherd of Your sheep, do not give me over to the work of the serpent and do not leave me to the will of Satan, for there is in me the seed of destruction. You, Lord God, whom everyone worships, the Holy King, Jesus Christ, protect me during sleep with unfading Light, Your Holy Spirit, with which You sanctified Your disciples. Grant, O Lord, to me, Thy unworthy servant, Thy salvation on my bed: enlighten my mind with the light of understanding of Thy Holy Gospel, my soul with love for Thy Cross, my heart with the purity of Thy word, my body with Thy suffering, alien to passion, my thought Maintain your humility. And raise me up at the proper time to glorify You. For You are supremely glorified, together with Your beginningless Father and the Most Holy Spirit forever. Amen.

Prayer 3, Rev. Ephraim the Syrian to the Holy Spirit
Lord, Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, have mercy and have mercy on me, Your sinful servant, and forgive me, unworthy, and forgive all the sins that I have sinned before You today as a man and, moreover, not as a man, but even worse livestock Forgive my sins, voluntary and involuntary, known and unknown: those committed out of immaturity and evil skill, out of temper and carelessness. If I have sworn by Your name, or blasphemed Him in my thoughts; or whom he reproached; or slandered someone in my anger, or saddened someone, or about what I was angry; either he lied, or slept untimely, or a beggar came to me, and I rejected him; or saddened my brother, or stirred up quarrels, or condemned someone; or became arrogant, or became proud, or became angry; or when standing in prayer, his mind strove for evil worldly thoughts, or had insidious thoughts; either he overate himself, or got drunk, or laughed madly; or thought evil; or, seeing the imaginary beauty, bowed his heart to what is outside of You; or said something obscene; or laughed at my brother’s sin, while my sins are countless; or did not care about prayer, or did something else evil that I did not remember: I did all this and even more than that. Have mercy on me, my Creator and Lord, Thy careless and unworthy servant, and leave me, and forgive my sins, and forgive me, for You are Good and Humane-loving. So that I may lie down in peace, sleep and calm down, prodigal, sinful and unhappy, and so that I may bow and sing and glorify Your venerable name, with the Father and His Only Begotten Son, now, and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 4
Lord our God, everything in which I have sinned this day in word, deed and thought, You, as the Merciful and Humane One, forgive me. Give me a peaceful and restful sleep. Send me Your Guardian Angel, who would cover and protect me from all evil. For You are the guardian of our souls and bodies, and we send up glory to You, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now, and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 5, St. John Chrysostom(24 prayers, according to the number of hours of the day and night)
1. Lord, do not deprive me of Your heavenly blessings. 2. Lord, deliver me from eternal torment. 3. Lord, whether I have sinned in mind or thought, in word or deed, forgive me. 4. Lord, deliver me from all ignorance, oblivion, cowardice, and petrified insensibility. 5. Lord, deliver me from every temptation. 6. Lord, enlighten my heart, which is darkened by evil desires. 7. Lord, as a man I have sinned, but You, as a generous God, have mercy on me, seeing the weakness of my soul. 8. Lord, send Your grace to help me, that I may glorify Your holy name. 9. Lord Jesus Christ, write me, Your servant, in the Book of Life and grant me a good end. 10. Lord, my God, although I have not done anything good before You, grant me, by Your grace, to begin good deeds. 11. Lord, sprinkle the dew of Your grace on my heart. 12. Lord of Heaven and earth, remember me, Thy sinful servant, foul and unclean, in Thy Kingdom. Amen.
1. Lord, accept me in repentance. 2. Lord, don't leave me. 3. Lord, protect me from every misfortune. 4. Lord, give me a good thought. 5. Lord, give me tears, and the memory of death, and heartfelt contrition for sins. 6. Lord, give me the thought to confess my sins. 7. Lord, give me humility, chastity and obedience. 8. Lord, give me patience, generosity and meekness. 9. Lord, plant in me the root of goodness - the fear of You in my heart. 10. Lord, deign me to love You with all my soul and thoughts and to fulfill Your will in everything. 11. Lord, protect me from evil people, and demons, and passions, and from every inappropriate deed. 12. Lord, You know what you do and what You desire - Your will be done even on me, a sinner, for You are blessed forever. Amen.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Merciful King, merciful Mother, most pure and blessed Mother of God Mary! Pour the mercy of Your Son and our God onto my passionate soul, and guide me with Your prayers to good deeds, so that I can live the rest of my life without sin and with Your help, O Virgin Mary, the only pure and blessed One, enter into heaven.

Prayer to the Holy Guardian Angel
Angel of Christ, my holy guardian and patron of my soul and body! Forgive me everything that I have sinned today, and deliver me from every insidious plan of the enemy coming against me, so that I do not anger my God with any sin. But pray for me, a sinful and unworthy servant, to present me worthy of the goodness and mercy of the Most Holy Trinity and the Mother of my Lord Jesus Christ and all the saints. Amen.

Kontakion to the Mother of God
Having freed ourselves from troubles, we, Your unworthy servants, Mother of God, sing a victorious and grateful song to You, the Supreme Military Leader. You, as having invincible power, free us from all troubles, so that we cry to You: Rejoice, Bride, not involved in marriage!
Glorious Eternal Virgin, Mother of Christ God, bring our prayer to Thy Son and our God, may He save our souls through Thy prayers.
I place all my hope in You, Mother of God, keep me under Your protection.
Enlighten my eyes, O Christ God, so that I do not fall asleep in the sleep of death, so that my enemy does not say: I have defeated him.
Be the Protector of my soul, O God, for I walk among many snares. Deliver me from them and save me, O God, for You are a Lover of Mankind.

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!

End of prayers

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

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 the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.

Prayers said in private, separate from the evening rule

Prayer 1
Relax, let go, forgive, O God, our sins, voluntary and involuntary, committed in word and deed, consciously and unconsciously, day and night, in mind and in thought - forgive us all, as the Merciful and Lover of Humanity.

Forgive those who hate and offend us, Lord Lover of Mankind! To those who do good, do good. To our brothers and relatives, graciously fulfill their requests in what leads to salvation, and grant eternal life. Visit the weak and give them healing. Help those at sea. Companion to travelers. Help Orthodox Christians in their struggle. Grant remission of sins to those who serve us and those who take pity on us. Have mercy on those who have entrusted us, the unworthy, to pray for them, according to Your great mercy. Remember, Lord, our fathers and brothers who died before and rest them where the light of Your Face shines. Remember, Lord, our brothers who are in captivity, and deliver them from all misfortune. Remember, Lord, those who bear the fruits of their labors and adorn Your holy churches. Give them, at their request, that which leads to salvation and eternal life. Remember, Lord, us, Your humble, sinful and unworthy servants, and enlighten our minds so that we know You, and lead us on the path of following Your commandments, through the prayers of our most pure Lady, the Eternal Virgin Mary, and all Your saints, for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.

Everyday confession of sins, pronounced in private
I confess to You, my Lord God and Creator, in the One Holy Trinity, glorified and worshiped, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, all my sins that I have committed in all the days of my life, and at every hour, and at the present time, by deed, in word, thought, sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch and all my feelings, mental and physical, with which I have angered You, my God and Creator, and offended my neighbor. Sinned:____ (hereinafter a list of individual sins). Regretting them, I stand before You guilty and want to repent. Only, Lord my God, help me, I humbly pray to You with tears. By Your mercy, forgive the sins I have committed and free me from them, for You are Good and Lover of Mankind.

When you go to bed, sign yourself with a cross and say prayer to the Holy Cross:
May God rise again, and may His enemies be scattered, and may all who hate Him flee from His Face. As the smoke disappears, so let them disappear. Just as wax melts from the fire, so let the demons perish at the sight of those who love God, and sign themselves with the sign of the cross and joyfully say: “Rejoice, much-honored and life-giving Cross of the Lord, driving away demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified on you, who descended into hell and who destroyed the power of the devil and gave us you, His venerable Cross, to drive away every enemy." O venerable and life-giving Cross of the Lord! Help me with the Holy Lady, the Virgin Mary, and with all the saints forever. Amen.

Or briefly:
Protect me, Lord, by the power of Your venerable and life-giving Cross, and save me from all evil.

When you go to bed and fall asleep, say:
Into Your hands, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, I commend my spirit. Bless me, have mercy on me and grant me eternal life. Amen.

CANON FOR THE HOLY COMMUNION OF THE DIVINE AND LIFE-GIVING, MOST PURE BODY OF CHRIST AND ITS BLOOD.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, Who exists everywhere and fills the whole world, Source of blessings 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. (Bow)
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Bow)
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Bow)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse our sins. Lord, forgive our iniquities. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Lord's Prayer
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Lord have mercy. (12 times)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Come, let us worship the King, our God. (Bow)
Come, let us worship and fall before Christ the King, our God. (Bow)
Come, let us bow and fall before Christ Himself, our King and God. (Bow)

Psalm 50
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my iniquities. Wash me often from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am aware of my iniquities, and my sin is always before me. I have sinned against You, the One, and have done evil in Your sight, so that You are righteous in Your judgment and pure in Your judgment. Behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and my mother gave birth to me in sin. But, behold, You loved righteousness and revealed to me the hidden secret of Your wisdom. Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be clean; Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness, and the broken bones will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of hope for salvation by You and strengthen me with the sovereign Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your ways, and the wicked will turn to You. Deliver me from the shedding of blood, O God, God of my salvation, and my tongue will praise Your righteousness. God! Open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise: for You do not desire sacrifice, I would give it; You do not favor burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit; You will not reject a contrite and humble heart, O God. Bless Zion with Your favor, O Lord, and may the walls of Jerusalem be erected. Then the sacrifices of righteousness, the wave offerings, and the burnt offerings will be acceptable to You; Then they will place bullocks on Your altar.

Song 1
Irmos: Come, people, let us sing a song to Christ God, who divided the sea and led the people freed by Him from the slavery of Egypt; for He is glorified.

May Your Holy Body and Your precious Blood, Merciful Lord, be the bread of eternal life for me, for healing from many and various diseases.

Desecrated by obscene deeds, I, unfortunate one, am unworthy, O Christ, of the communion of Your most pure Body and Divine Blood: honor me with it.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Blessed Bride of God, fertile land, which produced the uncultivated and world-saving Ear! Make me worthy to be saved by taking Him as food.

Song 3
Irmos: Having established me on the rock of faith, You opened my mouth against my enemies, for my spirit rejoiced when I began to sing: “There is no one as holy as our God, and there is no one more righteous than You, O Lord!”

Chorus: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Bow)

Give me, O Christ, drops of tears that cleanse the impurity of my heart, so that, having cleared my conscience, with faith and fear, Master, I may begin to partake of Your divine Gifts.

Chorus: Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. (Bow)

May Thy most pure Body and Divine Blood be for me, O Lover of Mankind, for forgiveness of sins, for communion with the Holy Spirit and for eternal life, and for liberation from suffering and sorrow.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Most Holy Table of the Bread of Life, which came down from above by mercy and gives new life to the world, honor me, unworthy, with fear to taste It and be alive.

Song 4
Irmos: You came from the Virgin, neither an intercessor nor a messenger, but the Lord Himself in the flesh, and you saved all of me, man. Therefore I cry to You: “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”

Chorus: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Bow)

Having become incarnate for our sake, O most merciful Lord, You desired to be slain like a sheep for the sins of men. Therefore, I pray to You: cleanse my sins too.

Chorus: Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. (Bow)

Heal the wounds of my soul, Lord, and sanctify me entirely, and, O Lord, grant me, a repentant one, to partake of Your mystical Divine Supper.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Compassionate the One born of You to me, too, Lady, and keep me, Your servant, pure and without blemish, so that I may be sanctified by receiving a spiritual treasure.

Song 5
Irmos: You are the Giver of light and the Creator of times, Lord! Teach us to walk in the light of Your commandments, because besides You, we do not recognize any other god.

Chorus: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Bow)

As You said, O Christ, so let it be for me, Your insignificant servant: abide in me, as You promised; for here I eat Your Divine Body and drink Your Blood.

Chorus: Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. (Bow)

Word of God and God! May the burning coal of Your Body be for me, the darkened one, for enlightenment, and Your Blood for the cleansing of my desecrated soul.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Mary, Mother of God, sacred temple of fragrance! Through Your prayers, make me a chosen vessel, so that I may partake of the holy things of Your Son.

Song 6
Irmos: Being in the abyss of sins, I call upon the incomprehensible abyss of Your mercy: “From destruction, O God, save me!”

Chorus: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Bow)

Sanctify my mind, soul and heart, Savior, as well as my body, and deign, O Master, to begin, without being condemned, the Terrible Mysteries.

Chorus: Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. (Bow)

May I be freed from suffering and may I receive an increase in Thy grace and strengthening of life through the communion of the saints, Christ, of Thy Mysteries.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

God, Holy Word of God! Through the prayers of Your holy Mother, sanctify me entirely, now approaching Your Divine mysteries.

Kontakion: Do not deprive me of the opportunity, Christ, to now accept bread - Your Body and Divine Blood: may the communion of Your most pure and terrible Mysteries not be a condemnation for me, the unfortunate one, Master, but may it be for me eternal and immortal life.

Song 7
Irmos: The wise children did not bow to the golden image, but they themselves went into the flames and mocked the pagan gods. In the midst of the flames they cried out, and the Angel sprinkled them with dew, saying: “The prayer of your lips is heard.”

Chorus: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Bow)

May the communion of Your immortal Mysteries, Christ, now be a source of blessings for me: light, life, dispassion, a means to success in the highest perfection and to its multiplication, the only Good One, so that I glorify You.

Chorus: Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. (Bow)

Approaching now with trepidation, love and reverence Your immortal and divine Mysteries, may I, Lover of Mankind, be delivered from suffering and enemies, from troubles and all sorrow. And deign me to sing to You: “Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our fathers!”

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

She gave birth to the Savior Christ incomprehensibly, blessed by God! I pray to You now, Thy servant, pure - unclean: who is now preparing to begin the most pure Mysteries, cleanse me entirely from the impurity of flesh and spirit.

Song 8
Irmos: Sing into the fiery furnace of the Jewish youths who descended and turned the flame into dew, praise His creations as the Lord and exalt them throughout all ages.

Chorus: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Bow)

Now grant me, the perishing one, Christ, to become a participant in Your Heavenly, terrible and holy Mysteries and Your Divine Last Supper, O God, my Savior!

Chorus: Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. (Bow)

Having resorted to Your mercy, O Most Gracious One, I cry out to You with fear: “Abide in me, O Savior, and let me abide in You, as You have said.” For behold, trusting in Your mercy, I eat Your body and drink Your blood.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

I tremble, accepting the fire, so as not to be burned like wax and like grass. O terrible mystery! O mercy of God! How do I, dust, partake of the divine Body and Blood and become immortal?

Song 9
Irmos: The Son of the beginningless Parent, God and Lord, incarnate from the Virgin, appeared to us to enlighten those in darkness and to gather the scattered. Therefore, we glorify the Mother of God, worthy of universal praise.

Chorus: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Bow)

Taste and see: Christ, the Good Lord, who for our sake once became like us and once offered Himself as a sacrifice to His Father, has since been constantly slain, sanctifying those who receive communion.

Chorus: Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. (Bow)

By the communion of the sacred Mysteries, may I be sanctified in soul and body, Master, may I be enlightened, may I be saved, may I become Your house, having You, O most merciful Benefactor, living in me with the Father and the Spirit.

Chorus: Restore to me the joy of hope for salvation through You and strengthen me with the sovereign Spirit. (Bow)
May Your Body and Most Precious Blood be to me, my Savior, a fire that burns the forest of sin and burns up the thorns of passions, a light that enlightens me all to worship Your Divinity.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

God became incarnate from Your pure blood. Therefore, all nations praise You, Lady, and hosts of spirits glorify, because through You they clearly saw the Lord of the universe in human nature.

End of prayers
It is truly worthy to glorify You as the Mother of God, always Blessed and Immaculate, and the Mother of our God. We magnify You as the true Mother of God, who gave birth without illness to God the Word, worthy of greater honor than the Cherubim, and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

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 the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.

Every believer must be in contact with God every second of his existence. This should be his goal and daily work, expressed in prayer. Many holy elders said that every appeal to the Creator should be accompanied by three prayers. The first is read as given by the Almighty, the second as gratitude to the Mother of God, and the third - for support in faith and Christian morals.

In order to make the path to God easier for believers, some holy people created special prayer rules that indicated when and where it was appropriate to read a particular prayer. Also, thanks to this list, one could find out how many times a day it is necessary to contact the Creator. Particular attention was paid to the days of church holidays and sacraments, requiring special spiritual preparation from the laity. The most famous is the prayer rule of Seraphim of Sarov for the laity, which we will tell you about today. In addition to this, in the article we will touch on some additional nuances of turning to God.

Prayerful work of the soul

Christianity takes daily prayer very seriously. The clergy instruct the flock, explaining to them that it is necessary to move towards God in small steps, but without stopping for a minute. Immediately after baptism, you should not rush headlong into reading religious books and actively attend all services in the church. This way you will not gain spiritual purity, but will only become confused in your feelings and sensations.

It is worth starting your movement towards God by studying the prayer rule, which will help you correctly put into words your spiritual impulse. Moreover, every church minister will say that you need to accustom yourself to prayer. Despite the daily rhythm of life, mood and fatigue, you need to force yourself to turn to God with gratitude and a request for protection. At first it will be quite difficult to do this, but gradually prayer will begin to bring joy and spiritual enlightenment.

At this stage, the believer can already say all the prayers from the prayer rule. And this work gives him an incredible feeling of unity with the Creator, who pushes him to further self-improvement. And over time, prayer begins to evoke such happiness that a special state of peace and tranquility descends on a person. Filled with such sensations, a believer can leave everyday activities in order to immediately turn to God.

It is precisely such religious feelings that push people to go to a monastery, because within its walls prayer takes on a completely different meaning - transformed into a single impulse of several souls, it becomes a real purification. Many holy elders say that it is for prayer that people go to the monastery. It becomes their reward, because with other ideas about God, few people will be able to endure the difficult everyday life of a monastery.

More than once in the article we have used such a phrase as “prayer rule.” Let's look at this church term in more detail.

Prayer rule for the laity: a brief description

Since it is quite difficult for lay people who have just come to faith to accustom themselves to daily prayer, special collections have been compiled that help to correctly calculate their strengths and turn to the Creator with a certain spiritual message.

Prayer rules were not invented overnight. Sometimes they were created by holy elders at the request of the laity, while others appeared in connection with various church rituals. Be that as it may, every Orthodox believer must adhere to certain regulations that allow him to cleanse himself as much as possible from everything worldly and vain in order to open his heart to his Creator.

Prayer rule of Seraphim of Sarov for the laity

It is worth noting that the holy elder considered communication with the Creator to be the first necessity for a Christian. It should be more important to him than food, water and air. No believer can imagine his life without prayer.

The elder himself spent most of his time in this activity and bequeathed such a pastime to his spiritual children. Sometimes he even demanded that his followers pray for many hours every day, and therefore he composed a rule for them to help them with their difficult spiritual work.

Morning

Seraphim of Sarov believed that the new day must be greeted with the sign of the cross and the fulfillment of the morning prayer rule. The elder argued that to pray, a Christian should stand near icons or in another place where nothing would distract him from communication with God.

The morning prayer rule includes three texts. Reading must be done in the following order:

• "Our Father";
• "Virgin Mother of God, rejoice";
• Symbol of faith.

Keep in mind that the first two texts must be read three times, but for the last prayer once is enough. After following the rules, a person can begin his daily activities and responsibilities.

Day

Seraphim of Sarov advised not to forget about the prayer rule during usual activities. In Russian, you can quietly read the Jesus Prayer. This allows you not to be distracted in your thoughts from communication with the Creator and makes it possible to correlate your thoughts with Christian virtues every second.

You should not start your lunch meal without repeating the morning ritual; only after it can you start eating.

Afternoon

According to the precepts of Seraphim of Sarov, an Orthodox believer cannot be distracted from prayer even after dinner. At this time it is better to read:

• “Lord Jesus Christ, through the Mother of God have mercy on me a sinner”;
• "Most Holy Mother of God, save me, a sinner."

The first of these texts is suitable for solitude, when you can completely devote yourself to turning to the Almighty. But the second one can be read while doing business until going to bed.

Prayers for evening time

Naturally, a Christian cannot calmly fall asleep without devoting time to his God. The evening prayer rule is identical to the morning one; all words must be said when you definitely will no longer be doing business. At the conclusion of the prayer, the believer makes the sign of the cross and can calmly go to bed.

It is interesting that it is customary for Christians to fall asleep only after turning to God, because in a dream a person can end his life’s journey, and there is nothing worse than appearing before the Creator unprepared. Therefore, believers end every day with prayer and repent of their sins. Only this characterizes the true relationship between the soul and the Almighty.

Communion: features of preparation

Communion is a special procedure that requires great labor and abstinence from the Orthodox. He must approach the sacrament prepared according to all the rules. They include a list of six points, which includes a prayer rule before Communion.

First of all, a Christian must keep himself physically and spiritually clean, and also observe fasting. Usually, preparation for the sacrament lasts several days; on the evening before Communion, it is necessary to take part in a church service, and read several prayers at night:

• penitential canon;
• prayer canon to the Mother of God;
• canon to the Guardian Angel;
• Follow-up to Holy Communion.

Do not forget that the listed texts are read several times in a row, and the Orthodox believer must be in an even mood and not harbor any grudges against anyone. Only in this state can one come to the sacrament.

Bright Week: the first days of Easter

Many Christians who have recently come to God are interested in the prayer rule for Bright Week. Lay people are often confused in the numerous rituals and ceremonies that accompany this or that church festival.

During this period, Christians must completely change the order of their previous prayers, because the prayer rule for Bright Week includes a fairly wide list of canons and chants. So, on the eve of the holiday (on the night of Easter), Orthodox Christians should read:

• Easter hours;
• "Christ is Risen";
• “Seeing the Resurrection of Christ”;
• Easter troparia;
• "Lord have mercy";
• "Christ is Risen" (again).

Keep in mind that the first song is sung for at least seven minutes. The Orthodox claim that during this time incredible grace descends on them. The second and third prayers are read three times, but the fifth must be said at least forty times.

From Easter to the Ascension of the Lord

The prayer rule for Easter means starting and ending the day with the troparion of Easter. It is necessary to read it three times, but more times will not be a violation - such is the impulse of your soul in honor of the bright holiday.

Also, the prayer rule for Easter includes the Trisagion. This prayer must be read at least three times.

From Ascension to Trinity

If you are not good at church holidays, then keep in mind that all days from the beginning of Easter to Trinity are considered holidays. Therefore, special prayers are read during this period. Of course, if you start and end your day with the usual appeal to the Almighty out of ignorance, then this will not be a serious deviation from the rules. However, it is best to observe a special prayer rule after Easter.

Each holiday that comes, the order in which the prayers are read changes. We have already covered the period from Easter to Ascension in the previous section. Now we need to talk about the prayer rule after Easter until Trinity.

During this period, which lasts ten days, the troparia to the Mother of God and the “Heavenly King, the Comforter” are not read. There is also a ban on bowing to the ground. Every day the clergy recommend starting with the Trisagion.

Optina elders

Many believers have heard about the prayer rule of the Optina elders. However, not every Christian understands who these holy people are and how effective their advice is in this or that life situation. Therefore, we decided to tell you a little about the Optina elders themselves.

So, Optina Pustyn is one of the most ancient monasteries in Russia. It is located near the Kaluga province, and the first mention of it dates back to the time of Boris Godunov.

Of course, the main value of the monastery were its monks, who quickly began to be called elders. All of them were not ordinary people, but had a number of characteristics that, during their lifetime, placed them on the same level as recognized Orthodox saints.

The following characteristics can be safely attributed to the peculiarities of the Optina elders:

• The gift of healing or predicting the future. Almost each of the elders had some kind of gift received from above. But most often these holy people predicted the future or healed seriously ill people. There are cases when they were even called sorcerers, but all their deeds were only with the blessing of God.
• Faith. Each of the elders stood firmly in faith no matter what happened in his life. This condition was one of the main ones for acceptance into the monastery, because only a true believer can help other people.
• Service. The entire life of the Optina elders was aimed at serving the Creator and the people. For them there was no concept of fatigue; everyone who needed help received it from the monks.
• Repentance for the sins of others. The fact is that the Optina elders took a vow of repentance for all Orthodox Christians in this world. People often came to the monastery for confession, talking about all their sins. The elders spent long hours atone for people’s misdeeds and then let them go with a pure soul and heart.

It is worth noting that people went to Optina Pustyn regardless of their social status and financial situation. And for every misfortune, the elders found words of consolation; they advised many pilgrims on certain prayer rules that turned out to be very effective.

Prayers from the Optina elders

The monks of the Optina Hermitage spent most of their time in prayer. Therefore, they had accumulated a sufficient number of prayer rules, which they shared with pilgrims.

For example, in the morning twenty-seven texts were required to be read. Among them we can especially highlight:

• Trisagion;
• Symbol of faith;
• prayer for the living;
• prayer for the dead;
• prayer to the Holy Trinity.

The Optina elders advised reading prayers once and in any order. The main attribute of turning to God is true faith and thirst for communication with the Almighty. Only in this case will prayer be effective and bring purification.

The monks of the Optina Hermitage shared prayer rules with pilgrims for any occasion. For example, in case of temptation it was necessary to read a psalm to David. And if you cannot attend church services for one reason or another, then you should read the following texts at home during the day:

• morning - twelve psalms, prayer to the Mother of God, daily akathist;
• evening prayer rule - the canon to the Guardian Angel, twelve psalms, chapters from the Gospel, the prayer “Loosen, leave”;
• for the coming sleep - the prayer “Everyday Confession”.

It is interesting that the Optina elders allowed some deviations from these regulations. They believed that, for certain reasons, the laity could become completely immersed in everyday affairs. This may be due to some serious problems or illness. However, after all problems are resolved, a Christian must return to his previous religious behavior and again devote time to communication with the Creator.

Conclusion

We hope that our article will be useful to you and you will be able to choose for yourself some kind of prayer rule that will gradually bring you closer to God. Of course, the prayers we have listed are not the only ones, and if desired, every Christian can find other religious texts, the reading of which will give him a feeling of grace and spiritual joy. Remember that it is this feeling that accompanies your daily appeal to the Almighty that indicates that you are doing the right thing and your prayer is heard. Many Christians consider it work, but in fact there is no greater joy than working with the name of God on your lips and for His glory. Don’t forget about daily prayer in the bustle of everyday life, and perhaps then the Lord will change your life.