Our Faith : Prayers
Prayer - Our Nativity Centerpiece
We don’t always realize that our commitment to daily morning and evening prayers has a residual effect on the rest of our day and night. This is also true of the cumulative effect of prayer on us if we sustain and even deepen our prayer rules in a consistent way over time. The fruit of consistency in prayer is the increased remembrance of God throughout the day.
Dec 2, 2010, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
Of Airports, Hospitals, and Psalms
Anger, fear, joy, confusion, delight, wonder, frustration, a hunger for meaning, a thirst for revenge - all these emotions, and more, are observable in the Book of Psalms. The psalm writers did not choke down these very real emotions or pretend they did not exist. Rather, they acknowledged their experiences, but, importantly, they acknowledged their experiences within the context of laying it out before God.
Aug 4, 2010, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
The Lord is my Shepherd
Psalm 23 (Psalm 22 in the Septuagint) is particularly dear to my heart, as it is sure to be to millions of people of faith. This psalm has a very human character and it applies to our own existential relationship with God the Creator Who brought us into being and makes provision for our everyday sustenance and spiritual wellbeing. Its teaching reminds us of that which is most essential in our lives, that we are God’s children and so we must love and trust in Him for all things both in the present and in the future.


Apr 20, 2010, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
Prayer & Life: Bringing Life to Deadness in Prayer
It is not a rare thing for zealous Christians to experience what the Church father call "dryness" in prayer. A daily rule of prayer requires effort and will, and these can be weakened by tiredness, and distracted by activity. Yet familiarity with prayers can often make them a mere set of words or - even worse - sounds.
Apr 19, 2010, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
"Lord, Teach Us to Pray!"
The truth is that while it would seem that prayer should be the most natural of things, it is often the most difficult - even for the Disciples of Christ! Talking with God sometimes seems like talking to someone that we are out with on a first date. We are awkward and seek carefully for the right words to try to impress and not offend - if we can find the words at all!


Feb 9, 2010, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
PrivatePrayer
There was a time when I read with great faithfulness all the prayers which the Church offers us in the morning, in the evening and on other occasions. But I could not always identify with them. They were prayers which were strange to me. I had not grown to that measure of faith or to that measure of love for my neighbour. There were passages in the prayers which I could say sincerely; but there were passages which I could not say.
Jan 12, 2010, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
Whose Life Is It Anyway?:
Why We Pray The Way We Pray
Now, imagine my even greater shock when I opened an Orthodox prayer-book for the first time. Again, I was confronted by the harshest self-criticism that I had ever seen. Men like St. Ephraim, who were holy and virtuous monks and are now glorified in Heaven were stating in their prayers how wretched and sinful they had been, and I, by extention, was saying the same thing by reading their prayers at my own little icon corner. Quite simply, I felt like a hypocrite.
Oct 22, 2009, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
An Aid to Prayer Some Thoughts on the Use of a Prayer Book
Many Protestants would argue that using a prayer book results in formal, ritualistic prayer and stifles a truly personal relationship with God. By contrast, some Orthodox are of the opinion that it is wrong to pray without a prayer book, that this can lead to spiritual presumption and deception. What, in fact, is the purpose and proper place of the prayer book in Orthodox practice?


Sep 22, 2009, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
"Prayer: the test, the source, the driving force... of all things"
Written prayers can be a font of wisdom and comfort. There are those, however, that do not feel that written prayers completely fit their personal "voice". For these people, spontaneous prayer is an important part of their personal devotions. There is nothing wrong with spontaneous prayer. The only caution with spontaneous prayer is that the content of such prayers must not contradict the beliefs and practices of the Orthodox Faith. For example, we would not pray that, after we die, God would reincarnate us as a better person, since we do not believe in reincarnation.

Sep 19, 2009, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
Saying the Jesus Prayer
There is no ascetic effort more difficult, more painful, than the effort to draw close to God, Sophrony tells us. When we begin to pray, we expend desire and effort. The results are up to God. Real prayer is a gift from God, not the payment for our perspiration. Prayer works in the Unseen Warfare as a power/gift from Jesus, given as a function of our ability to receive it. We increase our ability to receive by asking for the increase, and God grants it as He sees fit, in His tender, all sweet and merciful manner.
Aug 18, 2009, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
The Jesus Prayer
Numerous writers have mentioned the physical aspects of the prayer, the breathing exercises, the attention which is paid to the beating of the heart and a number of other minor features. The Philokalia is full of detailed instructions about the prayer of the heart, even with references to the Sufi technique. Ancient and modern Fathers have dealt with the subject, always coming to the same conclusion: never to attempt the physical exercises without strict guidance by a spiritual father.


Aug 5, 2009, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
Prayer. Private and in Church.
Today one can hear opinions such as it is better to pray by the prayer book and in the Church (because it is better to go by the way the Church shows us, rather than by the way that is invented by ourselves and that our personal prayer is not perfect because our heart is not clean, yet); or vice versa, that it is better to pray with our own words (because where is the sense in reading these repetitive prayers that are difficult to understand). In order to answer these questions, we have to analyze the experience of Church Prayer in Tradition, and to see what the Ecclesiastical, Liturgical Prayer is like.

Jul 8, 2009, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
Prayer: The Test of Everything
In the Orthodox Church we are taught that the life of faith is dependent upon progress in prayer. Those who grow in the grace of God thus do so because their prayer is genuine, while those who “lose their souls” do so only for one reason: because they refused to give themselves over to God in a life of prayer. St. Theophan the Recluse says, “Prayer is thus the test of everything, the source of everything and the director of everything; for if our prayer is right, then everything else will be right as well.”


Jun 22, 2009, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
Prayer for the Dead
Therefore, we see panikhidas and prayer at home for the dead are beneficial for them, as are good deeds done in their memory, such as alms or contributions to the church. But especially beneficial for them is commemoration at the Divine Liturgy. There have been many appearances of the dead and other occurrences which confirm how beneficial is the commemoration of the dead. Many who died in repentance, but who were unable to manifest this while they were alive, have been freed from tortures and have obtained repose.
Apr 28, 2009, 10:01

Our Faith : Prayers
Why We Pray For The Dead
Just as we love and respect our living brethren, so do we love and respect those of our brethren who have departed this life. We express our love for our departed friends and relatives through prayer. Just as we pray for the living that the Grace of God may be upon them, so do we pray for the dead that they may become worthy of the vision of God.
Apr 28, 2009, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
On the Importance of Prayer
We are often very successful at learning highly complex subject-matters, mastering very sophisticated skills, and becoming experts in our area of work or study. Yet, when it comes to prayer, too many Christians spend very little time and effort to learn about it and to practice it. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that among the multitude of very accomplished experts on a variety of subjects that attend our churches, very few are experts in prayer.
Mar 15, 2009, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
Mental Imagery in Eastern Orthodox Private Devotion
Unlike Roman Catholicism, the Orthodox Tradition does not encourage the use of mental imagery. In fact, it almost appears to forbid sensory imagination during prayer altogether. In the words of one of the contemporary Orthodox elders, Abbot Nikon (Vorobyev), “that, which sternly, decisively, with threats and imploring is forbidden by the Eastern Fathers—Western ascetics strive to acquire through all efforts and means”
Mar 13, 2009, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
The Great Prayer of St Ephraim the Syrian & The Moral Person
Instead, giving in to the spirit of idle talk, we speak to make ourselves look better, which leads us to be judgmental and slanderous. We live in an age of unprecedented, unbridled, unadulterated idle talk. The modern person fills the hours with radio, television, phone, internet, and gossip. The moral person should practice self-criticism, examination of conscious, and silence.

Mar 4, 2009, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
His Holiness Patriarch Pavel - ON PRAYER
There is nothing more precious in man’s life than prayer. It makes the impossible, possible; it makes the difficult, easy; the uncomfortable, it makes comfortable. Prayer is as important to man’s soul as breathing. Who does not pray is deprived of conversation with God and is similar to the tree that bears no fruit and is cut and cast into the fire (Matt. 7:19).


Jan 9, 2009, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
Ten Steps To A Better Prayer Life
Build On What You Already Have: If you already have a routine, build on it. If, for example, you pray before you go to sleep, it will be easier to read a chapter from the Bible before your bedtime prayers, than to set up some time during the day to read.
Jan 1, 2009, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
On prayer and emotion
When reading prayers, we should try to feel the words of prayer as if they were our own. This way we assimilate the prayerful spirit of the prayer's authors. We can then keep those positive feelings long after we finished reading the words of prayers. The feelings become a support in our struggles throughout the day.

Sep 28, 2008, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
On Personal Prayer
The purpose of prayer is not to ask favors of God but to unite our lives with Him. For this purpose prayer with the Church and private prayer are both important. Some people imagine that because they go to Church they don't need to pray at home, or vice versa.
Sep 23, 2008, 10:00

Our Faith : Prayers
TALKS WITH ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS: On Reluctance to Pray
Most of us have encountered the Rampart of Reluctance - towering hundreds of feet high, cutting off all reason and light, and winding into the distance like the Great Wall of China. Looming over us, it threatens imminent collapse if we attempt to scale it. The stones themselves cry out, "I can’t pray…. I’m too tired, too bored, too busy, too late, too many children!… Just let me finish my novel!…" Suspecting that this dilemma may not be confined to the English-speaking world, we decided to ask Russian Christians about their own prayers, and how they go about dismantling this masterpiece of masonry.
Jul 29, 2008, 10:03

Our Faith : Prayers
Because if it’s in the mind it’s also in the heart. An interview on prayer
Standing in the doorway before the Great Lent, we search for some guidance, for some way to start this thorny and blessed journey with Christ. A way to seek him and words to show us the way. Elder Dionysius (Ignat) of the St. George Kellion (Mt. Athos, Greece) answers questions of the most important kind (about prayer) during Lent.
Feb 17, 2007, 21:28

Our Faith : Prayers
Morning Prayers
Having risen from sleep, before all else stand reverently as if before God Who seeth all things. Having made the sign of the cross, say: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Oct 22, 2005, 02:26

Our Faith : Prayers
Evening Prayers

Oct 22, 2005, 02:20

Our Faith : Prayers
Prayer And Life
I have to speak about prayer and action, but I should particularly like to talk to you about prayer, or rather about the aspect of that complex situation which is both prayer and action, and is constantly revealed in effective thinking, in a life grounded in the deepest possible reflection and a truly lucid understanding of the situations in which we live.
Jun 7, 2005, 00:43

Our Faith : Prayers
Some Orthodox Prayers
The following are some good basic "training prayers" for children, but can't replace a good Orthodox prayer book. And remember, that the Troparia and Kontakia for the feasts (usually listed in the back of your Liturgy book) may also be used in personal prayers!
May 19, 2005, 23:17

Our Faith : Prayers
Prayer And Life
First, I would like to say a few words on the relation that exists, between life and prayer. All too often the life we lead attests against the prayer we offer, and it is only when we have managed to harmonize the terms of our prayer with our way of life that our prayer acquires the strength, the splendour and the efficacy which we expect it to yield.
Jan 11, 2005, 00:40

Our Faith : Prayers
Prayer in the Spirit
We may not pray in tongues, or prophesy, or perform astonishing miracles. But insofar as we remain open to the inner working of the Spirit, allowing Him to intercede for us “with sighs too deep for words,” we can be sure that our prayer is real and genuine, that it is heard and welcomed by God. Then, in rare moments, by the illumination of that same Spirit we can actually “behold Christ,” the Image, and through that illumination find ourselves led into an intense and joy-filled communion with the Father.
Dec 31, 2004, 11:18