The evening rule for a dream to come read. Evening prayers to the Lord for the coming sleep

How to pray and what mistakes to avoid
Prayer Rule
What prayers should the prayer rule of a layman consist of?
When to Practice Your Prayer Rule
How to prepare for prayer
How to make your prayer rule at home
What to do when scattering in prayer
How to end your prayer rule
How to Learn to Spend Your Day Prayerfully
How to Force Yourself to Pray
What you need for successful prayer

How to pray and what mistakes to avoid.

In order to express to God our reverence for Him and reverence for Him, we stand during prayer, and do not sit: only the sick and the very old are allowed to pray while sitting.
Aware of our sinfulness and unworthiness before God, we, as a sign of our humility, accompany our prayer with bows. They are waist, when we bend to the waist, and earthly, when, bowing and kneeling, we touch the ground with our head *.
The law of god

[*] On Sundays, as well as from St. Easter until the evening of St. Trinity, as well as from the day of the Nativity of Christ to the day of Baptism, also on the day of the Transfiguration and Exaltation (on this day only three bows to the earth are supposed to be done before the cross), Sts. the apostles completely forbade kneeling and bowing to the ground ... for Sundays and other Lord's feasts contain memories of reconciliation with God, according to the apostle's words: "Bring a slave already, but a son" (Gal. 4: 7); it is not for sons to do slavish worship.

The sign of the cross, according to the teachings of the holy fathers, should be performed as follows: folding the right hand with three fingers, lay it on the forehead, on the belly, on the right shoulder and on the left, and then, putting the sign of the cross on themselves, they bend over. About those who signify themselves with all fives or bow before completing the cross, or wave in the air or across their chest, it is said in Chrysostom: “the demons rejoice at this frantic waving”. On the contrary, the sign of the cross, performed earnestly with faith and reverence, frightens demons, calms sinful passions and attracts divine grace. Orthodox prayer book

The first three fingers folded together (thumb, index and middle) express our faith in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, as the Consubstantial and indivisible Trinity, and two fingers bent to the palm mean that the Son of God after His descent to earth , being God, became a man, that is, His two natures mean - Divine and human.
Covering ourselves with the sign of the cross, we put our folded fingers on the forehead - to sanctify our mind, on the belly (belly) - to sanctify our inner feelings, then on the right and left shoulders - to sanctify our bodily powers.
It is necessary to overshadow oneself with the sign of the cross, or be baptized: at the beginning of prayer, during prayer and at the end of prayer, as well as when approaching all that is holy: when we enter the temple, when we kiss the cross, to icons, and in all important cases of our life : in danger, in grief, in joy, etc.
The law of god

When starting to prayer, one must always sober up one's thoughts, distract them from earthly affairs and interests, and for this one must calmly stand, sit or walk around the room. Then think about whom he intends to stand before and to whom to turn, so that there is a feeling of humility and self-abasement. After that, one should put a few bows and begin prayers, slowly, delving into the meaning of each word and bringing them to the heart. When you read, the holy fathers teach: cleanse us from all filth, - feel your filth; you read: forgive us our debts, as if we are leaving our debtors, - forgive everyone in your soul, but with your heart ask yourself for forgiveness from the Lord, etc. the order of thoughts in prayer. This order was once revealed by an angel to a holy monk (Lev. 28, 7). The beginning of the prayer should consist of praise to God, of thanksgiving for His innumerable blessings; then we must bring God a sincere confession of our sins in contrition of heart and, in conclusion, we can express with great humility our petitions for the needs of the soul and body, leaving reverently the fulfillment and non-fulfillment of these petitions to His will. Each such prayer will leave a trail of prayer in the soul; its daily continuation will root prayer, and patience, without which nothing can be achieved in life, will undoubtedly instill a prayer spirit. Schmch. Met. Serafim Chichagov

Man looks on the face, God looks on the heart (1 Kings 16: 7); but in a person the disposition of the heart is most consistent with the position of his face, his appearance. And therefore, during prayer, put your body in the most reverent position. Stand, like a condemned man, with a drooping head, not daring to gaze at the sky, with your hands down ... Let the sound of your voice be the pitiful sound of crying, a groan wounded by a deadly weapon or tormented by a fierce disease. St. Ignatiy Bryanchaninov

When praying, do everything wisely. When you pour oil into the lamp, then imagine that the Life-Giver every day and hour, every minute of your life supports your life with His Spirit, and, as it were, every day through a bodily sleep, and through prayer and the word of God in a spiritual sense, he pours the oil of life into you. that burns your soul and body. When you put a candle in front of an icon, remember that your life is like a burning candle: it will burn out and go out; or that others make it burn faster than it should, with passions, food, wine and other pleasures. St. right. John of Kronstadt

Standing before the icon of the Savior, stand, as it were, before the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, omnipresent in Divinity, and His icon present in the place where it is. Standing before the icon of the Mother of God, stand, as it were, before the Most Holy Virgin Herself; but keep your mind formless: the greatest difference is to be in the presence of the Lord and to stand before the Lord, or to imagine the Lord.
The elders said: do not want to see Christ or the angel sensually, lest you finally go mad, having accepted a wolf instead of a shepherd and worshiping your enemies, demons.
Only the holy saints of God, renewed by the Holy Spirit, ascend into the supernatural state. A person, before his renewal by the Holy Spirit, is incapable of communion with holy spirits. He, being still in the realm of the fallen spirits, in captivity and in bondage with them, is able to see only them, and they often, noticing in him a high opinion of themselves and self-deception, appear to him in the form of bright angels, in the form of Christ Himself, for the destruction of his soul.
St. Ignatiy Bryanchaninov

When you pray, pay attention to yourself, so that your inner person is praying, and not only the outer one. Although he is sinful without measure, all pray. Do not look at the devil's incitement, guile and despair, but overcome and conquer his wiles. Remember the abyss of humanity and mercy Spasov. The devil will present to you the face of the Lord as formidable and unmerciful, rejecting your prayer and your repentance, and you remember the words of the Savior, filled for us with all hope and boldness: I will not be rid of the one who comes to Me (John 6:37), and - come to Me. all who are weary and burdened with sins and iniquities, and the devil's wiles and slander, and I will give you rest (Matt. 11, 28). St. right. John of Kronstadt

Read the prayers slowly, listen to every word - bring the thought of every word to your heart, otherwise: understand what you are reading and feel what you understand. This is the whole matter of pleasing God and fruitful reading of the prayer. St. Theophan the Recluse

Ask for what is worthy of God, keep asking until you get it. Although a month, and a year, and three years, and more years will pass, until you receive it, do not retreat, but ask in faith, constantly doing good. St. Basil the Great

Do not be reckless in your petitions, so as not to anger God with your weakness: he who asks the King of kings for something insignificant humiliates Him. The Israelites, disregarding the miracles of God, performed for them in the wilderness, asked for the wishes of the womb to be fulfilled - and I still am screaming at their mouths, the wrath of God came up against her (Ps. 77: 30-31). He who seeks in his prayer the perishable earthly blessings arouses the indignation of the Heavenly King against himself. Angels and archangels - these nobles of His - look at you during your prayer, looking at what you ask of God. They are surprised and rejoiced when they see an earthly person who has left his land and brings a petition to receive something heavenly; they grieve, on the contrary, over the one who has left heavenly things unheeded, and who asks for his earth and corruption. St. Ignatiy Bryanchaninov

When praying to the Lord, the Mother of God or the saints, always remember what the Lord gives according to your heart (the Lord will give you according to your heart - Psalm 19: 5), what the heart is, such is the gift; if you pray with faith, sincerely, with all your heart, without hypocrisy, then in accordance with your faith, the degree of fervor of your heart, you will be given a gift from the Lord. And vice versa, the colder your heart is, the less faithful it is, the more hypocritical, the more useless your prayer, moreover, the more it makes the Lord angry ... Therefore, whether you call on the Lord, the Mother of God, angels or saints, call with all your heart; whether you pray for any of the living or the dead, pray for them with all your heart, pronouncing their names with warmth of heart; whether you are praying for the granting of yourself or another of any spiritual blessing, or for the deliverance of yourself or your neighbor from any calamity or from sins and passions, bad habits, pray about it from the bottom of your heart, wishing with all your heart yourself or someone else the requested good, having a firm intention to lag behind, or wanting others to free themselves from sins, passions and sinful habits, and a gift according to your heart will be given to you from the Lord. St. right. John of Kronstadt

The beginning of prayer is to drive away incoming thoughts at their very appearance; the middle of it is that the mind is contained in the words that we utter or think; and the perfection of prayer is admiration for the Lord. Venerable John Climacus

What is continuous prayer for? In order to warm up our cold, tempered hearts in a prolonged bustle with the duration of fervent prayer. For it is strange to think, all the more to demand that a heart matured in the bustle of life could soon be imbued with the warmth of faith and love for God during prayer. No, this requires labor and labor, time and time. St. right. John of Kronstadt

Dwelling in prayer for a long time, and not seeing the fruit, do not say: I have not gained anything. For the very being in prayer is already an acquisition; And what good is higher than this, to cleave to the Lord and to abide unceasingly in union with Him? Venerable John Climacus

At the end of the morning and evening prayers at home, call on the saints: patriarchs, prophets, apostles, saints, martyrs, confessors, saints, abstainers or ascetics, unmercenaries, so that, seeing in them the fulfillment of every virtue, and himself become an imitator in every virtue. Learn from the patriarchs children's faith and obedience to the Lord; among the prophets and apostles - zeal for the glory of God and for the salvation of human souls; among the saints - zeal to preach the word of God and, in general, through the scriptures, contribute to the possible glorification of the name of God, to the establishment of faith, hope and love in Christians; among martyrs and confessors - firmness for faith and piety before unbelieving and wicked people; among the ascetics - the timetable of the flesh with passions and lusts, prayer and contemplation of God; among the unmercenaries - non-covetousness and gratuitous help to those in need.

When we call on the saints in prayer, then to pronounce their name from the heart means to bring them closer to our very heart. Then undoubtedly ask for their prayers and intercession for themselves - they will hear you and present your prayer to the Master soon, in the blink of an eye, like the Omnipresent and all Leading. St. right. John of Kronstadt

Once the brethren asked Abba Agathon: What virtue is the most difficult of all? He replied, “Forgive me, I think the hardest thing is to pray to God. When a person wants to pray, the enemies try to distract him, because they know that nothing opposes them as much as praying to God. In any heroic deed, no matter what a person undertakes, he receives comfort after intense labor, and prayer until the last minute of life requires a struggle. " Venerable Abba Agathon

Prayer Rule.

What is a prayer rule? These are prayers that a person reads regularly, every day. The prayer rule is different for everyone. For some, the morning or evening rule takes several hours, for others, a few minutes. It all depends on the spiritual constitution of a person, on the degree of his rootedness in prayer and on what time he has.
It is very important that a person fulfills the prayer rule, even the shortest one, so that there is regularity and constancy in prayer. But the rule should not turn into a formality. The experience of many believers shows that with the constant reading of the same prayers, their words fade, lose their freshness, and a person, getting used to them, ceases to focus on them. This danger must be avoided by all means.
I remember when I took monastic tonsure (I was twenty years old then), I turned to an experienced confessor for advice and asked him what prayer rule I should have. He said: "You must read the morning and evening prayers daily, three canons and one akathist. Whatever happens, even if you are very tired, you must read them. And even if you read them hastily and inattentively, it does not matter, the main thing is - for the rule to be subtracted. " I tried. It didn't work out. The daily recitation of the same prayers led to the fact that these texts quickly became boring. In addition, every day I spent many hours in the church at the services that spiritually nourished me, nourished, inspired me. And the reading of the three canons and the akathist turned into some kind of unnecessary "appendage". I started looking for another piece of advice that was more suitable for me. And he found it in the works of St. Theophan the Recluse, a remarkable ascetic of the 19th century. He advised the prayer rule to count not by the number of prayers, but by the time that we are ready to devote to God. For example, we can make it a rule to pray in the morning and in the evening for half an hour, but this half hour must be completely devoted to God. And it is not so important whether we read all the prayers during these minutes, or just one, or maybe we will devote one evening entirely to reading the Psalter, the Gospel or prayer in our own words. The main thing is that we are focused on God, so that our attention does not slip away and that every word reaches our hearts. This advice worked for me. However, I do not exclude that the advice I received from a spiritual father would be more suitable for others. Much depends on the individual's personality.
It seems to me that for a person living in the world, not only fifteen, but even five minutes of morning and evening prayer, if, of course, it is pronounced with attention and feeling, is enough to be a real Christian. It is only important that the thought always corresponds to the words, the heart answers the words of the prayer, and the whole life corresponds to the prayer.
Try, following the advice of St. Theophan the Recluse, to set aside some time for prayer during the day and for the daily fulfillment of the prayer rule. And you will see that it will bear fruit very soon.

What prayers should the prayer rule of a layman consist of?

The prayer rule of the layman consists of morning and evening prayers, which are performed daily. This rhythm is necessary, because otherwise the soul easily falls out of the prayer life, as if waking up only from time to time. In prayer, as in any big and difficult task, inspiration, mood and improvisation alone are not enough.

There are three basic prayer rules:
1) a complete prayer rule, designed for monks and spiritually experienced laymen, which is published in the Orthodox Prayer Book;
2) a short prayer rule designed for all believers; in the morning: "Heavenly King", Trisagion, "Our Father", "Virgin Mary", "Rise from sleep", "Have mercy on me, God", "I believe", "God, cleanse", "To You, Master", " Holy Angel "," Most Holy Lady ", invocation of the saints, prayer for the living and the dead; in the evening: "Heavenly King", Trisagion, "Our Father", "Have mercy on us, Lord", "Eternal God", "Blessed Tsar", "Angel of Christ", from "The Chosen Voevoda" to "It is worthy to eat"; these prayers are contained in any prayer book;
3) a short prayer rule of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov: three times "Our Father", three times "Virgin Mary" and once "I Believe" - for those days and circumstances when a person is in extreme fatigue or very limited in time.

The duration of prayers, their number are determined by spiritual fathers, priests, taking into account the lifestyle of each and his spiritual experience.

You cannot completely omit the prayer rule. Even if the prayer rule is read without due attention, the words of the prayers, penetrating into the soul, have their cleansing effect.

Saint Theophan writes to one family person: “In case you need to be able to shorten the rule. You never know accidents in family life. When things do not allow you to complete a completely prayer rule, then do it in abbreviated form.

And you should never rush ... The rule is not an essential part of prayer, but there is only its outer side. But the main thing is - the prayer of the mind and heart to God, exalted with praise, thanksgiving and supplication ... and finally with surrender to the Lord entirely. When there are such movements in the heart, there is also prayer, and when not, there is no prayer, even if you have stood for whole days on the rule. "

A special prayer rule is performed during the preparation for the Sacraments of confession and communion. On these days (they are called retreats and last at least three days), it is customary to more diligently fulfill their prayer rule: whoever usually does not read all morning and evening prayers, let him read everything completely, those who do not read the canons, let him read at least on one canon. On the eve of communion, one must be at the evening service and read at home, in addition to the usual prayers for the coming sleep, the canon of penitence, the canon of the Mother of God and the canon of the Guardian Angel. The canon for communion is also read and, if anyone wishes, an akathist to Jesus the Sweetest. In the morning, morning prayers are read and all the followings to Holy Communion are read.

During the retreat, the prayers are especially long, for, as the holy righteous John of Kronstadt writes, “in order to disperse our cold, tempered hearts in a long bustle with the duration of fervent prayer. For it is strange to think, all the more to demand that a heart matured in the bustle of life could soon be imbued with the warmth of faith and love for God during prayer. No, it takes work and time. The Kingdom of Heaven is taken by force, and those who use force delight it (Matt. 11, 12). The Kingdom of God does not come soon to the heart, when people run away from it so zealously. The Lord God Himself has expressed His will so that we pray not briefly, when he presents as an example a widow who went to the judge for a long time and crawled (for a long time), bothering him with her requests (Luke 18, 2-6) ”.

When to practice your prayer rule.

In the conditions of modern life, given the workload and accelerated pace, it is not easy for the laity to set aside a certain time for prayer. You need to develop strict rules for prayer discipline and strongly adhere to your prayer rule.
Morning prayers are best read before starting any business. In extreme cases, they are pronounced on the way from home. Evening prayer rule prayer teachers recommend reading in free minutes before dinner or even earlier - late at night it is often difficult to concentrate due to fatigue.

How to prepare for prayer.

The main prayers that make up the morning and evening rules should be known by heart, so that they penetrate deeper into the heart and so that they can be repeated in any circumstances. First of all, in your free time, it is advisable to read the prayers included in your rule, to translate the text of the prayers for yourself from Church Slavonic into Russian, in order to understand the meaning of each word and not utter a single word meaninglessly or without precise comprehension. This is advised by the Church Fathers. “Work,” writes the Monk Nikodim Svyatorets, “not at the hour of prayer, but at another, free time, to ponder and feel the prayers. Having done this, even during prayer you will not find any difficulty in reproducing the content of the prayer being read. "

It is very important that those who begin prayer should drive out resentment, irritation, and bitterness from the heart. Saint Tikhon Zadonsky teaches: "Before praying, you need not be angry with anyone, not be angry, but leave any offense so that God himself will forsake sins."

“When approaching the Benefactor, be yourself beneficent; approaching the Good, be good yourself; approaching the Righteous, be yourself righteous; when approaching the Patient, be patient yourself; when approaching the Humanitarian, be humane; and also be to everyone else, approaching the Good-hearted, the Benevolent, the Sociable in blessings, the Merciful of everyone, and if anything else is seen of the Divine, becoming like in all this willfulness, acquire thereby for yourself the boldness to pray, "writes St. Gregory of Nyssa ...

How to make your prayer rule at home.

During prayer, it is recommended to retire, light an icon lamp or a candle and stand in front of the icon. Depending on the nature of the family relationship, it is possible to recommend reading the prayer rule together, with the whole family, or each family member separately. Common prayer is recommended primarily on solemn days, before a festive meal and on other similar occasions. Family prayer is a kind of church, public prayer (a family is a kind of home church) and therefore does not replace individual prayer, but only complements it.

Before starting the prayer, you should overshadow yourself with the sign of the cross and make several bows, belt or earth, and try to tune in to an internal conversation with God. “Wait in silence, until the senses subside, put yourself in the presence of God up to His consciousness and feelings with reverent Fear and raise up in your heart a living faith that God hears and sees you,” reads the beginning of the prayer book. Saying prayers aloud or in an undertone helps many people to concentrate.

“Getting down to prayer,” advises St. Theophan the Recluse, “in the morning or in the evening, wait a little, or sit, or walk, and at this time take the trouble to sober up the thought, distracting it from all earthly affairs and objects. Then, think about who is the One to whom you will turn in prayer, and who you are, who now have to begin this prayer to Him - and awaken in your soul the corresponding mood of self-deprecating and reverential fear of the immersion in the heart of God. This is the whole preparation - to stand reverently before God - small but not insignificant. Here the beginning of prayer is supposed, but a good beginning is half of the work.

So having settled down internally, then stand in front of the icon and, after putting down a few bows, begin the usual prayer: "Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee," "Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth," and so on. Read slowly, grasp every word, and bring the thought of every word to your heart, accompanying it with bows. This is the whole matter of reading a prayer that is pleasing to God and fruitful. Perceive every word and thought of a word to your heart, otherwise - understand what you are reading and feel what is understandable. No other rules are required. These two - understand and feel - properly performed, adorn any prayer with full dignity and impart to it all fruitful action. You read: “cleanse us from all filthiness” - feel your filthiness, desire purity and hopefully seek it from the Lord; with a heart that has forgiven everyone, ask the Lord for your forgiveness. You read: “Thy will be done” - and in your heart completely surrender to the Lord your fate and express an unquestioning readiness to meet with complacency everything that the Lord will please you to send.

If you act in this way with every verse of your prayer, you will have proper prayer. "

In another of his exhortations, Saint Theophan summarizes the advice for reading the prayer rule in the following way:
a) never read hastily, but read as if in a chant ... In ancient times, all prayers read were taken from the psalms ... But nowhere do I meet the word "read", but everywhere "sing" ...
b) delve into every word and not only reproduce the thought of what is being read in consciousness, but also excite the corresponding feeling ...
c) in order to catch the urge for a hasty reading, put it down - either to read it or to read it, but to stand at the reading prayer for a quarter of an hour, half an hour, an hour ... how much you usually stand ... and then do not worry ... how many prayers you will read, - and when the time has come, if there is no desire to stand further, stop reading ...
d) putting this, however, do not look at the clock, but stand like this so that you can stand endlessly: thought will not run ahead ...
e) in order to facilitate the movement of prayer feelings in your free time, re-read and change your mind all the prayers that are included in your rule - and feel them so that when you begin to read them on the rule, you know in advance what feeling should be aroused in your heart .. ...
f) never read without a break in prayer, but always interrupt them with your own personal prayer, with bows, whether in the middle of the prayers you have to do it or at the end. As soon as something falls into your heart, immediately stop reading and bow down. This last rule is the most necessary and most necessary for the upbringing of the spirit of prayer ... If any other feeling takes a lot, you and be with him and bow down, and leave reading ... so until the very end of the allotted time.

What to do when scattering in prayer.

For a long time, the prayer was recommended to be read slowly, evenly, in order to "enclose attention in words." Only when the prayer that you want to bring to God is meaningful enough and means a lot to yourself, you will be able to “reach out” to the Lord. If you are inattentive to the words you utter, if your own heart does not respond to the words of prayer, your requests will not reach God.
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh said that his father, when he started to pray, hung a sign on the door: “I am at home. But do not try to knock, I will not open. " Vladyka Anthony himself advised his parishioners, before starting to pray, to consider how much time they have, set the alarm clock and pray calmly until it rings. “It doesn't matter,” he wrote, “how many prayers you manage to read during this time; it is important that you read them without being distracted by anything or thinking about the time. "

It is very difficult to pray. Prayer is primarily a spiritual work, therefore one should not expect immediate spiritual delight from it. “Do not seek pleasure in prayer,” writes Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov), “they are by no means characteristic of a sinner. The sinner's desire to feel pleasure is already self-delusion ... Do not seek prematurely high spiritual states and prayerful raptures. "
As a rule, attention to words, prayer can be held for several minutes, and then thoughts begin to wander, the eye slides over the words of the prayer - and our hearts and minds are far away.
If someone prays to the Lord, but thinks about something else, then the Lord will not listen to such a prayer, ”writes the Monk Silouan the Athonite.
At these moments, the Church Fathers advise to be especially careful. Saint Theophan the Recluse writes that we must prepare in advance for the fact that when reading prayers we are scattered, often mechanically read the words of a prayer. “When during prayer the thought runs away - return it. Run away again - return again. So every time. Every time, what will be read during the running away of thought and, therefore, without attention and feeling, do not forget to re-read. And even if your thought ran off several times in one place, read it several times until you read it with a concept and feeling. Once you overcome this difficulty, the next time, it may not be repeated, or it will not be repeated in such force.
If during the reading of the canon a prayer breaks through in your own words, then, as the Monk Nicodemus says, "not allowing this occasion to pass by for a fleeting moment, but stop at it."
We find the same thought in St. Theophan: “Another word will have such a strong effect on the soul that the soul will not want to extend further in prayer, and although the language reads prayers, and thought all runs back to the place that had such an effect on her. In this case, stop, do not read further, but stand with attention and feeling in that place, feed your soul with them, or with those thoughts that it will generate. And do not rush to tear yourself away from this state, so if time is pressing, leave the unfinished rule, and do not ruin this state. It will overshadow you, maybe all day, like a Guardian Angel! Such beneficial effects on the soul during prayer mean that the spirit of prayer begins to take root and that, consequently, the preservation of this state is the most reliable means of educating and strengthening the prayer spirit in us. "

How to end your prayer rule.

It is good to end the prayer with thanksgiving to God for the bestowed fellowship and contrition for your inattention.
“When you finish your prayer, do not immediately move on to your own activities, but also, at least a little, wait and think that this has been done by you and what it obliges you to do, trying, if it is given to feel something during prayer, to preserve it after prayers, ”writes St. Theophan the Recluse. "Do not immediately rush into everyday affairs," teaches the Monk Nicodemus, "and never think that having completed your prayer rule, you have finished everything in relation to God."
When getting down to business, you must first think about what you have to say, do, see during the day, and ask God for blessings and strength to follow His will.

How to learn to spend the day in prayer.

After finishing the morning prayers, we should not think that everything is fulfilled in relation to God, and only in the evening, during the evening ritual, should we return to prayer.
The good feelings that arose during the morning prayers will be drowned out in the hustle and bustle of the day. Because of this, there is no desire to stand for evening prayer.
We must try to do so that the soul turns to God not only when we stand in prayer, but also throughout the day.

Here is how St. Theophan the Recluse advises to study this:
“First, it is necessary during the day to often cry out to God from the heart in short words, judging by the need of the soul and current deeds. You start by saying, for example, "God bless!" When you finish the job, say: "Glory to you, Lord!", And not only with your tongue, but also with the feeling of your heart. What passion will rise, say: "Save, Lord, I am perishing!" The darkness finds embarrassing thoughts, cry out: "Bring my soul out of prison!" Wrong deeds are coming and sin attracts them, pray: "Instruct me, Lord, on the way" or "Do not give my feet into confusion." Sins suppress and lead to despair, cry out in a publican's voice: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." So in any case. Or just often say: “Lord, have mercy; Lady Mother of God, have mercy on me. To the angel of God, my holy guardian, protect me, ”- or in whatever other word call out. Only make these appeals as often as possible, doing your best so that they come out of the heart, as if squeezed out of it. When you do this, we will often make intelligent ascents to God from our hearts, frequent appeals to God, frequent prayer, and this increase will impart the skill of an intelligent interview with God.
But in order for the soul to cry in this way, one must first force it to turn everything to the glory of God, every work of its own, great and small. And this is the second way how to teach the soul to turn to God more often during the day. For if we make it a law to fulfill this apostolic commandment, so that we do everything for the glory of God, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, you do everything to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31), then we will certainly remember about every deed. God, and remember not just, but with caution, how not to act in any case wrong and not offend God in any way. This will cause fear to turn to God and prayerfully ask for help and admonition. As we almost incessantly do something, we will almost incessantly turn to God in prayer, and, therefore, almost continuously go through the science of prayer in the soul to God.
But in order for the soul to fulfill this, that is, doing everything for the glory of God, as it should, it is necessary to tune it to this from early morning - from the very beginning of the day, before a person leaves for his work and for his work until evening. This mood is produced by the thought of God. And this is the third way of teaching the soul to turn to God frequently. Divine contemplation is a reverent meditation on Divine properties and actions and on what their knowledge and their relation to us obliges us, this meditation on the goodness of God, justice, wisdom, great power, omnipresence, omniscience, on creation and providence, on the dispensation of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ, about the goodness and word of God, about the holy sacraments, about the Kingdom of Heaven.
Which of these subjects do not begin to ponder, this meditation will certainly fill the soul with a reverent feeling for God. Begin to meditate, for example, on the goodness of God, and you will see that you are surrounded by the mercies of God both physically and spiritually, and unless you are a stone, so as not to fall before God in an outpouring of humiliated feelings of thanksgiving. Begin to reflect on the omnipresence of God - you will understand that you are everywhere before God and God is before you, and you cannot but be filled with reverential fear. Begin to meditate on the omniscience of God - you will realize that nothing in you is hidden from the eye of God, and you will certainly put yourself to be strictly attentive to the movements of your heart and mind, so as not to offend the all-seeing God in some way. Begin to reason about the truth of God, and you will be sure that not a single bad deed will remain unpunished, and you will certainly set aside to cleanse all your sins with heartfelt contrition and repentance before God. So, no matter what property and action of God you begin to argue about, any such meditation will fill the soul with feelings and dispositions reverent for God. It directs the entire being of man directly to God and is therefore the most direct means to accustom the soul to ascend to God.
The most decent, convenient time for this is morning, when the soul is not yet burdened with many impressions and business worries, and that is - after the morning prayer. Finish your prayer, sit down and, with a thought consecrated in prayer, begin to think now about one thing, tomorrow about another God's property and action, and create a disposition in your soul corresponding to this. “Go,” said Saint Demetrius of Rostov, “go, holy thought of God, and let us immerse ourselves in meditation on the great deeds of God,” and he passed through the thought of either the works of creation and providence, or the miracles of the Lord Savior, or His suffering, or something else, which touched those hearts his own and began to pour out his soul in prayer. Anyone can do this. There is not much work, only desire and determination are needed; but there is a lot of fruit.
So here are three ways, how, apart from the prayer rule, to teach the soul to ascend prayerfully to God, namely: to devote a few time in the morning to contemplation of God, to turn every business to the glory of God and often turn to God with short appeals.
When the thought of God is done well in the morning, it will leave a deep mood for thinking about God. Thinking about God will force the soul to carefully perform every action, both internal and external, and convert it to the glory of God. Both will put the soul in such a position that prayer appeals to God will often come out of it.
These three - the thought of God, all for the glory of God, creation and frequent appeals are the most effective instruments of intelligent and heartfelt prayer. Each of them lifts the soul to God. Whoever has set out to exercise them will soon acquire the skill of ascending to God in his heart. This labor is like climbing a mountain. The higher someone climbs the mountain, the freer and easier it is to breathe. So here too, the more someone gets used to the exercises shown, the higher the soul will rise, and the higher the soul ascends, the more freely prayer will act in it. Our soul is by nature an inhabitant of the Divine heavenly world. There she should have been inanimate both in thought and in heart; but the burden of earthly thoughts and attachments attracts and burdens her down. The shown methods tear it off the ground little by little, and then completely tear it off. When they are completely torn off, then the soul will enter its realm and it will sweetly dwell in sorrow - here it is heartfelt and mentally, afterwards, and by its very being, it will be vouchsafed before the face of God to dwell in the faces of Angels and saints. Why may the Lord vouch for all of you with His grace? Amen".

How to force yourself to prayer.

Sometimes prayer does not come to mind at all. In this case, Saint Theophan advises doing this:
“If this is a prayer at home, then you can put it off a little, for a few minutes ... to bend over, they take him by the forelock and bend him down ... Otherwise, this is what might happen ... now there is reluctance - tomorrow there is reluctance, and then prayer is completely over. Take care of this ... and bother yourself with willing prayer. The labor of self-compulsion overcomes everything. "

The holy righteous John of Kronstadt, also advising to force oneself in prayer when it does not go, warns:
“Forced prayer develops hypocrisy, makes him incapable of any occupation that requires reflection, and makes a person sluggish to everything, even to the performance of his duties. This should convince everyone praying in this way to correct their prayer. One should pray willingly, with energy, from the heart. Pray to God neither out of sorrow, nor out of need (by compulsion), - Each one give according to the disposition of his heart, not with grief and not with compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9: 7) ”.

What is needed for successful prayer.

“Desiring and seeking success in prayer work, adapt everything else to this, so as not to ruin with one hand what the other is creating.
1. Keep your body strictly in food, and in sleep, and in rest: do not give him anything just because it wants it, as the apostle commands: Do not turn cares for the flesh into lusts (Rom. 13: 14). Give no rest to the flesh.
2. Reduce your external intercourse to the most inevitable. This is for the time of teaching yourself to pray. After the prayer, acting in you, it will indicate what can be added without prejudice to it. Especially take care of feelings, and between them most - eyes, hearing, tie your tongue. Without observing this, you cannot even take a step forward in prayer. Just as a candle cannot burn in the wind and rain, so it is impossible to light up in prayer with a surge of impressions from outside.
3. Use all your free time after prayer for reading and meditation. For reading, choose mainly those books in which it is written about prayer and, in general, about the inner spiritual life. Think exclusively about God and the things of the Divine, about the Incarnate Economy of our salvation, and in it especially about the suffering and death of the Lord Savior. By doing this, you will immerse yourself in the sea of Divine light. Add to this going to church as soon as you can. One presence in the temple will overshadow you with a prayer cloud. What will you get if you stand the entire service in a truly prayerful mood!
4. Know that you cannot succeed in prayer without prospering in the Christian life at all. It is imperative that not a single sin lay on the soul that has not been cleansed by repentance; and if during prayer work you do something that confuses the conscience, hurry to be cleansed by repentance, so that you can boldly look to the Lord. Keep humble contrition in your heart at all times. Do not miss a single upcoming opportunity to do any good or to show any kind disposition, especially humility, obedience and renunciation of your will. But it goes without saying that zeal for salvation must burn inextinguishable and, filling the whole soul, in everything, from small to great, must be the main driving force, with the fear of God and unshakable hope.
5. In this attitude, bother yourself in prayer, praying: now with ready prayers, now with your own, now with short invocations to the Lord, now with the Jesus prayer, but without missing anything that can contribute to this work, and you will receive what you are looking for. Let me remind you what Saint Macarius of Egypt says: “God will see your prayer work and that you sincerely desire success in prayer - and will give you prayer. For know that although prayer, both done and achieved by one's own efforts, is pleasing to God, but real prayer is that which dwells in the heart and becomes persistent. She is a gift from God, a work of God's grace. Therefore, while praying for everything, do not forget to pray for prayer too ”(Monk Nikodim Svyatorets).

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 fulfill everything, Treasure of the good and life to the Giver, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, Beloved, our souls.

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

Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquity; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.

Lord have mercy. (Three times)

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

Our Father, Who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also leave our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Tropari

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us; every answer is bewildered, this Ti prayer as if to the Lord of sin we bring: have mercy on us.

Glory: Lord, have mercy on us, in You with hope; Do not be angry with us, remember our iniquities below, but look after us and now, as if you are well-to-do, and deliver us from our enemies; Thou art our God, and we are Thy people, all works Thy hand, and we call on Thy name.

And now: Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, hoping in Thee, let us not perish, but let us get rid of Thy troubles: Thou art the salvation of the Christian race.

Lord have mercy. (12 times)

Prayer 1, Saint Macarius the Great, to God the Father

Eternal God and the King of every creature, having made me worthy even at this hour of age, forgive my sins, I have also done this day in deed, word and thought, and cleanse, Lord, my humble soul from all defilement of flesh and spirit. And grant me, Lord, to this dream in the night, to pass in peace, but, standing up from the humble bed, I will delight in Thy holy name, all the days of my life, and I will overcome the fleshly and incorporeal enemies who fight me. And deliver me, O Lord, from vain thoughts that defile me, and the lusts of the wicked. As Thine is the kingdom, and the power and glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 2, Saint Antiochus, to our Lord Jesus Christ

To the Almighty, the Word of the Father, this Himself is perfect, Jesus Christ, many for the sake of Thy mercy, never absent from me, Thy servant, but always rest in me. Jesus, good Shepherd of Your sheep, do not betray me to sedition to the serpent, and do not leave the desire of the Satan to me, for there is a seed of aphid in me. Thou, O Lord God worshiped, the Holy King, Jesus Christ, while sleeping, save me with an unmixing light, Thy Holy Spirit, Thou hast sanctified Thy disciples. Grant, O Lord, to me, an unworthy servant of Thy, Thy salvation on my couch: enlighten my mind with the light of the mind of Thy holy Gospel, my soul with the love of Thy Cross, my heart with Thy pure word, My body with Thy passionless passion, save my thought with Thy humility, and raise up me in time is like your praise. Like you were glorified with Thy beginningless Father and with the 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 let me go to the unworthy, and forgive all, the tree of Ti who have sinned today like a man, even more and not like a man, but even more than cattle, my free sins and involuntary, knowing and unknown: even from youth and science are evil, and even the essence of arrogance and despondency.

If I swear by Thy name, or swindled in my thoughts; or someone reproached; or slander someone with my anger, or grieved, or about anything you were angry; or a lie, or useless spah, or a beggar came to me, and despise him; or who were saddened by my brother, or weddings, or whom they condemned; either puffed up, or puffed up, or outraged; or I stand in prayer, my mind has moved about the wickedness of this world, or the corruption of thoughts; or overeat, or overeat, or laughing madly; or evil thoughts, or seeing alien kindness, and with that he was wounded by his heart; or not like verbs, or laughing at my brother's sin, but my essence is countless sins; either they are not happy about prayer, or otherwise what deceitful things, I don’t remember, that’s all and great about these things.

Have mercy on me, my Creator, Master, your despondent and unworthy servant, and leave me, and let me go, and forgive me, as it is Good and Humanitarian, but I will lie down in peace, sleep and rest, prodigal, sinful and accursed I, and I will worship and sing , and I will glorify Your honorable name, with the Father, and His Only Begotten Son, now and forever and forever. Amen.

Prayer 4, Saint Macarius the Great

What will Ti bring, or what will Ti reward, great-endowed Immortal King, more generous and benevolent God, as if he is lazy to me for Your pleasing, and having done nothing good, did you bring to the end of this past day, the conversion and salvation of the soul of my order? Mercifully wake me to the sinner and naked of every good deed, raise up my fallen soul, defiled in immeasurable sins, and remove from me all the evil thought of this visible life.

Forgive my sins, one Sinless, even worse than those who have sinned in this day, by knowledge and ignorance, by word and deed, and by thought, and with all my senses. You Yourself, covering, save me from any opposing situation with Your Divine power, and inexpressible love of man, and power. Cleanse, God, cleanse the multitude of my sins. Grace, Lord, save me from the network of the evil one, and save my passionate soul, and overshadow me with the light of Thy face, when you come in glory, and now do not condemned to sleep in sleep, and without dreaming, and undisturbed the thought of Thy servant observe, and all Satan's work take me away from me, and enlighten my reasonable eyes of the heart, so that I will not fall asleep into death. And send me an angel of peace, the guardian and instructor of my soul and my body, that he may deliver me from my enemies; Yes, rising from my bed, I will bring Ti thanksgiving prayers.

To her, Lord, hear me, a sinful and wretched servant of Thy, with delight and conscience; Grant me to learn with Thy word, and the despondency of the demons is far from me driven away from being Thy Angels; may I bless Your holy name, and glorify, and glorify the Most Pure Theotokos Mary, You gave us sinful intercession, and accept this one who is praying for us; vem bo, as if it imitates Your philanthropy, and praying does not cease. With your intercession, and the Honorable Cross with a sign, and all Your saints for the sake of, observe my wretched soul, Jesus Christ our God, as Holy Thou art, and glorified forever. Amen.

Prayer 5

O Lord our God, those who have sinned in the days of this word, deed and thought, forgive me the Good and the Lover of Man. Peaceful sleep and serene grant me. Send your guardian angel, covering and keeping me from all evil, as you are the keeper of our souls and our bodies, and we glorify Thee, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever. Amen.

Prayer 6

O Lord our God, in Worthless faith, and His name more than any name we call, grant to us, who depart to sleep, weakened soul and body, and keep us from all dreams, and besides dark sweets; quench the striving of the passions, quench the incitement to the uprising of the bodily. May we live chastely in deeds and words; Yes, a virtuous life is receptive, we will not fall away from the promised, Your good ones, for you are blessed 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 Thy heavenly goods.

Lord, save me eternal torment.

Lord, whether in mind or thought, in word or deed, those who have sinned, 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, hedgehog darken the crafty lust.

Lord, I am like a man who have sinned, You, like God, are generous, 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 Thy servant in the bottom of animals and grant me a good end.

O Lord, my God, if I have done nothing good before Thee, grant me, by Thy grace, to lay a good beginning.

Lord, sprinkle in my heart the dew of Thy grace.

O 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 to attack.

Lord, give me a thought for good.

Lord, give me tears and mortal memory and tenderness.

Lord, give me the thought of confessing my sins.

Lord, grant me humility, chastity and obedience.

Lord, grant me patience, generosity and meekness.

Lord, instill in me the root of good, Thy fear in my heart.

Lord, make me love Thee from all my soul and thoughts, and do Thy will in everything.

Lord, protect me from some people, and demons, and passions, and from all other inappropriate things.

Lord, weigh, as you do, as you will, may your will be done and a sinner in me, as you are blessed forever. Amen.

Prayer 8, to our Lord Jesus Christ

Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for the sake of your most honest Mother Thy, and Thy incorporeal Angel, the Prophet and Forerunner and Thy Baptist, the God-speaking apostle, the bright and virtuous martyr, the reverend and God-bearing father, and all the saints with prayers, save me the demon of the real thing. To her, my Lord and Creator, not even though the death of a sinner, but as if to turn and live to be him, give me a conversion to the accursed and unworthy; Take me out of the mouth of the pernicious serpent, which is gaping to devour me and bring me to hell alive. To her, my Lord, my consolation, For me, for the sake of the accursed in corruptible flesh, she was clothed, pluck me from accursedness, and comfort my soul cursed. Put in my heart to do Your commands, and abandon the crafty deeds, and receive Your blessedness: in You, Lord, hope, save me.

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

To Thee of the Most Holy Mother of God, I accursed accusations, I pray: weigh, Queen, as if I sin without ceasing and anger Thy Son and my God, and if I repent many times, I find myself lying before God, and I repent trembling: is it possible that the Lord will smite me, and do the pack melt by the hour ; Lead this, my Lady, the Mother of God, I pray, have mercy, and strengthen, and do good, and grant me. Vesi bo, my Lady Theotokos, as by no means an imam in my evil deeds in hatred, and with all my thoughts I love the law of my God; but we do not know, the Most Pure Lady, where I hate, I love that, but I transgress the good. Do not allow, O Most Pure, my will to be accomplished, it is not pleasing to eat, but let the will of Thy Son and my God be done: let it save me, and give me understanding, and grant me the grace of the Holy Spirit, so that from now on the foul act would cease, and so on would have lived in command Thy Son, all glory, honor and power befitting Him, with His Beginning Father, and His Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 10, to the Most Holy Theotokos

Good King Mother, 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 guide me to good deeds, so that the rest of my life will pass without blemish and I will find Paradise by Thee, Virgin Mary, one Pure and the Blessed One.

Prayer 11, to the Holy Guardian Angel

To the Angel of Christ, my saint guardian and protector of my soul and body, all forgive me, the tree of those who have sinned in this day, and save me from all cunning of the enemy, so that I will anger my God in no way; but pray for me a sinful and unworthy slave, as if you were worthy of me showing 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 Voevoda, victorious, as if we will get rid of the wicked, we will grateful to Ty Thy servant, the Mother of God, but as the one who has an invincible power, free us from all troubles, let us call Ty; Rejoice, Unmarried Bride.

Glorious Ever-ever, Mother of Christ God, bring our prayer to Thy Son and our God, that Thou mayst save our souls.

I place all my hope in You, Mother of God, keep me under Your roof.

Virgin Mary, do not despise me, a sinner, demanding Your help and Your intercession, my soul trusts in You, and have mercy on me.

Prayer of St. John

My hope is the Father, my refuge Son, my cover is the Holy Spirit: Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.

It is worthy to eat as truly blessed Thee, Mother of God, Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and Mother of our God. The most honest Cherubim and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption, we magnify the Mother of God.

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

Lord have mercy. (Three times)

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Thy Most Pure Mother, venerable and God-bearing father of ours and all saints, have mercy on us. Amen.

Prayer of Saint John Damascene

Vladyka Chelovek, will this coffin be a bed for me, or will you enlighten my cursed soul in the daytime? Seven is the coffin, seven is death. Thy judgment, O Lord, I fear and endless torment, but I do not cease doing evil: I always anger the Lord my God, and Thy Most Pure Mother, and all Heavenly powers, and my holy Guardian Angel. We, O Lord, for I am not worthy of Thy love for mankind, but I am worthy of all condemnation and torment. But, Lord, either I want, or I don’t want, save me. If you save the righteous, nothing great; and if you have mercy purely, it is nothing wondrous: deserve the essence of your mercy. But amaze Thy mercy on me as a sinner: about this, reveal Thy love of mankind, may my malice not prevail over Thy ineffable goodness and mercy: and as you like, arrange a thing about me.

Enlighten my eyes, Christ God, but not when I fall asleep into death, and not when my enemy says: strengthen yourself against him.

Glory: Wake up the protector of my soul, O God, as in the midst of many nets I walk; deliver me from them and save me, Blazhe, like a Man-lover.

And now: the Most Glorious Mother of God, and the Holy Angel of the Saints, let us sing incessantly with our hearts and lips, confessing this Mother of God, as if she truly gave birth to God for us, incarnate, and praying incessantly for our souls.

Mark yourself with the cross and say a prayer to the Honest Cross:

May God rise again, and scatter Him, and let those who hate Him flee from His presence. Yako smoke disappears, yes disappear; as if wax melts from the face of fire, so let demons perish from the face of those who love God and are marked by the sign of the cross, and in joy say: Rejoice, Most Honorable and Life-giving Cross of the Lord, drive away demons by the power of the prophesied Lord Jesus Christ on you, who descended into hell and corrected the power to the devil, and who gave us to you His Honest Cross to drive out every adversary. Oh, Most Honorable and Life-giving Cross of the Lord! Help me with the Holy Lady the Virgin Mary and with all the saints forever. Amen.

Or in short:

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

Prayer

Weaken, forgive, forgive, God, our sins, voluntary and involuntary, even in word and in deed, even in knowledge and not in knowledge, even in days and nights, even in mind and in thought: forgive us all, as it is Good and Humanitarian.

Prayer

Forgive those who hate and offend us, Lord, Human-loving. Beneficent beneficence. To our brothers and relatives, grant also petitions and eternal life for salvation. Visit the weak in existence and grant healing. Along the way, manage it. Travel travelers. Grant forgiveness to those who serve and have mercy on us sins. Those who have commanded us unworthy to pray for them have mercy according to your great mercy. Remember, O Lord, the father and our brethren before the dead and rest them, where the light of Thy face is present. Remember, Lord, our captive brethren and spare me from every situation. Remember, Lord, those who bear fruit and do good in Your holy churches, and give them even petition for salvation and eternal life. Remember, Lord, and us, the humble and sinful and unworthy of Thy servant, and enlighten our mind with the light of Thy mind, and guide us on the path of Thy commandments, with the prayers of our Most Pure Lady Our Lady and Ever-Virgin Mary and all Thy saints: as you are blessed forever and ever ... Amen.

Everyday confession of sins

I confess to Thee to the Lord my God and Creator, in the One Holy Trinity, glorified and worshiped, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, all my sins, the same in all the days of my life, and for every hour, both now and in days gone by and nights, deed, word, thought, gluttony, drunkenness, secret eating, idle talk, despondency, laziness, disobedience, disobedience, slander, condemnation, negligence, self-esteem, many acquisitiveness, embezzlement, untruthfulness, profanity, jealousy, jealousy , hatred, covetousness and all my feelings: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch and my other sins, both soulful and bodily, the image of my God and Creator to anger, and my neighbor's unjust: regretting about these, I am guilty of myself to my God I imagine, and I have the will to repent: to that, O Lord my God, help me, with tears I humbly pray to Thee: whoever passed away my sins by Thy mercy, forgive me, and permit me from all these, even the words before you, as good and lover of mankind.

When you go to sleep, say:

In Thy hand, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, I commit my spirit: You bless me, You have mercy on me and give me an eternal life. Amen.

Foreword

There is a complete prayer rule for monks and spiritually experienced laymen, which is printed in Orthodox prayer book.

However, for those who are just beginning to get used to prayer, it is difficult to immediately begin to read the entire rule set as a whole. Usually, confessors advise to start with several prayers, and then add one prayer to the rule every 7-10 days, so that the skill of reading the rule will develop gradually and naturally.

In addition, lay people sometimes have situations when there is little time for prayer, and in this case it is better to read a short rule with attention and reverence than to hastily and superficially, without a prayer mood, mechanically read the complete rule.

Thus, cultivating a reasonable attitude to the prayer rule, Saint Theophan the Recluse writes to one family member:

“Bless, Lord, and continue to pray according to your rule. But do not ever tie yourself to a rule and do not think that there is anything of value in having such a rule or always doing it. The whole price is in the heart before God a fit. There the saints write that if someone does not depart from prayer as a condemned person worthy of all punishment from the Lord, then such a person leaves her as a Pharisee. Another said: "standing in prayer, stand as at the Last Judgment, when you are ready to leave God's decisive determination about you: go away or come."

Formality and mechanism in prayer should be avoided in every possible way. Let it always be a matter of a deliberate free decision, and make it with consciousness and feeling, and not somehow. In case you need to be able to shorten the rule. Is there a lot of accidents in family life? .. You can, for example, in the morning and in the evening, when there is no time, to read from memory only morning prayers and for the future sleep. You can even read them not all, but several of them. You can read nothing at all, but put a few bows, but with true heartfelt prayer. The rule must be handled with complete freedom. Be the mistress of the rule, not a slave. Only a servant of God, obliged to devote all the minutes of her life to pleasing Him. "

For such cases, there is an established short prayer rule designed for all believers.

In the morning it includes:

"Heavenly King", Trisagion, "Our Father", "Virgin Mary", "Rise from sleep", "Have mercy on me, God", "I believe", "God, cleanse", "To You, Master", "Holy Angel "," Most Holy Lady ", invocation of the saints, prayer for the living and the dead.

In the evening it includes:

"Heavenly King", Trisagion, "Our Father", "Have mercy on us, Lord", "Eternal God", "Blessed Tsar", "Angel of Christ", from "Chosen Governor" to "It is worthy".

Morning prayers

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

Initial prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Thy Most Pure Mother and all saints, have mercy on us. Amen.

Trisagion

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
(It is read three times, with the sign of the cross and bow in the waist.)

Lord's Prayer

Song of the Most Holy Theotokos

Virgin Mary, rejoice, Blessed Mary, the Lord is with you; blessed are you in women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, as you gave birth to our souls.

Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity

Standing up from sleep, I thank You, Holy Trinity, for for the sake of Your goodness and patience you were not angry with me, lazy and sinful, you have destroyed me below with my iniquities; but you usually loved mankind, and in the absence of a thought lying you raised me up, in a hedgehog to matinee and glorify Thy power. And now enlighten my mental eyes, open my mouth to learn from Thy word, and understand Thy commandments, and do Thy will, and pet Thee in confession from the heart, and chant Thy all holy name, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever. centuries. Amen.

Come, let us worship our Tsar God. (Bow)
Come, let us worship and fall down on Christ, our King God. (Bow)
Come, let us worship and fall down on Christ Himself, the Tsar and our God. (Bow)

Psalm 50

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, cleanse my iniquity. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin; for I know my iniquity, and I will take out my sin before me. You who have sinned, and evil in your sight, have I done, as if you were justified in your words, and conquer always judging you. Behold, in transgressions I am conceived, and in sins bore me my mother. Behold, you loved the truth; You have revealed your unknown and secret wisdom. Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. To my hearing dasi joy and gladness; the bones of the humble will rejoice. Turn away Thy face from my sins, and cleanse all my iniquity. Build a pure heart in me, O God, and renew the spirit of rights in my womb. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of Thy salvation, and confirm me with the Spirit of the Lord. I will teach wickedness in Your way, and wickedness will turn to You. Deliver me from the blood, O God, God of my salvation; my tongue will rejoice in Thy righteousness. O Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. As if you would have wanted sacrifices, you would have given them: do not favor burnt offerings. The sacrifice to God the spirit is broken; a contrite and humble heart God will not despise. Bless, O Lord, with Thy good pleasure Zion, and may the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then favor the sacrifice of righteousness, the offering and the burnt offering; then they will lay calves on your altar.

Symbol of faith

I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, Who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, God, true from God, true, born, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, Who was all. For us, for the sake of man and for our salvation, he descended from heaven and incarnated from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became human. Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. And he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. And packs of the coming with glory to judge the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-giving, Like the outgoing Father, Like the Father and the Son, we are worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets. In one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I tea the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the century to come. Amen.

First Prayer, Saint Macarius the Great

God, cleanse me, a sinner, for I have done nothing good before You; but deliver me from the evil one, and may Thy will be in me, may I open my unworthy mouth without condemnation and praise Thy holy name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever, Amen.

Prayer of the same saint

To Thee, Master of Humanity, I run to sleep from sleep, and I strive for Thy deeds by Thy mercy, and I pray to Thee: help me for all time, in every thing, and deliver me from all worldly evil things and devilish haste, and save me, and enter into your eternal kingdom. Thou art my Creator and the Provider and Giver to every good, but in Thee all my hope, and I give glory to Thee, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer to the Guardian Angel

Holy Angel, stand before my accursed soul and my passionate life, do not leave me a sinner, step back below me for my intemperance. Give no place to the wicked demon to possess me, the violence of this mortal body; Strengthen my poor and poor hand and guide me on the path of salvation. She, holy Angel of God, guardian and protector of my cursed soul and body, forgive me all, for those who have offended you in all the days of my life, and even if they sinned in this past night, cover me in the present day, and save me from every temptation of the opposite Yes, in no sin I will anger God, and pray for me to the Lord, may he establish me in His passion, and worthy to show me a servant of His goodness. Amen.

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos

My Most Holy Lady Theotokos, by Thy saints and all-powerful entreaties from me, the humble and accursed Thy servant, despondency, oblivion, foolishness, negligence, and all the nasty, crafty and blasphemous thoughts from my cursed, darkened heart and from my darkened mind; and extinguish the flame of my passions, as I am poor and cursed. And save me from many and fierce memories and enterprises, and from all actions of evil freedoms. For you are blessed from all generations, and Your glorious name is glorified forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer invocation of the saint whose name you bear

Pray to God for me, holy servant of God (name), as I zealously run to you, an ambulance and prayer book for my soul.

Prayer for the Living

Save, Lord, and have mercy on my spiritual father (name), my parents (names), relatives (names), bosses, mentors, benefactors (their names) and all Orthodox Christians.

Prayer for the dead

Rest, Lord, the souls of the departed, Thy servant: my parents, relatives, benefactors (their names), and all Orthodox Christians, and forgive them all sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven.

End of prayers

It is worthy to be like truly blessed Theotokos, the Most Blessed and Most Immaculate and the Mother of our God. The most honest Cherubim and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption, we magnify the Mother of God.

Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, prayers for the sake of Thy Most Pure Mother, venerable and God-bearing father of ours and all saints have mercy on us. Amen.

Prayers for future sleep

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

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

Tropari

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us; every answer is bewildered, this Ti prayer as if to the Lord of sin we bring: have mercy on us.

And now: Open the doors of mercy to us, blessed Mother of God, hoping in Thee, let us not perish, but let us get rid of Thy troubles: Thou art the salvation of the Christian race.
Lord have mercy. (12 times)

Prayer 1, Saint Macarius the Great, to God the Father

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos

Prayer to the Holy Guardian Angel

Kontakion to the Mother of God

Glorious Ever-ever, Mother of Christ God, bring our prayer to Thy Son and our God, that Thou mayst save our souls.

I place all my hope in You, Mother of God, keep me under Your roof.

Virgin Mary, do not despise me, a sinner, demanding Your help and Your intercession, my soul trusts in You, and have mercy on me.

Prayer of St. John

My hope is the Father, my refuge Son, my cover is the Holy Spirit: Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Thy Most Pure Mother, venerable and God-bearing father of ours and all saints, have mercy on us. Amen.

* 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 grave." (Three times) From the Ascension to the Trinity, we begin the prayers with "Holy God ...", omitting all previous ones. This remark also applies to prayers for future sleep.

Throughout Bright Week, instead of this rule, the hours of Holy Easter are read.

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

“The angel cries out more gracefully: Pure Virgin, rejoice! And pack the river: rejoice! Thy Son is risen three days from the grave and raised up dead; people, have fun! Shine, shine, the new Jerusalem, the glory of the Lord ascends upon you. Rejoice now and be merry, Zion. But you, Pure One, show off, the Mother of God, about the rise of Thy Nativity. "

These remarks also apply to prayers for future sleep.

Compiled using materials from the book:
How to learn to pray at home. Moscow, "Kovcheg", 2004. Trifonov Pechenga Monastery

After the past day, many people accumulate negativity in their souls, which disturbs their peace of mind. In order to get rid of it, calm down and fully relax at night, believers read special prayers before going to bed. The Prayer Book offers several different prayers for future sleep, but each person can choose those other prayer addresses in accordance with the current situation in his life. The main thing to remember is that evening prayers have miraculous powers.

The evening rule of prayer for future sleep

The Evening Rule offers a series of prayers that allow the believer to ask:

About the salvation of the soul and body.
Protection from external influences.
Forgiveness of their guided and unknown sins.
The gift of restful sleep.
Getting rid of enemies and enemies.
Protection from devilish temptations.
Guardian Angel escorts.
Observance of a chaste life and obedience.
Deliverance from eternal torment.
Patience and wisdom.

How to prepare for Orthodox prayer for the coming sleep

No special preparation is required for evening prayers. But at the same time, it is very important to discard all extraneous thoughts in order for communication with the Higher Forces to be effective. This will take some time to learn. Icons and church candles will help in this. Therefore, if you are just learning to offer prayers for the future sleep, then you should definitely organize a red corner in your own bedroom.

In doing so, consider the following:

The images should be on the side of the opposite door.
Icons can be broadcast on the wall, or you can simply put them on the table.
There should not be any souvenir paintings and household appliances next to the icons.
Church candles or an icon lamp should be placed on a small table next to the icons. These attributes are lit during prayer.

If everyone in your family is faithful, then it is necessary to provide a place for prayer in such a way that all household members are comfortably placed in front of the icons.

How to read prayers for future sleep

Prayers for future sleep should be read immediately before bedtime. After that, you can no longer do any household chores. It should be remembered that reciting prayers requires keeping quiet. Nothing and no one should distract from communication with the Higher powers. A believer should completely focus on his inner feelings. That is why you need to remove or turn off all communication devices.

It is very important to sit in silence and calm down for a while before saying the prayer words. You need to remove anger from the soul and tune in to the positive. Evening prayers, read with sincere faith, allow you to get rid of inner fears and prevent trouble.

It is forbidden to read evening prayers in anticipation of euphoria or some special feelings. It is not necessary to follow exactly the texts suggested in the prayer book, but it is not recommended to show exuberant imagination. It is very important to recite prayer texts sincerely and with deep feeling. It is necessary to fully understand their meaning.

All prayers that need to be read at night are collected in a prayer book. Due to the workload of a modern person, you can choose short prayers that have great power and are in no way inferior in effectiveness to long prayer texts.

If you have trouble sleeping, then you should ask for restful sleep with this prayer:

“Eternal God and Heavenly King, creator of all life on earth. You are almighty and all-merciful. I appeal to you at the evening hour, hear my prayer and grant me peace of mind. Forgive me all my all my sins, committed not out of malice and not out of a desire to harm someone, but out of my own ignorance and inexperience. I sincerely repent of my misdeeds and hope for your forgiveness. Cleanse, Lord, my humble soul, do not allow me to experience eternal torment. Give me the opportunity to go into sleep in peace and tranquility, so that I can do my deeds with renewed strength the next day for the glory of the Lord. Only your kingdom has power and glory. Deliver me, Lord, from thoughts and vain deeds. Amen".

Prayers of Optina Pustyn

Elders of Optina Hermitage offer prayers for sleep to the future. It is believed that these prayers, first of all, must be listened to. Therefore, you need to turn on the audio recording and repeat the prayer words after the monks. If you pray in this way every night, you can gain confidence in your own goals. This will allow you to successfully move towards your goals, overcoming all obstacles. By saying prayers, you can reliably protect yourself from temptations and choose the right path in life. The prayers of the elders of Optina Pustyn are a real example of insight and wisdom for every believer.

But if it is not possible to repeat prayers by audio, then you can independently pronounce such a short prayer text in Russian:

“In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Have mercy on us, Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos, Your Mother. Have mercy on us for the sake of all your holy saints. Amen. We glorify you the Almighty, the comforter and the Keeper of truth. You are everywhere and endow all those who pray to you with your good treasures. Save our souls from every filth and dwell in us, filling our souls with joy. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. "

The prayer book contains a short evening prayer rule. But it is not required reading. Each person can choose which prayers are more important for him to read on a particular day, and this approach is allowed by the Church.

Before going to bed, you must definitely thank the Lord for the day you have lived. Moreover, this should be done regardless of how successful the day was. You also need to ask for blessings in any form for the coming day.

Always further communication with God must begin with the words:

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

After that, an appeal to Jesus Christ is pronounced, which is used by the Optina monks, it is translated into Russian above. Then the prayer "The Most Holy Trinity" is read.

In short, it sounds like this:

“Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; cleanse our sins, Lord; Lord Heavenly, forgive sins; Almighty and all-merciful, visit us and heal us from various infirmities, for the sake of Your Holy name. "

Then a prayer is said, which has tremendous power and is known to all - "Our Father." It is on it that you can finish the evening reading of prayers, and go to rest. But if an internal need arises, then you can continue prayer communication with the Higher Powers. So, mothers can turn with prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos for the welfare of their children. For a small child, you can ask for a restful sleep. You can also turn to other saints with requests that are especially important to you in this life period. A prayer appeal to your own Guardian Angel is considered very useful.

If you are just starting to read prayers for a dream to come or are teaching your child to them, then this should be done gradually. Consciousness should not be overstrained. It is important to ensure that the prayer texts become part of your soul and do not cause tension.

Listen to audio prayer at night:

Video online prayers for the future sleep

Before falling asleep, we think about how our day went. And everything would be fine if you just thought. But, unfortunately, often people cannot fall asleep until morning, literally going crazy from attacks that suit their own thoughts. Christians are practically free from many such things, and in this they are helped by the correct way of life and evening prayer for the coming sleep. This is why it is so important to turn to the All-Holy Trinity before going to bed. In order for the dream to pass easily, it is imperative to talk with the Creator, protecting yourself from all kinds of internal and external storms. Moreover, both material and spiritual.

Why Evening Prayers

Every Christian is, in fact, a warrior who rose to fight for light, love and truth in his soul, as well as for his destiny in eternal life, which will come along with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of dead bodies.

The enemy of the human race is the devil, who, according to Holy Tradition (the history of mankind, which is partially passed from mouth to mouth), was immediately opposed to God creating someone else besides Angels, because these spiritual beings already possessed all the dignities and enormous opportunities ... And animals were already created by the Creator who were fleshly creatures. The proud day-boy wondered why add another flesh-bearing creature, an animal - a man?

But the Lord wanted to create such a creation that would unite in itself all his other creations - both spiritual and material. Therefore, one more creatures appeared, angels in essence, but having their material expression - people.

The first man, Adam, was that first fruitful angel, the crown of creation, in which God united the practically incompatible - spirit and matter, “made friends” between heaven and earth. The devil was seized with jealousy and offended that God did not take his opinion into account, and at the same time realized how dear a person is to God. And he decided to take revenge. Since the Creator himself he could not do any harm, the former angel decided to strike a blow at the beloved creation of God.

According to Tradition(and partly Scripture), God visited Adam in Paradise at noon and taught him the mysteries of the universe. The first man alone, and then, together with his woman Eve, quickly comprehended science. Adam penetrated into the essence of many things and therefore was able to give names to animals in accordance with the idea of God about each of them. The devil realized that soon people would develop in such a way that they would become serious rivals in the arena of primacy, which existed only in the minds of an ordinary angel who had fallen and degenerated into a sadist. Those Angels who remained with God and His truth, only rejoiced at their new brother and sister, gladly accepting new members of a huge family.

The devil decided to "seize the moment" while the fallen and crippled spirits still remain smarter and more experienced than ingenuous and pure people, so attached to the Father that they sacredly observe the ban on eating from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Then Satan, as you know, having entered the body of a serpent, crawled to Eve as to a younger and inexperienced one and, having slandered the Creator that He did not allow eating from the Tree, because he was afraid that people would become like Him, persuaded Eve to eat the fruit.

At that moment, when the younger one succumbed to cunning and distorted lies, Satan practically spiritually killed us, people: the fruit from the Tree gave such consequences that the first flesh-bearing angels were unable to live according to God and were deprived of paradise bliss. He also killed us physically - through sin and death came to us, that is, the inability of the body to live forever. Therefore, we call the devil, who was once one of the most beautiful and luminous angels, whom his brothers called Lucifer - Morning Star:

the father of all lies
enemy of the human race,
a murderer,
misanthropist, etc.

But the loving Heavenly Father did not allow his beloved creation to perish, which, like the Angels, was also created eternal. People continued to grow, multiply and develop, but in different conditions, going through the harsh school of life on earth, where they have a choice: with God we continue to live or without Him.

On the path of each of us, regardless of faith and way of life, were, are and will be, spiritual enemies who hate us, who will go to any lie, just to seduce us, subjugate us, distract us from Heavenly Father. It is known that Satan “boasted” that he would subjugate every single one and rule over us in hell.

Lord created hell, a specially allotted place, which he deprived of His active participation and grace so that those who do not want to be with Him have such an opportunity. Michael the Archangel threw the devil there, and those who went over to the side of the liar and the proud went there with him.

And now the demons want only one thing: to drag off as many people as possible in order to mock them all eternity and take revenge for that, that God still loves man, and even for the sake of salvation and living together with him in the Heavenly Kingdom, in paradise, he was crucified for us, and even conquered death!

So is it really impossible for us to get rid of this spiritual abomination? Can. Jesus said, "This generation," that is, demons and demons, are driven out by "prayer and fasting." That is why everyone who has decided to resist and return to eternal life and love with God should more often pay attention to his Parent - the Heavenly Father - and communicate with Him, pray. Prayer at night before going to bed will protect you from demonic trials (temptations) and help in various needs.

Brief Evening Prayer Rule

For the strong protection of the holy fathers, who were able to defeat the devil and acquire the constant abiding of God in their souls, based on their experience, they compiled several prayer rules. One of them is the Midnight Office. But for a modern person living in a crazy age of speeds and loads, it is too heavy and long.

Therefore, now this midnight rule, consisting of prayers and reading of the psalms of David, remained only in the monastic life, occasionally in the secular. And for the laity, it was replaced by an abbreviated rule - prayers for the coming sleep. Full ancient prayers are now read by monks or Old Believers, who did not recognize innovations and indulgences.

The relatively new evening rule consists of 10 prayers, which are addressed to each person of the Trinity:

the first prayer is dedicated to the Father - the Creator of all living things,
the second - to His Son and our Savior, thanks to whom man has the opportunity to return to his "first grace",
the third - to the Holy Spirit, the third hypostasis of God.

The rule also includes prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos, the Guardian Angel, and ends with the obligatory confession of sins to its Creator. The last phrase is sending your spirit to God and a request to save and preserve it while the prayer is in a dream.

All this rule is aimed at nightly preparation a person to a possible death - a transition to the spiritual world and waiting in the individually prepared spiritual space of the Second Coming of Jesus and the Last Judgment, which will decide the fate of a person in eternity. This is evidenced by the meek, contrite prayer of St. John of Damascus, read by an attentive prayer with special trepidation.

It begins with the words "Vladyka, Human-loving, will this coffin be a bed for me?" She tunes in to detachment from earthly values and encourages everyone to remember their heavenly homeland, delicately reminding that life is finite and God will certainly ask a person what he decided: to return to "first grace" and prefer life with God in paradise, or choose a sinful life, and then hell and its inhabitants will be closer to him.

The Christian also asks in his conversation with God “hating and offending” him to forgive. God will judge a Christian not only by prayers and by sincere repentance for sins, but also by whether he prayed for his enemies.

An even more abbreviated prayer rule

Unfortunately, the modern realities of life are such that for an ordinary Christian even this abbreviated rule, in comparison with the midnight office, turns out to be beyond his powers. There is no shortcut rule officially recognized by the church. However, the network contains some options for reductions and even a complete replacement. How psychologically beneficial this replacement is is open to question. But in a situation where the spiritual potential of a Christian can be expressed by the words “either this way or not,” as a huge assumption, it can fit. But on one condition - there must be a blessing from the priest.

The blessing will allow you not to hit on initiative and pride, but to act in obedience, and it is one of the virtues that are pleasing to God.

There are at least two options:

Seraphim rule
An evening rule reduced to a few prayers.

Seraphim rule (prayer for the coming sleep, short 3 strong)

This is a short rule, which was blessed by the Monk Seraphim of Sarov to people who were not lazy, but because of the severity of their work, were not able to read the full version every day.

It includes three prayers:

Our Father (read three times),
Virgin Mary, rejoice (read three times),
The Symbol of Faith ("I Believe") - read once.

Abbreviated everyday rule

Schematically it looks like this:

It is also worth noting that the prayers are written, albeit in Russian letters, but in the Church Slavonic language, so some words may be incomprehensible. In this case, it is necessary to turn to the interpretation of these words so that the conversation with God does not turn into the reading of a kind of spells. This is a godly deed. God's beloved David, the great-grandfather of the Most Holy Theotokos, writes in his psalms to instruct believers “Sing to God, sing reasonably,” that is, understand what you say, understand.

Miraculous occasions with those praying at night

In order to strengthen faith and to motivate people to prayerful deeds, we will give several examples of what happens when a person includes in his life a nightly conversation with the Heavenly Father.

Getting rid of bad thoughts and images

A certain woman was often tormented by bad thoughts: they constantly crawled into her head when she was already going to bed. Imagination painted her various unpleasant pictures, indecent scenes. It soon became a big problem. Realizing that she could not cope on her own, she went to the temple for confession. The priest, having listened, said that it was demons who made her look and listen to all these things, so that she would accept them as her own and thus sin, applying her will to them, a free choice. The servant of God recommended that she read prayers for the coming sleep every evening. Imperceptibly the temptations ceased, as if they had never been.

Deliverance from demonic dreams

Demons, in order to confuse and subjugate a person, often try to intimidate him. To do this, they look for weaknesses, passions or fears and begin to "inflate" them. So it happened with one man who experienced mystical fears - he was afraid that the vivid dreams that he dreamed almost every night are actually prophetic. The fear was fueled by the fact that some episodes from dreams did come true, and things began to happen that could well be taken for signs, indications of possible events.

All this finally drove the impressionable person into a corner. Conversations with a psychologist did not bring lasting effect, and the man went to the temple for confession, realizing that this was the last resort. The priest blessed him to read the evening rule. The man soon noted that ambiguous dreams and events that could be taken for signs or omens began to recede, and he himself stopped taking much of this seriously, focusing on more important things in his life, including the spiritual.

God's help to the praying widow

A certain young woman was widowed early and was left alone with a small child in her arms. In horror, she went to a spiritual person, an elder, to a holy place, to ask how she could live on. He told her not to lose heart, to live on, explained that her husband was alive and well, that only the “clothes” of his soul had been lost, and his personality had been preserved. He punished him to treat his spouse as if he had just gone “on a long business trip” and blessed him to pray every morning and evening according to the rules established by the Church, as well as to start Communion every 2 weeks.

The frightened woman, who tried to fulfill the priest's blessing to the best of her ability, noted that she received support from above every day. She succeeded in absolutely all things (and there were a lot of them after the departure of her husband), the Lord arranged cash payments and a part-time job for her, the baby was quickly taken to kindergarten. As a result, she thanks the Lord every day for help, support and love, for the fact that she and the baby do not need anything, and prays for her beloved spouse, just as she did during his earthly life.

One believing woman from a nearby church invited her to go together to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. On the way, they read Orthodox morning and night prayers together, stopping for this in convenient places. At the monastery, they prayed together for their departed spouse. and they filed for him the magpie. The next night, the widow dreamed of her beloved husband, who was standing in line for some spiritual awards in a certain place, like a small temple. The dream began from the moment her husband approaches the sacred person and receives a certain reward from his hands.