When praying to the saints. How to pray, baptized, church rules and basic prayers. Prayer for all occasions - does it exist

Very often, people who order a prayer service, magpie, or other worship ask about who and what they need to pray in order to receive God's help.

The Orthodox Church answers this as follows: “Any prayer service is a divine service aimed at glorifying the Lord, the Mother of God and all the Saints. In a prayer service, the Orthodox ask for mercy or thank God for the benefits received. The Savior favors his children who turn to Him for help, and helps - according to the strength of our faith, showing miracles of good deeds, the purpose of which is to heal, enlighten, encourage and reveal to a person the spiritual side of life. The Lord hears any of our prayers addressed to him. Therefore, when praying or ordering prayers, remember all the Saints, for each of them, as well as all of them together, are equally important.

Nevertheless, each of the Saints, each of the Miraculous Icons, has its own, unique grace. Prayed for centuries, Miraculous Icons are a source for believers God's love which the Lord generously bestows upon us. In this section of our website, you can find out detailed information about all the Miraculous Icons located in the churches and monasteries of Moscow and the Moscow region.

• Pray for healing. Young virgins especially pray before her asking for help in maintaining chastity, piety and morality. They call on Her and in the hope of meeting a kind man, they ask for a successful marriage, strong and happy family life. They pray to the Queen of Heaven before Her image of “Tenderness” and for the onset of a long-awaited pregnancy and a successful delivery. Prayer.
  
• Located in , Moscow,
• Days of veneration - August 01, August 10.
• If you need an icon Mother of God"Tenderness" for a home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. Suggested

• Pray for the welfare of the whole country. Before Vladimir Icon they turn to the Mother of God to ask Her for intercession from the enemy, for help in overcoming difficulties and for strengthening faith. Prayer before this image also helps to heal from physical ailments and mental hardships. Prayer.
• Located in , Moscow
• Days of veneration - June 03, July 06, September 08.
• If you need an icon of the Mother of God "Vladimirskaya" for your home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• The icon became famous for numerous healings from physical ailments, including fatal ones. Pray for the health of both their own and their relatives and friends. They ask the Mother of God in front of the icon “Joy of All Who Sorrow” and a cure for spiritual illnesses - lack of faith, despondency, despair and sorrow.
  Prayer before this image helps in other everyday matters. If there is a “burden” on the heart, things are not going well, there have been family feuds, difficulties with work, and so on - you can pray to the Mother of God in front of the icon “Joy of All Who Sorrow” for the successful outcome of all this.
  In front of the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" with coins, in addition to all of the above, they pray in need. Prayer.
• Located in the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God Joy of All Who Sorrow on Ordynka, Moscow
• Honor Days - November 6th.

• Pray for healing in cancer. Prayer helps in getting rid of drug and alcohol addiction, gambling. Pray with a request for protection from witchcraft, from magical influence from anyone's side. Prayer.
• It is located in the Novospassky stauropegial male Monastery, Moscow.
• Days of veneration - 31 August.
• If you need an icon of the Mother of God "The Tsaritsa" for your home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• All those who are physically sick pray, and through their prayers they receive healing from the most serious illnesses. Prayers in front of this image also heal from passions, which often overwhelm the human soul, depriving us of vitality and from mental illness. They pray to correct moral vices that lead to the spiritual death of a person. Prayer.
• Located in the Temple in the name of the Prophet of God Elijah (Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord) in Cherkizovo, Moscow
• Days of veneration - every year on Friday of Bright Week (Easter Week).

• They pray for healing from diseases of the soul and body, for protecting the house from natural disasters and attacks by enemies, for the inviolability of the borders of the Fatherland. Repentant sinners resort to it with a request for forgiveness of sins, relatives pray for the unrepentant. Prayer.
• Located in the Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi, Moscow,
• Days of veneration - February 25, October 26, every year on Tuesday of Bright Week (Easter Week).
• If you need an icon of the Mother of God "Iberian" for your home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• They pray for deliverance from any diseases, including those before which doctors are powerless. Many cases of healing from blindness and paralysis, plague and other mass epidemics are known. They pray for the protection of their home and country from attack and capture by enemies, from robbery and other illegal actions. They pray before the Jerusalem image and for the sake of salvation from natural disasters. Often before Jerusalem icon The Mother of God can be heard praying for the preservation of the hearth, for the well-being of the family and good relations between its members. Prayer.
• Located in the Temple in the name of the Prophet of God Elijah (Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord) in Cherkizovo, Moscow
• Honor Days - October 25

• Applying to the miraculous image, people received instant healing from severe toothaches, gumboils, and stomach pains. Prayers to the icon saved men from alcohol addiction, and also cured severe oncological diseases, blood diseases, ulcers, and kidney stones. Numerous cases of miraculous healings are known and, in particular, the giving of children to barren couples. They pray for the healing of ailments and the healing of infertility (the conception of children). Prayer.
• Located in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kosino, Moscow,
• Honor Days - July 3

• They pray for a speedy conception, for a successful pregnancy and a safe delivery. They also turn to the Heavenly Intercessor in matters of feeding newborn children - when there is not enough milk, or when the baby does not take the breast well. They also pray to the Mother of God for the health of children, their timely development. Prayer.
• Located in , Moscow,
• Days of veneration - January 25.

• They pray for sclerosis, atherosclerosis, lack of intelligence, poor mental development, and also when the "adding" of the mind (help in learning) is required for students and schoolchildren. In addition, this icon can be addressed with a prayer for help (adding intelligence or admonishment) when scientific work working on any project. Pray for help to students, mental enlightenment and for the cure of the mentally ill. Prayer.
• Located in , Moscow,
• Days of veneration - on the day of the Assumption of the Virgin, August 28.
• If you need an icon of the Mother of God "Increasing the Mind" for your home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• Prayers to this icon bring comfort in sorrows, help with mental and other ailments. They pray for deliverance from demon possession.
  Pray for healing from cholera, blind and paralyzed, from a fire. Prayer.
• Located in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Sokolniki, Moscow,
• Days of veneration - 26 August.
• If you need an icon of the Mother of God "Passionate" for your home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• They pray to ask to overcome life's difficulties, misfortunes and hardships. Prayer.
• Located in the Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi, Moscow,
• Days of veneration - 07 February.

• Unexpected joy is a miracle that we no longer hoped for and did not count on - unexpected, sudden and unpredictable. Believers pray to the Mother of God in front of the icon " Unexpected Joy when it seems that the flame of hope has already died out. They ask the Most Pure One for protection from sorrows and troubles, pray for deliverance from mental anxieties and bodily illnesses. Prayer before the icon "Unexpected Joy" helps mothers ask for physical and spiritual health for their children. Lost but repentant souls can finally be forgiven and find peace. Those whose relatives and friends have disappeared turn to the Mother of God in order to reunite with dear people. And those suffering from physical illness are healed. The icon also helps those who are weighed down by a heavy spiritual burden - an irreconcilable offense or deep sadness. Prayer.
• Located in the Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God Unexpected Joy, Moscow,
• Days of veneration - December 22, May 14.
• If you need an icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" for a home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link Lik 1, by clicking on this link Lik 2. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• They pray for well-being on the way, from storms and drowning at sea, for healing from various ailments, for the patronage of the family hearth, for help in various troubles, from sadness and despondency, for children, to marry daughters, for help in poverty and need , about intercession for widows and orphans, about compassion for the defenseless, captured by enemies. Prayer.
• Located in the Epiphany Cathedral, Moscow,.
• Days of veneration - May 22, December 19.
• If you need an icon of the Savior Nicholas the Wonderworker for your home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link Lik 1 , by clicking on this link Lik 2 , Lik 3 , Lik 4 , Lik 5 . The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• Believers turn to her to ask for help and protection for their home and their families. It is with this icon that during the sacrament of the wedding, young people are most often blessed for a strong and happy marriage. The image of the Kazan Mother of God is often placed next to the bed of children, because they believe and know that the Most Pure One will not leave the child, but will graciously watch over him. Prayer in front of her more than once helped people to get back on their feet and see clearly, not only physically, but also spiritually. Lost souls, kneeling before the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, regained faith and returned to a pious life, for the Mother of God responds to the call of anyone who longs for Her help and forgiveness with all their heart and soul. Prayer.
• Located in the Epiphany Cathedral, Moscow,
• Days of veneration - July 21, November 4.
• If you need an icon of the Mother of God "Kazan" for your home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link Lik 1, by clicking on this link Lik 2, by clicking on this link Lik 3. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• They pray for the fate of Russia, as well as for forgiveness for the death of Nicholas II and his family. Prayer.
• Located in the Church of St. Nicholas in Pyzhy, Moscow
• Honor Days - July 17

• She is considered the patroness of babies, she is also called a child. She helps children in illnesses, calms the restless and disobedient, helps them in choosing friends, protects them from the bad influence of the street. It is believed to strengthen the bond between parents and children. It helps women during childbirth and during pregnancy. They also turn to prayer when there are problems of conception. Before her, they pray for the insight of the blind and the healing of eye diseases, for diseases of children, for epilepsy and paralysis, for the preservation of peace and the non-occurrence of war. Prayer.
• Located in the Temple in honor of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Alekseevsky, Moscow
• Honor Days - July 9
• If you need the icon of the Mother of God "Tikhvinskaya" for your home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• They pray for any help they need - in matters of the heart, in healing from illnesses, in financial disorders or in order to avoid impending deception, in case of damage from the elements, in preserving the family, in caring for children and their well-being - it's impossible to list everything. But the holy old woman Matrona is always with us, and prayerful hope for her intercession before her icon helps everyone who comes to her in sorrows and ailments. Prayer.
• Located in the Intercession Stauropegial Women's Monastery, Moscow
• Days of veneration - March 8 (uncovering of relics), May 2, October 5.
• If you need an icon of St. prbl. Matrona of Moscow for a home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• Pray for the healing of diseases of the head. Prayers before miraculous icon helped many find a happy marriage (asking for a good husband/wife). Prayers to St. John the Baptist will help each person to successfully cope with any work, to adequately fulfill his duty. With it, it will be easier for you to discover your destiny, following which a person finds happiness and health. Prayer.
• Located in St. John the Baptist stauropegial convent, Moscow
• Days of veneration - October 6 - Conception, July 7 - Christmas, September 11 - Beheading, January 20 - Council, March 9 - the first and second finding of the head, June 7 - the third finding of the head, October 25.
• If you need an icon of St. John the Baptist (Baptist) for a home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• They pray for the protection of the house from ill-wishers, for healing from epidemics, for the protection of military personnel. Pray for well-being on the road and travelers. Prayer.
• Located in the Bogoroditsa-Smolensky Novodevichy Convent, Moscow
• Honor Days - August 10

• They pray for help in God's blessing over the house, in housing problems, they pray for finding their own home. Prayer in front of the icon of St. Daniel of Moscow helps in cases where the Fatherland is in military danger, and also asks for the preservation of peace. They ask him for help if they see unnecessary divisions between people, about the condescending disposition of governments and authorities - for example, you can pray to him before the election of heads of any scale, so that he helps, perhaps gives some kind of sign so that a person makes the right choice in favor of or another candidate. They pray to Saint Daniel for the cessation and prevention of internecine strife. But most of all, a prayer request to him helps in solving housing issues - they pray to him for finding his own home and for God's blessing over the house. Also, the holy noble Prince Daniel of Moscow is now the heavenly patron of the Engineer Troops of the Russian Army. Prayer.
• Located in the Danilovsky Stauropegial Monastery, Moscow
• Honor Days - March 17, September 12
• If you need an icon of St. Prince Daniel of Moscow for a home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• Saint Peter the first Moscow saint, he is revered as the heavenly patron and protector of the city of Moscow. Pray for deliverance from all ailments and troubles. There are many cases of miraculous healings that happened through prayers to the Saint. Prayer.
• Located in the Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery, Moscow
• Days of veneration - January 3, September 6 - transfer of relics, October 18 - Moscow. St., October 23 - Volynsk Cathedral. Saints

• Prayer can heal a wide variety of ailments, such as stomach diseases, eye and dental diseases, helps with mental disorders, and can also give long-awaited offspring to women suffering from infertility. Prayer.
• Located in the Church of St. Martin the Confessor (Ascension of the Lord), Moscow
• Honor Days - September 4

• Prayer in front of his icons will help to pacify the pain and heal from any illness. They appeal to Panteleimon with requests to heal spiritual ailments - despair, anxiety, anger, resentment and other vices of the soul. It is customary to pray to Panteleimon not only with requests for deliverance from any hardships, but also with requests for the preservation of existing health.
  Panteleimon the Great Martyr is addressed as the patron saint of those whose work and life is invariably connected with the salvation of people. The military, doctors, sailors, employees of internal law enforcement agencies, representatives of peacekeeping forces, etc. can ask for well-being in their activities of the Saint. Prayer.
• Located in the Church of the Nativity in Izmailov, Moscow
• Honor Days - August 9
• If you need an icon vmch. Panteleimon for a home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link Lik1, Lik 2. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• Pray for children who are not given any education. They pray for the healing of bodily and mental illnesses, alcoholism and drug addiction. Pray for spiritual guidance for youth, help in choosing life path, support in senile infirmities. The holy righteous John of Kronstadt is the greatest healer and intercessor for us, we can resort to his help in any trouble and in any difficulty. Prayer.
• Located in the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Rogozhskaya Sloboda, Moscow
• Honor Days - January 2

• They pray to find the lost, to expose the theft, to return the stolen. From ancient times in Rus', under serfdom, they believed that prayer to the holy martyr John the Warrior would help to detain a runaway serf or find a robber and return the loot, evidence of which exists in our times. If such a nuisance happens to someone, you should turn to the saint for help in sincere prayer. In Rus', all thieves were afraid of the saint: if suspicion of theft fell on someone, they served a prayer service to St. John the Warrior, and the thieves were so afraid of the saint that they themselves confessed to theft. He is also prayed for help in finding the missing things. They also resort to it in protection from offenders. They also pray to St. John the Warrior for those who are in captivity or imprisonment. Everyone who is in spiritual sorrow or any other worldly situation can turn to St. John the Warrior for help. Prayer.
• Located in the Temple of John the Warrior on Yakimanka, Moscow
• Honor Days - August 12
• If you need an icon of St. John the Warrior for a home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• They pray to ask the Saint for help in getting rid of physical and mental ailments. Especially often pilgrims cry out to the Reverend, praying for the pacification of pride, as one of the gravest sins. They ask not only for themselves, but also for their friends and enemies. This image is especially honored by parents whose children do not show success in learning. Sergius of Radonezh himself could not cope with the letter for a long time and perfectly mastered it only after fervent prayers to our Lord. Now he himself stands near God and asks him for those who cannot succeed in teaching only by their own strength. The students themselves also turn to Sergius of Radonezh, on the eve of the exam or when mastering complex sciences. Sergius of Radonezh is also honored as the Holy Protector of the righteous and an honest life. Therefore, they pray before his icons on the eve of important court cases or during litigation: the Reverend helps everyone who is sincere and pure in thoughts and deeds and fights in court for truth against lies. Prayer.
• Located in the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra, Sergiev Posad, Moscow region.
• Days of veneration - July 18 - acquisition of honest relics, July 20, October 8 - Repose
• If you need an icon of St. Sergius of Radonezh for a home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link Lik 1, by clicking on this link Lik 2, by clicking on this link Lik 3. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• They pray for a successful marriage, for success in all areas of life, for help in raising children and for their excellent studies, for giving children (to those who cannot conceive), for healing from illnesses and for the dead without communion (prayer). Prayer.
• Parts of the relics and the icon are in the Chapel of St. Xenia of Petersburg at the Kuzminsky cemetery, Moscow
• Days of veneration - 6 February.
• If you need an icon of St. prbl. Xenia of Petersburg for a home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• They pray for help in matters of real estate, taxes and financial well-being. Prayer.
• Located in Moscow
• Days of veneration - 15 December.

• The Monk Mary of Egypt is the patroness of repentant harlots, fornicators and a judge at the Last Judgment of those who have not repented. Prayer has the ability to save a person from bad addictions that can lead to addictions (drunkenness, drug addiction, gambling), if a prayer is read before it. Pray for obedience in abortions. You can pray to St. Mary the Egyptian girl for choosing the right path in life, for the gift of modesty, chastity, and Christian wisdom. Prayer.
• Located in the Sretensky Stauropegial Monastery, Moscow
• Days of veneration - the fifth week (Sunday) of Great Lent, April 14 - the day of repose ..

• Pray for the solution of material problems in life. Spyridon of Trimifuntsky is still helping to find a job, solving legal issues related to money matters, doing business in business, they turn to Spiridon of Trimifuntsky for help in buying and selling real estate, which was also recommended by Ambrose of Optinsky. Prayer.
• The venerated icon with parts of the relics and the shoe are in the Danilov stauropegial male monastery (slipper), Zachatievsky stauropegial convent, in the Church of the Resurrection of the Word on the Assumption Vrazhek, Moscow, Nikolo-Solbinsky convent, Yaroslavl region.
• Days of veneration - December 25.
• If you need an icon of St. Spyridon of Trimifuntsky for a home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link Face 1, by clicking on this link Face 2. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• They pray for the dispensation of family piety, help in the upbringing and moral and religious growth of children. Prayer.
• They are located in the Pokrovsky Khotkovo stauropegial convent, Moscow region, Sergiev Posad district, Khotkovo.
• Days of veneration - January 31, October 11.

• Pray for the salvation of a heavy drinking family member, any neighbor, helps with such destructive, deadly addictions as drug addiction and smoking. Helps in the fight against gambling. They also turn to her for help in solving housing issues, when concluding housing transactions for the exchange, purchase and sale, problems with inheritance. You can pray about everything, express all your wishes, requests, sorrows - the Queen of Heaven will not refuse anyone with heartfelt and sincere prayer. Prayer.
• Located in the Serpukhov Vvedensky Bishop's Convent, Moscow Region, Serpukhov.
• Days of veneration - May 18.
• If you need an icon of the Mother of God "The Inexhaustible Chalice" for your home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• Pray for career, creative and spiritual growth. In addition, turning to her, they pray for healing from various diseases, as well as for a successful marriage. Prayer.
• Days of veneration December 4th.

• They pray for the strengthening of faith, humility, ascetic work, piety, the preservation of virginity, in case of illness for healing. Prayer.
• Located in the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, Moscow Region, Zvenigorod.
• Days of veneration - December 16.

• They pray for fertility, from fire, from floods, from diseases, from ulcers. They also pray for success in business, for travelers, for sailors, for warriors. Prayer.
• Located in, Moscow region, Mozhaisk.
• Days of veneration - June 9, January 9.

• They pray for mental and bodily illnesses, at the end of any work, for the granting of a Divine miracle (healing, spiritual insight, the return of the lost, the pardon of sinners). Prayer.
• It is located in the Luzhetsk Monastery of the Nativity of the Therapont, Moscow Region, Mozhaisk.
• Days of veneration - July 11.

• They pray for deliverance from enemies and for the preservation of the Russian State, for help to the Orthodox Russian army, in difficult times for Russia. Prayer.
• Is in Tretyakov Gallery, the miraculous list of the icon is located in, Moscow.
• days of veneration - September 1.

• They turn in prayer for help in various temptations and persecutions, the acquisition of firmness of faith, to admonish unbelievers and sectarians, and to give understanding in studies. Prayer.
• Located in the Donskoy Stauropegial Monastery, Moscow.
• Days of veneration April 7, October 9, November 18.

• They pray for difficult childbirth, for happiness in marriage, in case of prolonged childlessness, for the successful bearing of a child and for difficult childbirth. They also ask for healing. Prayer before the icon of the Mother of God "Feodorovskaya" helps in cases of long-term childlessness of the family, brides pray for a successful marriage, future mothers, and also pray for women in labor during difficult births. If everything is not well in the family, then prayer in front of her will help to improve the shaken relationship between the spouses. Also, this icon is revered as miraculous and helps to heal diseases, especially women's ones. Prayer.
• Located in the Donskoy Stauropegial Monastery, Moscow.
• Days of veneration March 27 and August 29.
• If you need an icon of the Mother of God "Feodorovskaya" for your home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link Lik1, By clicking on this link Lik 2. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• Pray pray for healing from blindness, cholera. They also pray for the cessation of disasters, for protection from attacks by enemies, from fires, for protection from thieves and criminals and for the return of the lost, for deliverance from the plague, for the pacification of the warring and for deliverance from internecine strife. Prayer.
• Located in the Donskoy Stauropegial Monastery, Moscow.
• Day of veneration December 10.
• If you need an icon of the Mother of God "The Sign" for your home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link Lik1, By clicking on this link Lik 2. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• Prayer to the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious helps Russian soldiers in their active and military service, his icon in the house helps in prayers for the well-being of those who have retired or on a well-deserved rest in military labors. Prayer also helps farmers and livestock breeders - they pray to him for the preservation of the crop and the health of livestock, protection from the elements in rural labor. Prayer.
• Days of veneration - May 6, November 16, November 23, December 9.
• If you need an icon of St. George the Victorious for your home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• You can pray to Saint Huar for the unbaptized. They pray asking for relief for the fate of the souls of relatives and neighbors who died in unbelief, who did not receive Holy Baptism, who did not know the True God, who deviated from God's truth. In addition, they pray to Saint Ouar for the health of infants and young children, as well as for infants who died in their mother's womb or during childbirth. You can pray to Saint Huar FOR the unbaptized, but NOT for suicides. Prayer.
• Located in the Temple of the Life-Giving Trinity in Vishnyaki, Moscow
• Days of veneration November 1

• They pray for the birth of children, for the gift of a successful birth. Pray before her and for the health of newborns. Prayer.
• Located in the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior on Bolvanovka, Moscow
• Honor Days January 8
• If you need an icon of the Mother of God "Help in childbirth" for a home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• Pray for those who are imprisoned. Unjustly captive prisoners can ask the saint for speedy release, strength in order to endure the hardships of fate with dignity, without losing faith and without falling into despair. They also pray to the Great Martyr to find humility and spiritual harmony, to strengthen faith and enlightenment, to heal the ailments of the body and soul, and also to give strength and desire to honestly conduct their affairs for the benefit of themselves and other people. Prayer.
• Honor Day January 4
• If you need an icon of St. Anastasia Pattern Makers for a home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• Pray for the welfare of the family. Prayer should be addressed in difficult circumstances for the family. When a family breaks up, the priest brings peace, love and an all-forgiving understanding to everyone and everyone. Liberation from the disease of drunkenness, the gift of children through prayers at the shrine from St. relics, relief in very different illnesses, help in troubles and everyday needs. Prayer.
• Located in the Church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki, Moscow
• Days of veneration June 22, September 29

• This bright image of the Mother of God is revered as the guardian of the hearth. They pray before this icon in order to maintain harmony in the house, to reconcile with relatives, resolve a long conflict with loved ones, improve relations between spouses, as well as children and parents. The Mother of God is addressed with a prayer in front of Her images of “Seven Arrows” and “Softener of Evil Hearts” when any discord, quarrel occurs in a person’s life, enmity or complex litigation begins. For many centuries, Christians have called out to the Queen of Heaven through this icon if wars or rebellions broke out in the country. Prayer in front of her helps to "soften the hearts" of the warring parties, to prevent bloodshed and cruelty. Prayer in front of her will protect us from someone else's intolerance towards us, from our own anger and irritation, which are not the best properties of human nature and are present in everyone to one degree or another. Prayer.
• Located in, in Moscow.
• Days of veneration August 26.
• If you need an icon of the Mother of God "Seven Arrows" for your home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• They pray in all matters, one way or another, related to education. Schoolchildren, students and graduate students ask the Great Martyr for help in comprehending the sciences, and teachers ask for the strength to worthily fulfill their educational duty. People pray to her in whose work rational judgment is decisive - prosecutors, judges, lawyers and lawyers. In addition, young girls who dream of marriage and women who want to become pregnant, safely endure and give birth to a child can turn to the Saint in their prayers. Prayer.
• Located in the Church of the Archangel Michael at the Clinics on the Maiden's Field, in Moscow.
• Honor Day December 7
• If you need an icon of St. vmch. Catherine for a home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

• Hot prayer in front of the icon " Fade Color"is capable of not only instructing the souls of the afflicted on the path of a righteous and spiritual life, it also helps to preserve physical beauty and youth. Prayer before the icon of the Virgin "Fadeless Color" helps in saving marriage, strengthening relationships in the family and in resolving serious problems faced by households. Young unmarried girls turn to the Most Pure through this image to ask for the mercy of the Queen of Heaven in search of a faithful and reliable life partner. Those who suffer from loneliness, who have suffered severe sorrows, as well as people who have experienced some kind of grief, turn to the Virgin Mary in front of this image. In such cases, the prayer to the Mother of God in front of Her icon "Fadeless Color" helps to gain strength to continue life, inspires to fight disappointment, relieves mental anxieties and gloomy thoughts. Prayer.

  

  • Prayer helps those whose profession is related to military affairs, as well as to diplomatic work. For men, the image will become a protector, saving from any evil, helping to maintain health, gain longevity and peace in the soul. Prayer protects against visible and invisible enemies. With her, your home will flourish. With this image, you and your loved ones will be strengthened in faith, you will live together, in harmony and prosperity. Prayer.
  • Located in the Church of the Archangel Michael at the Clinics on the Maiden's Field, in Moscow.
  • Days of veneration June 5, September 12, December 6
  • If you need an icon of St. blv. Alexander Nevsky for a home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

  

  • They pray for protection from malicious intent, enemies and secret enemies. They turn to Him in search of intercession from evil spirits and with a prayer for the healing of ailments of the body and soul. Orthodox Christians also ask Saint Michael happy life in a new house, builders especially honor it. Given the important role of the Archangel at the Last Judgment, believers turn to Him with requests to protect the souls of deceased relatives. Michael the Archangel is revered as the patron of the Russian land, so at all times the people prayed to Him for the protection of their homeland. Prayer

  

  • They pray for protection from enemies and ill-wishers, for protection in family life. Prayer.
  • Located in the Spaso-Vlakhernsky convent, in Dedenevo, Dmitrovsky district, Moscow region.
  • Day of veneration July 20.

  

  • People who find themselves on the verge of death, mental or physical, pray. They ask the Most Pure One to grant willpower in order to resist sorrows and endure them with dignity, without discrediting their souls and without violating the commandments of the Lord our God. They pray before this image even when loved ones are in trouble: they ask for health for those who are dying, they ask for healing and spiritual insight for children. During the war, pilgrims called out to the Most Pure Virgin in front of the icon “Search for the Lost”, begging the Intercessor to protect those who were at the front. This image is also honored by unmarried girls, for it helps to ask the Queen of Heaven for a happy family life. Prayer

    

    • He is the patron saint of children. Helps sick children and infertile couples. Saint Stylian acquired the fame of a miracle worker for barren parents, whom he made capable of childbearing by his prayers. Prayer.
    • Located in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kosino, Moscow
    • Honor Day December 9
    • If you need an icon of St. Rev. Stylian Paphlogonian for a home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

    

    • It will protect against enemies that threaten the well-being in the house, and all those living in it. They pray to her, asking for healing and wishing health to loved ones. Pray for help in the treatment of diseases of the hands, feet, eyes. It relieves melancholy and sad thoughts. Patronizes those who are engaged in crafts.
      The icon of the Mother of God "Three-handed" and prayer before the image contributes to the growth of well-being. Prayer.
    • Located in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Gonchary, Moscow
    • Days of veneration - July 11, July 25.
    • If you need an icon of the Mother of God "Three Hands" for your home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

    

    • In their prayers, representatives of the medical professions turn to the Saint, and especially surgeons, over whom the Saint took Heavenly Protection. People who are burdened with various ailments, those who are awaiting surgery or have already lost hope for the help of doctors also pray to him. Prayer.
    • Located in the Danilovsky Stauropegial Monastery, Moscow
    • Saint Luke of Crimea is venerated three times a year: June 11 (May 29, old style). The date was set in honor of the peaceful end of the earthly path of the Saint.
      March 18 (March 5, old style). On this day, the acquisition of the multi-healing relics of St. Luke of Crimea is celebrated. February 7 (January 25 old style). The celebration is timed to coincide with the Cathedral of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.
    • If you need an icon of Luke of Crimea for your home iconostasis or as a gift, you can purchase it in the online store by clicking on this link. The icons offered in this online store are made by the masters of the Danilovsky Monastery according to all the canons of Orthodoxy.

How to prepare yourself for going to the temple. The temple is the house of God, heaven on earth, the place where the greatest Sacraments are performed. Therefore, it is necessary to always prepare for the acceptance of shrines, so that the Lord does not condemn us for negligence in communicating with the Great. Some retreats are possible with weakness, with the obligatory reproach of oneself.
Clothing is of great importance, the apostle Paul mentions this, commanding women to cover their heads without fail. He notes that the woman's covered head is a positive sign for angels, for it is a sign of modesty. It is not good to visit the temple in a short, bright skirt, in a defiantly open dress or in a tracksuit. Everything that forces others to pay attention to you and distracts from service and prayer is considered bad. A woman in trousers, in a temple, is also an unacceptable phenomenon. In the Bible, there is still an Old Testament prohibition for women to dress in men's clothes, and men - in women's. Respect the feelings of believers, even if this is YOUR first visit to the temple.

In the morning, getting up from your bed, thank our Lord, who gave us the opportunity to spend the night in peace and extended our days for repentance. Slowly wash your face, stand in front of the icon, light a lamp (necessarily from a candle), to give a prayerful spirit, bring your thoughts into silence and order, forgive everyone and only then start reading morning prayers from the prayer book. If you have time, read one chapter from the Gospel, one of the Acts of the Apostles, one kathisma from the Psalter, or one psalm. At the same time, it must be remembered that it is always better to read one prayer, with a sincere feeling, than all prayers, with an obsessive thought, to complete as soon as possible. Before you leave, say a prayer - “I deny you, Satan, your pride and your service, and unite with You, Christ our God, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen". Then, cross yourself and calmly walk to the temple. On the street, cross the road in front of you, with a prayer: "Lord, bless my ways and save me from all evil." On the way to the temple, read a prayer to yourself: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."

* Rules for entering the temple.
Before entering the temple, cross yourself, bow three times, looking at the image of the Savior, and say to the first bow: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." second bow: "God, cleanse my sins and have mercy on me."
To the third: "I have sinned without number, Lord, forgive me."
Then, having done the same, having entered the doors of the temple, bow to both sides, say to yourself: "Forgive me, brothers and sisters."
* In the temple, it is correct to kiss the icons, as follows:
Kissing the holy icon of the Savior - you should kiss your feet,
Mother of God and Saints - hand,
A miraculous image Savior and the head of St. John the Baptist - in sackcloths.
And remember!!! If you came to the service, then the Service must be defended from beginning to end. Service is not a duty, but a sacrifice to God.
NOTE: - if you do not have the strength to stand the whole service, then you can sit, because as St. Philaret of Moscow said: “It is better to think about God while sitting than about standing legs.”
However, while reading the Gospel it is necessary to stand!!!

HOW TO BE BAPTIZED CORRECTLY.
The sign of the cross is performed in the following way.
We fold our fingers right hand: large, index and middle - together (pinch), ring and little fingers - bending together, press to the palm of your hand.

Three folded fingers mean our faith in God, worshiped in the Trinity, and two fingers - faith in Jesus Christ as true God and true Man. Then, with the tips of three folded fingers, we touch the forehead to sanctify our thoughts; belly to sanctify our body; right and left shoulder to sanctify the works of our hands. Thus we depict the cross on ourselves.

After that we make a bow. Bows are waist and earth. The waist bow consists in tilting the upper body forward after making the sign of the cross. When bowing to the ground, the believer kneels, bending down, touches the floor with his forehead and then gets up.

Regarding what kind of bows and when to make, there are certain extensive church rules. For example, prostrations are not performed during the period from the Easter holiday to the day of the Holy Trinity, as well as in Sundays and on great holidays.

To be baptized without prostrations: 1. In the middle of the Six Psalms on "Alleluia" three times.
2. At the beginning, "I believe."
3. On vacation "Christ, true god our".
4. At the beginning of the reading of the Holy Scriptures: the Gospel, the Apostle and proverbs.

Baptized with a bow:
1. At the entrance to the temple and at the exit from it - three times.
2. At each petition of the litany, after the singing of “Lord, have mercy,” “Give, Lord,” “Thee, Lord.”
3. At the exclamation of the priest, giving glory to the Holy Trinity.
4. At the exclamations “Take, eat”, “Drink everything from her”, “Yours from Yours”.
5. At the words "Most honorable Cherub."
6. At each word “bow down”, “worship”, “fall down”.
7. During the words “Alleluia”, “Holy God” and “Come, let us worship” and with the exclamation “Glory to Thee, Christ God”, before the dismissal - three times.
8. On the canon on the 1st and 9th odes at the first invocation to the Lord, the Mother of God or the saints.
9. After each stichera (moreover, the kliros that finishes singing is baptized).
10. On the lithium after each of the first three petitions of the litany - 3 bows, after the other two - one each.

Baptized with a bow to the ground:
1. Fasting at the entrance to the temple and at the exit from it - 3 times.
2. In fasting after each chorus to the song of the Theotokos "We magnify you."
3. At the beginning of the singing "It is worthy and righteous to eat."
4. After "We'll sing to you."
5. After "It is worthy to eat" or Zadostoynik.
6. At the exclamation: "And vouchsafe us, Lord."
7. When taking out the Holy Gifts, at the words "Come with the fear of God and faith", and the second time - at the words "Always, now and forever."
8. In great post, at Great Compline, while singing "Most Holy Lady" - on every verse; while singing "Our Lady of the Virgin, rejoice" and so on. Three prostrations are performed at Lenten Vespers.
9. In fasting, while praying "Lord and Master of my life."
10. In fasting at the final chant: "Remember me, Lord, when you come into Your Kingdom." Only 3 earthly bows.

Belt bow without the sign of the cross
1. At the words of the priest "Peace to all"
2. "God bless you"
3. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ",
4. "And let there be mercies of the Great God" and
5. At the words of the deacon, “And forever and ever” (after the exclamation of the priest “For thou art holy, our God” before the singing of the Trisagion).

You are not supposed to be baptized.
1. During the psalms.
2. Generally while singing.
3. During litanies, to that kliros who sings the litanian refrains
4. You need to be baptized and bow down at the end of the singing, and not at all at the last words.

Prostrations are not allowed.
On Sundays, on the days from the Nativity of Christ to Baptism, from Easter to Pentecost, on the feast of the Transfiguration and Exaltation (on this day there are three earthly bows to the Cross). Bows stop from the evening entrance before the feast to “Vouchify, Lord” at Vespers on the very day of the feast.

ICONS IN THE HOUSE
Savior Not Made by Hands

Icon is a Greek word and is translated as “image”. Holy Scripture says that Jesus Christ himself was the first to give people His visible image.
Ruled during the earthly life of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the Syrian city of Edessa, King Abgar was seriously ill with leprosy. Having learned that in Palestine, there is a great "prophet and miracle worker" Jesus, who teaches about the Kingdom of God and heals any diseases in people, Abgar believed in Him, and sent his court painter Ananias to give Jesus the letter of Abgar, asking for healing and repentance. In addition, he ordered the painter to paint a portrait of Jesus. But the artist failed to make a portrait, "because of the shining brilliance of His face." To help him, the Lord himself came. He took a piece of fabric and applied it to His Divine face, which is why His divine image was imprinted on the fabric by the power of grace. Having received this Holy Icon, the first icon created by the Lord Himself, Abgar venerated it with faith and received healing for his faith.
Behind it miraculously the name was fixed - * Savior Not Made by Hands *.

The purpose of the icon
The main purpose of the icon is to help people rise above worldly fuss, to assist in prayer. “An icon is an embodied prayer. It is created in prayer and for the sake of prayer, driving force which is love for God, striving for Him as perfect Beauty.
The icon is called upon to awaken in the future before it the spiritual need to pray, to bow down to God in repentance, to seek consolation in sorrows and prayers.

What icons should be in the house Orthodox Christian
At home, it is imperative to have icons of the Savior and the Mother of God. From the images of the Savior, for home prayer, they usually choose a half-length image of the Lord Almighty. A characteristic feature of this iconographic type is the image of the Lord with a blessing hand and an open or closed book. Also, often for the home they acquire the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands.
The icon of the Mother of God is most often chosen from the following iconographic types:
"Tenderness" ("Eleusa") - Vladimirskaya, Donskaya, Pochaevskaya, Feodorovskaya, Tolgskaya, "Recovery of the dead" and others;
"Guidebook" ("Hodegetria") - Kazan, Tikhvin, "Skoroposlushnitsa", Iverskaya, Georgian, "Three Hands", etc.
Usually in Rus' it is accepted in every home iconostasis to dispose of the icon of St. Nicholas, Bishop of the World of Lycia (Nikola the Pleasant). Of the Russian saints, images are most often found St. Sergius Radonezhsky and Seraphim of Sarov; of the icons of the martyrs, the icons of George the Victorious and the healer Panteleimon are very often placed. If space permits, it is desirable to have images of the holy Evangelists, St. John the Baptist, the archangels Gabriel and Michael.
If desired, you can add icons of patrons. For example: The patrons of the family. - Holy noble Prince Peter (in monasticism David) and Princess Fevronia
Saints Peter and Fevronia are a model of Christian marriage. With their prayers, they bring down the heavenly blessing on those who are getting married.
- the holy martyrs and confessors Guriy, Samon and Aviv - are known among Orthodox Christians as the patrons of matrimony, marriage, a happy family; they are prayed “if a husband innocently hates his wife” - they are the intercessors of a woman in a difficult marriage. PATRON OF CHILDREN. Holy Infant Martyr Gabriel of Bialystok

How to Pray RIGHT. Prayers are read according to certain RULES. The rule is the order of reading prayers, fixed by the Church, their composition and sequence. Distinguish: morning, afternoon and evening rule, the rule for Holy Communion.
Each of the rules has almost the same beginning - the initial prayers:

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

King of Heaven...
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (thrice).
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Holy Trinity, have mercy on us...
Lord, have mercy ... (three times).
Glory to the Father and to the Son...
Our Father …"
these opening prayers are followed by the rest.

If you are limited in time, then use the prayer Rule of Seraphim of Sarov:
After sleep, having washed, first of all, you need to stand in front of the icons and, reverently crossing yourself, read three times Lord's Prayer*Our Father*. Then three times * Mother of God Virgin, rejoice * and, finally, the Creed.

Is it possible to pray in your own words? Yes, but within certain restrictions.
The Church does not forbid praying in your own words. Moreover, she points to this and prescribes, say, in the morning rule: “Briefly offer a prayer for the salvation of your spiritual father, your parents, relatives, bosses, benefactors, known to you, sick or in sorrow.” Thus, we can tell the Lord in our own words about what concerns our acquaintances or ourselves personally, about what was not said in the prayers placed in the prayer book.
However, without reaching spiritual perfection, praying with the words that come to mind, even if they come from the depths of the soul, we can only remain at our level of spirituality. By joining the prayers of the saints, trying to delve into their words, each time we become a little higher and better spiritually.
The Lord Himself has given us an example of how to pray. The prayer left by Him to His disciples is called the Lord's. It exists in all prayer books and is part of church services. This is a prayer - *Our Father*.

The Lord's Prayer (given to us by Jesus Christ)
Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be thy name, may thy kingdom come,
May Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us our daily bread for this day;
and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors;
and do not let us fall into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
**********

SYMBOL OF FAITH:
I believe in one God the Father, the Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, everything visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, begotten from the Father before the beginning of time; Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, through whom all things were created.
For us for the sake of people and for our sake of salvation, he descended from heaven and was incarnated from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became a man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and rose again on the third day, as the Scriptures foretold. And ascended into heaven and reigns with the Father. And coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead, His kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, who proceeds from the Father, with the Father and the Son equally worshiped and glorified, who spoke through the prophets.
Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen.
Creed - a summary of the foundations of the Orthodox faith, compiled on I and II Ecumenical Councils in the IV century; recited in the morning as a daily prayer.

PSALM 50.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of Thy mercies, cleanse my iniquities. Wash me from all my iniquities, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my iniquities, and my sin is always before me. I have sinned against You alone, and I have done evil before You, so that You are right in Your judgment and just in Your judgment. From my very birth I am guilty before You; I am a sinner from my conception in my mother's womb. But You love the sincere in heart and reveal to them the secrets of wisdom. Sprinkle me with hyssop and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Return joy and gladness to my soul, and my bones, broken by Thee, will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and cleanse all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Give me back the joy of Thy salvation, and by Thy Sovereign Spirit confirm me. I will teach the transgressors Your ways, and the wicked will turn to You. Deliver me from premature death, O God, God my salvation, and my tongue will praise Your righteousness. God! Open my mouth, and my mouth will proclaim Your praise. For you do not desire sacrifice—I would give it—and you do not delight in burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit; God will not despise the heart of the contrite and humble. Renew Zion, O God, by Thy mercy; raise up the walls of Jerusalem. Then righteous sacrifices will please Thee; then they will offer sacrifices to you on your altar.

* Song of the Most Holy Theotokos:
Virgin Mother of God, rejoice, Blessed Mary, the Lord is with you; blessed are you in women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, as if the Savior gave birth to our souls.

* Prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos:
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! Raise us, servant of God (names), from the depths of sin and deliver us from sudden death and from all evil. Grant, Madam, peace and health to us and enlighten our minds and eyes of the heart, even to salvation, and vouchsafe us, Thy sinful servants, the Kingdom of Thy Son, Christ our God: for His power is blessed with the Father and His Most Holy Spirit.

*A simpler prayer -
Most Holy Mother of God, pray to Your Son and God for the revelation of my mind and for the blessing of my undertakings, and for sending down help from above in my affairs, and forgiving my sins, and for receiving eternal blessings. Amen.

PRAYERS BEFORE EATING AND AFTER EATING FOOD
Blessing of food or Thanksgiving prayer, said before the start of the meal.
Prayer can be read sitting or standing. But, if there are people professing a different faith, then it is better not to say the prayer out loud!
Prayer, in content, can be short or lengthy. The three options below for prayers before a meal are the most common, as they are the most concise:

1. Lord, bless us and these Thy gifts, which we partake of bounty
yours. In the name of Christ our Lord, amen.

2. Bless, Lord, this food so that it goes for our good and gives
strength to serve You and help those who need it. Amen.

3. Let us thank the Lord for the meal that is given to us. Amen.

We present you other options for prayers before meals:

1. Our Father ... Or: The eyes of all are turned to You, Lord, and You give food to everyone at the right time,
you open your generous hand and satisfy all living things.

2. We thank You, Christ our God, for You have satisfied us with Your earthly blessings. Don't deprive us
Your Heavenly Kingdom, but as you once came to Your disciples, granting them peace, come to us and save us.

Often, believers, before and after eating, simply read three prayers: “Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen". "Lord, have mercy" (three times). “Through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Amen".

And, if you want to have a snack with an apple or a sandwich, for example, then the clergy recommend simply to cross yourself or cross what you eat!

PRAYERS FOR THE COMING DREAM:
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother, our reverend and God-bearing fathers and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of Truth, Who is everywhere and fills everything, Treasury of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Blessed, our souls.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Three times)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Lord, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name's sake.
Lord have mercy. (Three times)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 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 our daily bread today; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

* Prayer of St. Macarius the Great, to God the Father
Eternal God and the King of every creature, having vouchsafed me to sing even at this hour, forgive me the sins that I have done in this day by deed, word and thought, and cleanse, Lord, my humble soul from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. And give me, Lord, in this night's sleep to pass away in peace, but having risen from my humble bed, I will please your most holy name, all the days of my stomach, and I will stop the enemies of the flesh and fleshless who fight me. And deliver me, O Lord, from vain thoughts that defile me, and from evil lusts. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

* Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Lord, the King of Heaven, the Comforter, the Soul of truth, have mercy and have mercy on me, Your sinful servant, and let me go unworthy, and forgive all, the tree You have sinned today as a man, more so, and not as a man, but also more woefully than cattle, my free sins and involuntary, known and unknown: even from youth and science are evil, and even from impudence and despondency. If I swear by Your name, or blaspheme in my thoughts; or whom I reproach; or I slandered whom with my anger, or grieved, or about what I became angry; or lied, or was worthless, or came to me poor, and despised him; or my brother grieved, or married, or whom I condemned; or you become proud, or you become proud, or you become angry; or standing by me in prayer, my mind moving about the wickedness of this world, or the corruption of thoughts; or overeat, or drunk, or laughing madly; or a crafty thought, or seeing a strange kindness, and by that wounded by the heart; or unlike the verbs, or the sin of my brother laughed, but my essence is countless sins; or about prayer, not radih, or otherwise that crafty deeds, I don’t remember, that’s all and more than these deeds. Have mercy on me, my Creator, my Lord, a sad and unworthy servant of Yours, and leave me, and let go, and forgive me, as a Good and Humanitarian, but I will lie down in peace, sleep and rest, prodigal, sinful and accursed az, 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
Lord our God, if I have sinned in these days in word, deed and thought, forgive me as Good and Lover of mankind. Peaceful sleep and serene grant me. Send your guardian angel, covering and keeping me from all evil, as if you are the guardian of our souls and our bodies, and we send glory to you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.

* Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for the sake of Your most honest Mother, and Your bodiless Angels, the Prophet and Forerunner and Your Baptist, the apostles of God, the bright and victorious martyrs, the reverend and God-bearing father, and all the saints with prayers, deliver me from the present demonic condition. Hey, my Lord and Creator, do not want the death of a sinner, but as if to turn and live to be him, give me the conversion of the accursed and unworthy; deliver me from the mouth of the destructive serpent that gapes, devour me and bring me down to hell alive. Hey, my Lord, my consolation, Even for the sake of the accursed in corruptible flesh, throw me out of wretchedness, and give consolation to my wretched soul. Plant in my heart to do Thy commandments, and leave evil deeds, and receive Thy blessedness: in Thee, O Lord, trust, save me.

* Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos
Good Tsar, good Mother, Most Pure and Blessed Mother of God Mary, pour out the mercy of Your Son and our God on my passionate soul and with Your prayers instruct me in good deeds, so that the rest of my life will pass without a blemish and I will find paradise with You, Virgin Mother of God, one Pure and Blessed.

* Prayer to the Holy Guardian Angel
Angel of Christ, my holy guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me all, the fir-tree of sinning in this day, and deliver me from every wickedness of the enemy, but in no sin will I anger my God; but pray for me a sinful and unworthy slave, as if I were worthy, show the goodness and mercy of the All-Holy Trinity and the Mother of my Lord Jesus Christ and all the saints. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Life-Giving Cross:
Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee from His presence. As the smoke disappears, let them disappear; like wax melts from the face of fire, so let the demons perish from the face loving God and signing the sign of the cross, and saying in joy: Rejoice, Most Honorable and Life-Giving Cross Lord, drive away the demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, crucified on you, who descended into hell and corrected the strength of the devil, and gave us His Honest Cross to drive away every adversary. O Most Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord! Help me with the Holy Lady Virgin Mother of God and with all the saints forever. Amen.
Or briefly:
Protect me, Lord, by the power of Your Honorable and Life-Giving Cross, and save me from all evil.

*Prayer
Weaken, leave, forgive, God, our sins, free 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 Good and Humanitarian.
*Prayer
Forgive those who hate and offend us, Lord, Lover of mankind. Bless those who do good. Grant to our brethren and relatives even for the salvation of petitions and eternal life. In the infirmities of the being, visit and grant healing. Izhe govern the sea. Travel travel. Grant forgiveness to those who serve and pardon us of sins. Those who have commanded us unworthy to pray for them, have mercy according to Your great mercy. Remember, Lord, before our departed father and brothers, and give them rest, where the light of Thy face dwells. Remember, Lord, our captive brothers and deliver me from every situation. Remember, Lord, those who bear fruit and do good in Your holy churches, and grant them even salvation, petitions and eternal life. Remember, Lord, also us, the humble and sinful and unworthy servants of Thy, and enlighten our minds with the light of Thy mind, and guide us on the path of Thy commandments, with the prayers of our Most Pure Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, and all Thy saints: blessed be Thou forever and ever . Amen.

*Confession of sins DAILY:
I confess to you the Lord my God and Creator, in Holy Trinity To the one, glorified and worshiped, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, all my sins, even if I have done all the days of my stomach, and for every hour, and now, and in the past days and nights, deed, word, thought, obsession, drunkenness, secret eating, idle talk, despondency, laziness, slander, disobedience, slander, condemnation, negligence, pride, acquisitiveness, theft, ill-spokenness, foul profit, mischief, jealousy, envy, anger, remembrance, malice, hatred, covetousness and all my feelings: sight, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching and my other sins, spiritual and bodily together, in the image of you my God and the Creator of anger, and my neighbor untrue: regretting these, I present myself guilty to you, my God, and I have the will to repent: just, Lord God my, help me, with tears I humbly pray to Thee: forgive me, who has passed my sins by Thy mercy, and resolve from all these, even I have spoken before Thee, as Good and Humanitarian.

When you go to sleep, be sure to say:

* In Your hands, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, I commit my spirit: You bless me, You have mercy on me and grant me eternal life. Amen.*

God bless and save you!!!

In any case, you need to understand the principle. Remember how it was at school: to memorize a poem without understanding the meaning is very difficult, you need understanding and penetration. The same in prayer.

To begin with, it is important to understand the Heavenly Hierarchy

At the head of the entire hierarchy is God, he is one (but trinity in Persons, the Holy Trinity: God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - this is how God appeared to people), the first representative before God is the Mother of God, and she is one, despite the fact that there are many varieties her icons, and the icons appeared so that a person understood that she was the first representative on any issue before God. Further down the hierarchy are Angels, Archangels, Cherubim, Seraphim, All the saints who lived a God-pleasing life on earth, and after death people were healed from their relics and continue to be healed. Each saint lived his life in a feat, and someone is more famous, and someone is less known, and often the most revered saints are depicted in temples, who performed special miracles for people.

God, the Mother of God, Saints are depicted on icons, we do not pray to icons, but to those who are depicted on them

If you do not know who is depicted in front of you, take a closer look and you will see in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe face, it is written to us what kind of saint it is. In order to find out the biography of a particular saint, there are books “Lives of the Saints”, where you can get acquainted with the deeds and deeds of the saint and find out why he is revered. Of course, every saint has a special care. So, for example, if a saint was an outstanding doctor, then many people pray to him for medical matters, but this does not mean that it is impossible to ask for anything else, quite the contrary. Can. But when praying to the saints, we must understand that they are God's helpers, but not substitutes for him, and it is necessary and possible to ask them for intercession before God on such and such issues.

In everything related to prayer, it is very important to understand that we pray in front of an icon, but not an icon, we turn to the one who is depicted on it, we honor icons, but we do not worship icons, but bow our heads and knees as if before the Lord himself or the Mother of God or Saints.

There are prayers that were compiled by the Holy Fathers, they are contained in the prayer book (a collection of prayers), but what if we are in the temple and do not know the prayers?

Sincerity matters

In fact, sincerity is important, and in such cases you can pray in your own words. For example: “Holy Father Nicholas, pray to God for us”, then you can ask for whatever you see fit. Similarly, to the Mother of God: "Most Holy Theotokos, save us, help us." And at the icon of All Saints: "All Saints, pray to God for us." And there is no greater petition than the one we are talking about.

But if you have a prayer book, you should know that they are of different publishers and content, some have only basic prayers, and there are few prayers for saints, then they are looking for special collections of prayers for certain saints.

Prayers are written in Church Slavonic liturgical language

The prayers were compiled by the Holy Fathers so that a person in the liturgical language clearly expresses his thought, because you have already understood how difficult it is for a person to concentrate on prayer, it is difficult to understand how to speak and what to ask. The Holy Fathers very competently and penetratingly composed prayers under the Grace of the Holy Spirit, and their words soften the soul of a person, open his heart to God, open his eyes.

The meaning of prayer

The meaning of prayer is not reading, not reading, not spells - these are no longer prayers, this is occultism. Prayer is the appeal of a person to God, the Mother of God or a Saint. When reading a prayer, a person penetrates into the meaning of every word. The composition of the prayer may contain both an appeal, and praise, and a mention of historical moments related in meaning to a particular prayer. If the prayer is already familiar, then you cannot switch to automatic reading, in which case it is important to focus on each word.

I will try to show the difference between the veneration of the saints and the service of God with one example.

Once I had a conversation with a young man who, having come to the temple, was very indignant at the presence in the church of a large number of icons. It was clear that the young man was well versed in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, had an idea about some Christian dogmas, although somewhat distorted, but at the same time he was an absolutely non-church person. From this I concluded that before me stood a man who had fallen under the influence of the teachings of some pseudo-Christian sect. Moreover, the guy's behavior was somewhat aggressive towards everything Orthodox.

One got the impression that he was specially sent to the temple for some kind of provocation. This opinion was reinforced by the appearance of a candlestick that was clearly restraining its emotions, with which the young man tried to "clear his brain." I hurried to the aid of the churchwoman.

As expected, all the attention of the young man immediately turned to me, because. he sincerely hoped to prove his case to at least one Orthodox Christian, and even more so, to a priest. He supported his arguments with the words of the Holy Scriptures: “It is said, after all, “Worship the Lord your God and serve Him alone” (). So why in Orthodox churches such a large number of icons of saints, when there should be nothing but images of Christ? And as you enter, you only hear, pray to the Mother of God, Nicholas the Wonderworker, Panteleimon the Healer and someone else. Where does God go? Or have you already replaced Him with other gods?” I felt that the conversation was going to be difficult and, apparently, a long one. I will not retell it all, but I will try to highlight only the very essence, because. In these difficult times, many people are asking similar questions. And, unfortunately, these seekers of truth quite often fall victim to well-trained sectarians and themselves become permanent members of various kinds of sects.

To begin with, I invited the young man to deal with the definitions, following a simple logic. This is a simple psychological technique that I often use when necessary to convey to a person some undeniable truths. So, who are the saints and why should they pray? Are they really some gods of a lower order? After all, he calls to honor them and offer prayers to them. To begin with, the veneration of saints is an ancient Christian tradition that has been preserved since apostolic times. The martyr who suffered for Christ, immediately after his death, became an object of reverent veneration for believers. On the tombs of the first Christian saints, Divine Liturgy, prayers were offered to them. It is clear that the saint was rewarded special reverence, but not at all as a separate god. These were people who gave their lives for God. And, first of all, they themselves would be against exalting them to the rank of a deity. After all, we, for example, honor the memory of people who laid down their lives for the Fatherland on the battlefields. And we even erect monuments to them so that future generations would know and honor these people. So why can't Christians honor the memory of people who especially pleased God with their lives or martyrdom while calling them saints? I asked the young man to answer this question. An affirmative answer followed. The first bastion of sectarian thinking has collapsed.

Now it was necessary to show this seeker of truth the difference between the worship of God and the veneration of the saints. A church-going person can immediately see the difference in definitions. Indeed, man is called to serve the Lord his God and only Him alone. Worshiping anything or anyone else is regarded as a violation of the first commandment: “I am the Lord your God, that you have no other gods before me” (). Serving the Lord is manifested both in the church and in Everyday life Orthodox Christian. It is enough to pay attention to the name - divine service, and not holy service at all. Thus, the Orthodox do not worship saints at all, but venerate them. They are revered as senior mentors, as people who have reached spiritual heights, as people who live in God and for God. People who have reached the Kingdom of Heaven. And the basis for the veneration of mentors was given by St. Paul: “Remember your leaders…. and looking at the end of their lives, imitate their faith ”(). And the faith of the saints is the Orthodox faith, and it calls for the veneration of the saints from apostolic times. And one of the greatest saints spoke of this veneration: “The saints are venerated - not by nature, we worship them, because God glorified and made them terrible for enemies and benefactors for those who come to them in faith. We worship them not as gods and benefactors by nature, but as servants and co-servants of God, having boldness towards God because of their love for Him. We worship them, because the King himself refers honoring to Himself when he sees that they honor the person he loves not as a King, but as an obedient servant and a friend well-disposed to Him.

Our conversation with the young man turned into a more relaxed channel, and now he listened more than he spoke. But for greater persuasiveness, it was necessary to give a couple more weighty arguments for being right, and I hastened to do so. For this, the concept of the heavenly and earthly Church fit perfectly. The Church of Heaven - triumphant, together with the Church of the earth - militant constitutes the one Church of Christ - His Body. And all people, including saints, are individually members of the Church of Christ. The saints are our intercessors and patrons in heaven and therefore living and active members of the militant, earthly Church. Their grace-filled presence in the Church, outwardly manifested in their icons and relics, surrounds us like a prayerful cloud of God's glory. It does not separate us from Christ, but brings us closer to Him, unites us with Him. These are not mediators between God and people who would remove the One Mediator of Christ, as Protestants think, but our fellow-prayers, friends and helpers in our service to Christ and our fellowship with Him. The mediator is "... one and the mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all ..." (). The Church is the body of Christ, and those who are saved in the Church receive the power and life of Christ, are adored, become “gods by grace,” are themselves Christs in Christ Jesus. Thus, the saints are those who, by the feat of their active faith and active love, have realized in themselves their likeness to God and thereby showed in strength God's image which attracted the abundant grace of God. After all, Christ himself says in the Gospel: “Whoever loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and we will make our abode with him” (). The apostle only confirms these words: “I do not live, but Christ lives in me” (). To this, my interlocutor could no longer find intelligible arguments in his favor either in the Holy Scriptures or in his sectarian knowledge.

Now I could safely move on to the question of prayer to the saints. As I have already shown above, the saints are our prayer partners and friends on the path of serving God. But can't we ask to intercede for us before the throne of the Almighty? Doesn't the same thing happen in our daily life when we ask our loved ones and acquaintances to put in a good word for us in front of our superiors? But our Heavenly Father is much higher than any earthly authorities. And He really can do everything that cannot be said about simple earthly people. But when praying to the saints, one should not forget about praying to the Lord at all. For He alone is the Giver of all blessings. And it's very important point, because many Orthodox Christians in prayer to the saints forget about the One to whom, in the end, the prayer request will be directed, even if it is the intercession of one of the saints. A Christian should not forget about the Lord his God. After all, the saints also served Him. By this I showed the young man how important it is not to go too far even in such a seemingly simple matter as prayer. It was clear that the guy was in some confusion, but having collected his thoughts, he gave out the last question: “Tell me, why is it necessary to pray to different saints on a specific issue?” I expected this question and the answer was already ready. Saints can help us not because of the abundance of their merits, but because of the spiritual freedom they acquire in love, which is achieved by their feat. It gives them the power of intercession before God in prayer, as well as in active love for people. God gives the saints, along with the angels of God, to do His will in the lives of people by active, albeit usually invisible, help. They are the hands of God with which God does His works. Therefore, it is given to the saints even beyond death to do works of love, not as a feat for their own salvation, which has already been accomplished, but, indeed, to help in the salvation of other brethren. And this help is given by the Lord Himself in all our worldly needs and experiences through the prayers of the saints. Hence the saints - the patrons of certain professions or intercessors before God in everyday needs. pious church tradition, based on the lives of the saints, ascribes to them effective help to his earthly brethren in various needs. For example, George the Victorious, who was a warrior during his lifetime, is revered as the patron of the Orthodox army. The Great Martyr Panteleimon, who was a doctor during his lifetime, is prayed for deliverance from bodily ailments. Nicholas the Wonderworker is greatly revered by sailors, and girls pray to him for a successful marriage, based on the facts of his life. People who live off fishing pray for a successful catch to the apostles Peter and Andrew, who, before their high calling, were simple fishermen. And of course, one cannot fail to say about the highest of all angels and archangels, the Most Holy Theotokos, who stands at the head of the host of saints. She is the patroness of motherhood.

In Orthodoxy, there is a custom to give names at baptism in honor of Christian saints, who, at the same time, are called angels this person(name day is also called angel day). This word usage indicates that the saint and the guardian angel are so close in serving their person that they are even designated by a common name, although they are not identified.

Our conversation was coming to a logical end. I very much hoped that the arguments I had advanced should have left a mark on the soul of this young man. And I was not mistaken. Finally, he said a phrase for which one could talk for a very long time: “Thank you! I realized that I was wrong in many ways. Apparently my knowledge of Christianity is still not enough, but now I know where to look for the truth. In Orthodoxy. Thank you very much again." With these words, my interlocutor left. Left alone with my joy, I hurried to the temple to raise thanksgiving prayer To the Lord and all the saints who helped me on this day in my pastoral ministry. But that's a completely different story....

All Saints, pray to God for us!

Part two

Not so long ago, my article “Why pray to the saints when there is Christ?” was published on the site. As I expected, it caused a sufficient number of reviews. There were reviews with gratitude, and there were also with condemnation and misunderstanding. But I remember one comment. I will quote it verbatim: “I have a couple of comments. As you know, Protestants are different. Among them are Lutherans. And they know Scripture as a whole better than the Orthodox. So, their position is: you can “venerate the saints”, i.e. remember their life, set them as an example ... but you can’t pray to them. Why? - because all the dead are waiting Doomsday. Prior to that, they are, as it were, "incapacitated." Thus, the question is not pantheism, but understanding afterlife before (!) Court. If the priest deigns to explain this, referring to Scripture (and for Protestants this is authority, unlike tradition), then it will be more valuable.

So, I invite the reader to reconsider the theme of the veneration of saints in the light of Holy Scripture. Immediately I would like to object to the author of the commentary that the Lutherans know the Bible better than the Orthodox. The Bible is the same for both Orthodox and Protestants. There are Orthodox who know the Holy Scriptures very well, and there are Protestants who are well versed in the knowledge of the Bible. Therefore, I think that any comparison is generally inappropriate.

Let's continue further. Indeed, Protestants do not recognize Holy Tradition, for them only the Holy Scriptures are the authority. Let it be. Let's start with Ap. Paul, said in the epistle to the Hebrews: “You have approached ... the city of the Living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem and the multitudes of angels, the triumphant cathedral and the church of the firstborn written in heaven, and the Judge of all God, and the spirits of the righteous who have reached perfection” ( ). The righteous are in heaven, in Heavenly Jerusalem. This means that their afterlife is already determined by the Lord. Even more revealing in this matter are the words of the Savior, spoken to the repentant thief: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (). Holy Scripture contains a sufficient number of texts that speak of saints as inhabitants of the Heavenly City. Here is one of them: “then four animals and twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (). The importance of the saints in Heavenly Jerusalem is also shown: “And he made us kings and priests to our God; and we will reign on the earth" (). And their number is quite large: “And I saw and heard the voice of many angels around the throne and animals and elders, and their number was ten thousand and thousands of thousands” (). Therefore, according to Scripture, the saints are already in paradise next to the Lord, and their afterlife is already determined before the Last Judgment.

Now it is worth reflecting on the "incapacity" of the saints, about whom the author of the commentary spoke. Here it would be appropriate to define the Church of Christ. Let's go back to Scripture. God put "everything heavenly and earthly to unite under the Head - Christ" (). Therefore, the Church of Christ is a combination of heavenly and earthly churches. The Church, heavenly and earthly, is one Body, the Head of which is Christ. And all of us, including the saints, are members of one Body. But don't the members of one body take care of each other. Doesn't one foot, stumbling, transfer the entire burden of the body to the other foot? Or is one hand not washing the other while taking care of it. The body cannot function if the heart stops working. In this case, do not the saints take care of us, already being before God.

Does not a healthy organ of the body send an impulse to the brain that the neighboring one has begun to hurt. In the same way, the saints pray to the Lord for us, “so that there is no division in the body, and all members equally take care of each other. Therefore, if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is glorified, all members rejoice with him ”(). “Jerusalem above ... he is the mother of all of us” (). But the citizens of one city, when they see their fellow citizens in any trouble, immediately, at their call, help in any way they can. So do both Orthodox and Protestants. Both those and others pray for each other, despite the many difficulties that have to be overcome in order to help either by deed or by prayer. They pray according to the word of the apostle: “Is any of you sick, let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will raise him up ”().

So why do Protestants forbid the apostles themselves to pray for us? Isn't this absurd? Mutual prayer is a manifestation of mutual Christian love and care. It is in this reciprocity between the earthly Church and the heavenly that Protestant theologians do not believe. During the days of their earthly life, the apostles, according to the word of the Savior, loved their neighbors and prayed for them: “we ... do not stop praying for you” (). So really, after they “left the body and settled down with the Lord” (), did they begin to love those who remained on earth less? Have they really lost that love in Christ Jesus, about which they themselves wrote that it “never ceases” ()? No no and one more time no! They pray for us and their prayer is effective, and it is foolish to deny it. How many miracles the Lord performs through their holy relics and icons! And there is no contradiction to this in Holy Scripture, for "faith without works is dead" (). And their deeds are visible to all.

The saints ask for us, and the Lord fulfills their requests: “whatever you ask in prayer with faith, you will receive” (). They are our prayers. We ask them to pray with us and for us. So why should we reject from ourselves what was natural for the saints - prayer for each other? In Orthodoxy, the prayerful invocation of saints is based on the fact that they are the same people. And we ask them the same thing that we ask other people who have free prayer. Calls for mutual prayer not only the Lord, but the saints echo him. Saint: “Let us everywhere and always pray for each other ... and if one of us first goes there (to heaven) by the good pleasure of God: may our mutual love continue before the Lord, and may the prayer for our brothers not cease before the mercy of the Father.” And here is what he says about the intercession of the saints by St. in a word for 40 martyrs: “How much labor would you use to find one prayer book for yourself to the Lord! - and here are 40 prayer books, sending up a consonant prayer ... a holy face! Holy squad! Relentless Regiment! General Guardians human race! Good accomplices in cares, companions in prayers, the most powerful intercessors, luminaries of the universe, the flower of churches! The earth did not hide you, but the sky received you, the gates of paradise were opened for you.

So, the saints pray for us, their help is effective and visible to many. How many spiritual and worldly needs people have. But the Lord does not always fulfill our prayer requests. And this is because of our sins: “And when you stretch out your hands, I close my eyes from you; and when you multiply your prayers, I do not hear: your hands are full of blood ”(). It also happens because we pray without faith and diligence: “A man with double thoughts is not firm in all his ways” (). The Lord hears and fulfills the prayers of the saints: “because the eyes of the Lord are turned to the righteous and His ears to their prayer” (). The prayers of the saints are strong before God: “Confess your wrongdoings to each other and pray for each other to be healed: the fervent prayer of the righteous can do much. Elijah was a man like us, and prayed with a prayer that it would not rain: and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. And he prayed again: and the sky gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. Therefore, we are trying to find ourselves prayerful and intercessors before the Lord among the saints. Indeed, many people resort to the prayerful help of saints in various needs. And the Lord gives each saint a special grace of helping people in different situations. How many women become happy mothers after many years of infertility through the prayers of the Mother of God. And truly, “Who, flowing into your temple, the Mother of God, does not soon receive healing?” (rite of the small consecration of water). And how many people the Lord heals from bodily ailments with the hands of the Great Martyr. Panteleimon the Healer. And do not count all the miracles that God works through the prayers of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

There is already a tradition of praying to different saints in different needs. There is nothing prejudicial in it, if you follow all of the above. But, unfortunately, many people do not understand this. Recently, “prayer books for various needs” have appeared on sale in churches. They abundantly present prayers to saints in various everyday needs. The names of the prayers in them are presented approximately as follows: "a prayer to Adrian and Natalia for family well-being" or "a prayer to Panteleimon the Healer from bodily ailments." Great, let's pray! We open the desired page and see that there is a prayer read on the feast day of the saint. Something is embarrassing. Where is our need in life? Where did our prayer request to the saint to pray in a particular situation go? Isn't it easier to turn to the saint in your own words and ask him to pray for us. After all, as he said, "the prayers of the saints have very great power, but only when we ourselves repent and correct ourselves." And only in a rare book can such an explanation be found. As a rule, it is not. And the people of God begin to diligently read the proposed prayers as some kind of conspiracies. After all, it is written in black and white: “from bodily ailments,” etc. And they do not even consult with the priests in such an important matter as prayer rule. What for? After all, everything is written in the prayer book, how and to whom to pray. And in prayer to the saint, many completely forget that the giver of all blessings is the Almighty God, and not the saint. And the prayer rule of such a person is similar to such a “prayer book for every need”, where there is no place for prayer to the Lord. And a person is already beginning to imagine himself a pillar of piety and an example of prayerful asceticism. As a result, he falls into arrogance. And this is the fault of the publishers of such prayer books, who, in order to save money, do not bother to explain how to properly honor the saints and ask for their prayerful intercession. Sad but true! And this is not invented by me at all, but is based on real human destinies. Fortunately, there are also opposite examples, when publishers, taking care of the reader, explain in detail how to honor the saints and turn to them for prayer support. Such a prayer book is pleasant to pick up and pray.

So what should an inexperienced person do in such an important matter as prayer? First of all, it is necessary to clearly understand that we ask the saints to pray to God for us. And nothing else! Secondly, prayer is not some kind of conspiracy, after reading which the head will instantly stop hurting or the daughter who has sat in the girls will successfully marry. Only the Lord knows when and what to give from His rich mercies and generosity to man. Thirdly, before starting the constant reading of one or another prayer follow-up, you need to take a blessing from the confessor. In this case, a person will know that he is doing the right thing, and it is always better to pray with a blessing. You can even ask the priest to serve a prayer service to the saint, to whom he will subsequently turn with prayers. But just do not ask the priest to serve a prayer service for material well-being or promotion. If the Lord fulfilled these petitions, then the priests would probably be the richest and most successful people on the ground. But most importantly, we must remember that prayer is never superfluous. She, according to the word, "is our reverent conversation with God." Let it be the intercession of the saints. In a word, talk to your health! All saints, pray to God for us!

Hello!

Most dictionaries interpret the term "prayer" as an appeal of a believer to God and holy people with requests, praises and thanks.

Unfortunately, for a person who stands up, such a narrow definition is more likely to raise new questions ...

How to pray? What position of the body is needed for reading prayers? Who exactly should you pray to if there are many saints in your spiritual tradition? Who should pray if you have not decided on your religion? And, most importantly, how does prayer affect life?

Prayer is the greatest power that changes the fate of a person. There is no power on this earth that influences a person's life more than prayer. What is this influence?

• Prayer cleanses and softens
• It gives knowledge how to live on and do the right thing in any situation.

How to pray properly worship saints

We are all very closely connected to each other on earth. So, for example, a mother often feels that her son or daughter is sick, although she may not see them and be far away.

The same connection exists even with those who no longer live on earth. And this connection can be strengthened - it all depends on the determination in the heart to establish a closer relationship. Just like a mother to her children, one can be close to a holy person with one's heart.

How to do it?

Unfortunately, we cannot establish a relationship directly with God. There is a simple reason for this: the highest living being does not like cheap relationships.

Humans are by nature cheap creatures. Once we have achieved some kind of relationship, we want to continue to enjoy them. In prayer, we constantly ask God for something. That is, just felt God - immediately "give". He does not want such a relationship, and therefore does not allow unworthy people to approach him.

« Jesus said to him: I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me»

Gospel of John, chapter 14

Holy people are guides, the road to God for those who want to establish a deep relationship with the Higher.

Jesus said that only through him can one come to God. And if a person prays to him, he definitely reaches God.

Thus, a person prays to the saints, and his life begins to move towards God. The knowledge and understanding of how to live is revealed to him, life itself changes, and everything external to which we usually aspire in material life comes naturally.

1) Constant presence in the society of believers

2) Love for all living beings

3) Devotion and Love to God

Who needs to pray if you have not decided on a religious tradition

Take a picture of a holy person you know.

Read to him prayers that you come up with yourself, which come from the heart.

Prayer should contain an appeal to God. For example, it might start like this: My beloved Lord! I want to live for you...».

After a while, you will get to know your spiritual tradition and faith and understand who you need to pray to. But the only way to gain this knowledge is through a holy man.

How to pray correctly

➨ Firstly. You should put in front of you the image of a holy person. Even a painted icon will do - a connection with the saint will be established even through a painted image. (For Muslims - the Koran, or remember the holy name.)

➨ Secondly, in front of the icon you need to light a couple of candles - the fire clears the space.

➨ Third if you have a recording of the voice of a very exalted and pure person from your spiritual tradition, especially when he prays, this is the greatest wealth that can be in this life.

The strongest opportunity to develop spiritually is to hear a pure sound, the sound of a holy man's voice.

It is important to try not to artificially evoke any feelings in yourself (for example, repentance or love), not to get carried away by the experiences that arise, but to fully concentrate on reading the prayer.

“I want to satisfy you with my life. I want to live for you, not myself. I want you to feel better, not me. I want your mission to be fulfilled, not mine. I want your life to bloom next to me, not mine. I want your dreams to be fulfilled, not mine. I don't need anything from you. I want you to be happy".

Such a state is called selfless service. When a person enters into it, this saint enters into a person's life. He begins to live our life, and we - his. And now we will do everything for him, and he will do everything for us.

Of course, this is very difficult to achieve, because we always want to live only for ourselves, even spiritually. We constantly want to only ask for something, instead of doing everything for him.

Fortunately, to keep yourself in this state and get the opportunity to focus strongly, there is →

4 body positions for reading a prayer

❀ Position 1. Standing still - gives a person inner strength, he becomes adamant. This position is needed when a person achieves something in life. It gives the opportunity to overcome difficulties, obstacles, victory over fate.

❀ Position 2. Kneeling - gives a person victory over his bad habits. A person internally becomes resistant, like a stone.

❀ Position 3. Sitting on the hips (if from pose 2 on your knees to sit on the buttocks) - gives the ability to deeply understand everything. As a result, a person becomes peaceful, collected, focused and thus “breaks through” his destiny.

The 3 poses described above have one common property They help overcome obstacles.

❀ Statement 4- a lightweight version of the so-called. lotus posture. You need to bend at the knees and cross your legs, throwing one leg on the thigh of the other. This posture enhances the concentration of the worshiper.

If a person can sit in the full lotus position (padmasana) and put both legs on his hips, his spiritual thinking is very much organized. A person will be able to deeply concentrate on prayer, not be distracted, to concentrate his attention.

➥ If you are tired of being in one position while reading a prayer, take another. You should never completely relax and, as it were, "settle" in a pose. The back should be perfectly straight.

➥ If you fall asleep, swaying from side to side a little will help keep you awake.

➥ If you can’t concentrate, and thoughts switch your attention all the time, while you are in a very alert state, try to freeze and not move.

Of course, that's not all there is to know about reading prayers and about how to pray. We will continue our conversation in a few days.