According to ancient tradition, Christians to this day light wax candles in front of holy icons. Such candles are sold in the Church. A consecrated church candle is a symbol of our prayerful burning before the Lord, His Most Pure Mother, and the holy saints of God.

When the Divine Liturgy is celebrated, or, as it is colloquially called, Mass, you can submit a note with names about the health of your living relatives or about the repose of the dead.

In order not to be confused by the cost of a candle or note, you should remember that the different prices - both notes and candles - reflect only the difference in the amount of your donation for temple needs. The same can be said about other orders - for the service of molebens, panikhidas, etc. If you are financially constrained, then, without embarrassment, ask for a candle, prosphora or order a moleben, to perform the sacrament of baptism without payment. Believe me, in church, both the candle seller and the clergyman will always meet you halfway. So you should not be afraid to go to church without money. Why are we talking about this? Because people who are far from the church often accept as truth false rumors about how they "rip off" in church, how rude priests are there, and the old women who serve the church expel women who are not dressed properly. Perhaps in particular cases there were such unsightly actions in this or that church, but in general, the church is the only place where we can find consolation, spiritual support and material help. Few people know that the Orthodox Church conducts great charitable activities, providing comprehensive assistance to sick families, large families, refugees who now come to church almost every day, and to all people living in need and sorrow.

Without disturbing others, let us try to find a place for ourselves in the church and, standing before the All-Seeing God, let us join in common prayer.

And let us feel how light it becomes in our hearts, and in some moments we will feel in it the grace-filled peace and silence - the inexplicable influence of God's Grace. And it, this Grace of God, acts on all those present - believers and even non-believers, regardless of our will and consciousness. This is often evidenced by people of different views and ages who come to the Orthodox Church.

Grace is the all-strengthening power of God. It is the sanctification of the soul and body by the Holy Spirit. That is why a person leaves the Temple with a feeling of joy, relief and peace in his soul. His faith and hope in God's help are strengthened in him.

All this is achieved through prayerful communion with God. Therefore, it is appropriate to dwell here on such an important aspect of church life as the prayer rule of a Christian.

Why do we need prayer?

In his article "On Prayer," the famous Russian poet Vasily Zhukovsky asks: "What is our prayer to Him? Is it necessary to bow Him down to mercy, when He is mercy itself? Does He Himself need to establish a ritual of prayer between Himself and man in the verbal form of prayer? Is it necessary to say to man, 'First demand, then I will give,' when He knows in advance all that is necessary for man, and when all good gifts flow out of Him by themselves?" then I also will be with your soul in your prayer. You need prayer as My love for you, and I need your prayer as your love for Me." Having pondered over this last phrase and imprinted it in our hearts, let us begin to pray today. First of all, let us express gratitude to our Creator and God for giving us life, the joy of being, regardless of whether we like this life or not, for this depends on our understanding and perception of life itself.

But if everything is from Him - life, reason, feelings, abilities, health, food - then in our prayer we can have the boldness to humbly ask Him for our needs. In addition, a person who makes a heartfelt prayer is in spiritual communion with another, spiritual world in these minutes and hours, where the Creator Himself and God – the Heavenly Father, the Holy Spirit, the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ and His Most Pure Mother – the Most Holy Mother of God, the great host of Angels and holy saints of God, to whom we lift up our prayers, dwell in their glory.

Where to pray

Of course, you can pray everywhere and always, not only in church - at home, and in the field, and on the road. It is possible and necessary, but you must admit that a thousand voices simultaneously crying out in church: "Lord, have mercy" - the heavens will pass sooner than the lonely voice of a praying person in the house.