Changes

Jump to: navigation, search

Prayer

6,749 bytes added, 05:37, January 1, 2013
no edit summary
__NOTOC__
{{spirituality}}
'''Prayer''', with [[fasting]] and [[Alms|almsgiving]], is one of the three "pillars of piety" ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 6:1-18). The Orthodox Church teaches that all of the [[virtues]] and powers of [[God]] are attained primarily by prayer.
==Personal and private prayer==
Personal prayer must be in secret. In the spiritual tradition of the Church, [[Jesus Christ|Christ]]’s words "go into your room" have been interpreted both, literally, and also to mean that the praying person must enter within himself, a unification of the mind and the heart, within the soul.
{{stub}}  ==Personal Prayer must be brief. It must be simple and Private Prayer== * The [[Jesus Prayer]]regular. It can be the totally silent inner attitude of the soul before God, the fulfillment of the words of the psalmist: a short contemplative ‘’Commune with your hearts... and be silent. Be still, and know that I am God.’’ Spiritual teachers warn against being too long and demanding of the Lord because prayer directed to God in faith is answered. One may get what they want but should not have. God knows best what is needed, and one should trust him in prayer, "Give what is needed, 0 Lord. Thy will be done.* " The teaching of Christ on how to pray, is the [[Lord's Prayer|Our Father]].
==Unceasing prayer==
St. [[Apostle Paul|Paul]], in his first letter to the Thessalonians says, "pray without ceasing", and to the Romans, "be constant in prayer." This has been interpreted by Orthodox tradition in two different ways. One is to have regular times for prayer which are never skipped, a [[prayer rule]]. The other is to have a brief prayer verse, usually the [[Jesus Prayer]] which is repeated over and over, literally hundreds of times throughout the day and night, until it becomes perpetually implanted in the heart, as a continual presence in the soul, calling out to the Lord.
<br>According with [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOGXdLoNl2w Father Cleopa] there are the following stages of prayer:
<ul>
<li>prayer of the lips - when prayer is just said
<li>prayer of the mind - when mind comprehends the prayer
<li>prayer of the heart - when mind descends into heart
<li>active prayer - when heart starts praying alone even in sleep
<li>all-seeing prayer - when unseen world including angels becomes visible together with future, past
<li>ecstasy prayer - when mind is taken to Heaven
<li>contemplative prayer - when people can be taken to Heaven
</ul>
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejtQagWplJc Father Paisios], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycxr6D74q-Y Father Porphyrios], Father Iakobov, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxjhnoGZRe4 Father Arsenie Boca], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1q0Zk7-zuE Father Ilarion Argatu] were examples of people at a high level of Prayer of the Heart. Here is an Hesychast speaking about speaking to God and about [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap7kreDRzgQ Prayer of the Heart].
<br>Practical teachings about raising through prayer stages is done in the book [http://orthodoxwiki.org/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim The Way of a Pilgrim] and this book recommends saying "Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me !" many times.
<br>The following steps are recommended:
<ul>
<li>To say the prayer "Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me !" for 3000 times a day for around one week,
<br>Then
<li>To say the prayer "Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me !" for 6000 times a day for around another week
<br>Then
<li>To say the prayer "Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me !" for 12000 times a day for around another week and then to continue the prayer many times
</ul>
Also, practical advice about the Prayer of the Heart is found in the book named [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Philokalia Philokalia]. [http://orthodoxwiki.org/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim The Way of a Pilgrim] book recommends a certain way in reading [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Philokalia Philokalia] so as to better understand the Prayer of the Heart.
The following chapters are recommended to be read from [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Philokalia Philokalia]
<ul>
<li>The book of Nicephorus the monk (in part two)
<li>The whole book of Gregory of Sinai, except the short chapters
<li>Simeon the new theologian on the three forms of prayer and his discourse on faith
<li>The book of Callistus and Ignatius.
<li>Part four with the summarized pattern of prayer by the most holy Callistus, Patriarch of Constantinople
<br>The books above explain the Prayer of The Hearth in a way that can be understood by everyone.
</ul>
==Intercessory prayer==
Orthodoxy teaches that Jesus, in praying to his [[God the Father|Father]], prayed for his people, and he is the only competent intercessor for mankind before God. In his resurrected glory, he prays eternally to his Father on behalf of all. In and through Christ, Orthodox Christians become competent to intercede before God. In the name of Jesus, Christians are authorized to pray for each other and for all creation. All prayer is to God the Father, through his Son, in his [[Holy Spirit]], even if not mentioned in the words of the prayer.
<!-God, outside of time, knows all things eternally and takes into consideration each act in his overall plan. Even before the creation of the world, God has heard, or rather, more accurately, eternally hears, the prayers of his people. The Lord does not hear prayers after something is finished, because for God there is no before and after at all. God knows what is asked even prior to it being asked, for he knows all of life in one divine act of all-embracing vision and knowledge. Prayers, even for those who are dead, are heard and considered by God before they are said. Failure to pray is also known to God from eternity, and takes its effect in God's plan of salvation.==Liturgical Prayerprayer=====Prayerbooks======Seasonal prayers===In the Orthodox Church, liturgical prayer is the Church's participation in Christ's perpetual prayer in the presence of God in the Kingdom of heaven, offering his "body" and "bride" to the Father in the Spirit. It is the official prayer of the formally assembled Church, the body of Christ, and the bride of Christ.
-->==Intercessory In the liturgical prayer==of the Church, one should make every effort to join oneself fully with all the members of the body. This is not a time for personal prayer, one should pray with the Church. Not to forgets one’s own needs and desires, not just become a voice in the crowd, rather one should unite one’s own person, one’s own needs and desires, with all those who are present, with the church throughout the world, throughout time, with the angels and saints, with Christ Himself in the one great "divine" and "heavenly liturgy" of all creation before God.
===Prayer for the dead===
The deceased are remembered at a special service called "Saturday of the Souls" held four times a year: the two Saturdays prior to [[Great Lent]], the first Saturday of Great Lent, and the Saturday before [[Pentecost]]. Orthodox believe that it is the duty of the living to remember and pray for the deceased. A general prayer is said for specific individuals and all unknown souls who have no one to pray for them. Parishoners bring small dishes of kollyva to the church and submit a list of first names of the deceased loved ones to the [[priest]].
* [[Prayer Rule]]
* [[Orthodox Prayers]]
* [[Memorial Services]]
==External links==
*[http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8157.asp Prayer as an Important Aspect of Our Spiritual Life] by Monk Moses in ''Athonite Flowers''. Brookline, MA: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1999.
*[http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8634.asp What is Prayer?] from the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]] Department of Religious Education in ''Orthodox Prayer Book'': My Holy Pascha, April 14, 1985. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
*[http://www.antiochian.org/1123706246 Prayer to the Saints] from the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]]
*[http://www.oca.org/QA.asp?ID=6&SID=3 Mary / Prayer / Death] from the [[Orthodox Church in America]] website
*[http://home.it.com.au/~jgrapsas/pages/orth_prayer.html Prayer in the Orthodox Christian Church] from the website of the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia]]
*[http://www.oca.org/OCchapter.asp?SID=2&ID=191 Prayer] - V. Rev. [[Thomas Hopko]]
*[http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=sG_3pZvMQ4g Purpose of Orthodox Christian prayer], Bishop. Christodoulos of the Holy Metropolis Old Calendar G.O. Church discusses the purpose of Orthodox Christian prayer.
*[http://www.orthodoxprayer.org/ Orthodox Prayer]
*[http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=1FEWldidLCM Amateur video on Orthodox Prayer]
* [http[Category://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8157.asp Prayer as an Important Aspect of Our Spiritual Church Life] by Monk Moses in ''Athonite Flowers''. Brookline, MA: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1999.* [http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8634.asp What is Prayer?] from the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]] Department of Religious Education in ''Orthodox Prayer Book'': My Holy Pascha, April 14, 1985. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.* [http://www.antiochian.org/1123706246 Prayer to the Saints] from the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]]* [httpCategory://www.oca.org/QA.asp?ID=6&SID=3 Mary / Prayer / Death] from the [[Orthodox Church in America]] website* [http://home.it.com.au/~jgrapsas/pages/orth_prayer.html Prayer in the Orthodox Christian Church] from the website of the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaSpirituality]]
[[Categoryro:Church LifeRugăciunea]]
Pasadi97
348
edits
Retrieved from "https://orthodoxwiki.org/Special:MobileDiff/40076...113655"

Navigation menu