Orthodox Daily Prayers Part 1

Orthodox Daily Prayers.

by Anonymous.

INTRODUCTION

THE PRAYERBOOK

The present Prayerbook contains the most basic daily prayers of the Orthodox Christian as they have been transmitted to us essentially by the Russian Church, although the other Orthodox Traditions in this matter are very similar.

In this book, we will find the Psalms of the Holy Prophet King David, the prayer which Our Lord Himself taught His holy disciples, prayers of the desert fathers, prayers of the great hierarchs and teachers of the Church, as well as the prayers of more recent fathers.

The publication of such prayers does not limit the free expression of the Christian soul to the Creator, the Most-holy Theotokos and the Saints. On the contrary, by reading these prayers we learn how to pray. They become models for our own, personal prayers. Often, we would like to pray but, distracted by the bustling world around us, or troubled by fear or sorrow, we do not even know how to begin. We then begin with the Prayerbook and find that not only much of what we wanted to say is included in the prayers of the fathers, but that afterwards, we find words of our own to continue the outpouring of our soul.

There is yet another gift in the Prayerbook. As Orthodox Christians we are all members of the same Body. We express and partake of that oneness in the services of the Church, especially in the Divine Liturgy. Through the Prayerbook, this oneness is brought into our homes or any place that an Orthodox Christian reads it. Our own prayers are carried to the Throne of G.o.d on the wings of prayers that have been used by the People of G.o.d for centuries. We no longer pray alone.

THE RULE OF PRAYER

Many rules of prayer have developed in the history of the Church. At no place or time has there been a uniform rule. In 19th Century Russia, for example, the rule varied considerably from one monastery to another, though certain basic elements were found in all of them. Therefore, the term "Rule of Prayer" should never be understood as a strait jacket, regulating and limiting our communion with G.o.d.

What the Rules do teach us is the importance of regularity in our life of prayer. It is better to say a few prayers every day without fail than to say a great number of prayers on an irregular, impulsive basis. Those of us who are fortunate enough to have a spiritual father should consult him before establis.h.i.+ng our own Rule. Those of us who do not, should begin with a modest Rule, increasing it only when it has become a regular and integral part of our lives.

THE TRANSLATION

We have attempted to use a contemporary but dignified form of the English language throughout this present translation. Wherever possible, existing translations of the Orthodox Church in America have been used. For example, the Prayers in Preparation for Holy Communion are taken from the official Divine Liturgy book (St. Tikhon's Seminary Press, 1977) with very few changes. The Psalms, verses, troparia, and prayers not included in that edition have now been translated and included to complete the traditional order.

The Psalms are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible with changes made wherever significant differences with the Orthodox liturgical Psalter (based on the Septuagint) made it necessary. The numbering of the Psalms follows the Septuagint throughout the Prayerbook.

We are leaving to Biblical scholars the study of the merits of the various texts of the Holy Scriptures. Our object here is to provide the English-speaking Orthodox Christian with a Prayerbook as closely equivalent as possible to the Prayerbooks that Orthodox Christians of other nationalities have used for generations.

MORNING PRAYERS

_Having awakened, arise from your bed without laziness and, having gathered your thoughts, make the Sign of the Cross, saying:_

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

_Afterwards, stand in silence for a few moments until all your senses are calmed. At that point, make three prostrations, saying:_

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of G.o.d, have mercy on me, a sinner.

_Then, begin the Morning Prayers with these words:_

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of G.o.d, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.

Glory to Thee, our G.o.d, glory to Thee.

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth Who art everywhere and fillest all things. Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life: Come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

Holy G.o.d! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us. _(3 times)_

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

O Most Holy Trinity! Have mercy on us! Lord, cleanse us from our sins!

Master, pardon our transgressions! Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name's sake.

Lord, have mercy! _(3 times)_

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

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come.

Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespa.s.ses, as we forgive those who trespa.s.s against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

_(If there is a priest, he adds the usual exclamation)_

Having arisen from sleep, we fall down before Thee, O Blessed One, and sing to Thee, O Mighty One, the angelic hymn: Holy! Holy! Holy! art Thou, O G.o.d; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

Having raised me from my bed and from sleep, O Lord, enlighten my mind and heart, and open my lips that I may praise Thee, O Holy Trinity: Holy!

Holy! Holy! art Thou, O G.o.d; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.

Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Judge will come suddenly and the acts of every man will be revealed; but in the middle of the night we cry with fear: Holy! Holy! Holy! art Thou, O G.o.d; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy! _(12 times)_

Having risen from sleep, I thank Thee, the Holy Trinity. In the abundance of Thy kindness and long patience, Thou hast not been angry with me for my laziness and sinfulness, nor hast Thou destroyed me in my lawlessness.

Instead, in Thy usual love for mankind, Thou hast raised me as I lay in despair, that I might rise early and glorify Thy Reign. Enlighten now the eyes of my mind and open my lips, that I might learn of Thy words, understand Thy commandments, accomplish Thy will, hymn Thee in heart-felt confession and praise Thine all-holy name, the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Come, let us wors.h.i.+p G.o.d, our King!

Come, let us wors.h.i.+p and fall down before Christ, our King and our G.o.d!

Come, let us wors.h.i.+p and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our G.o.d!