Why do we need to pray to God?

God is our Creator and Father. He cares for all of us more than any loving father and gives us all the blessings in life, in Him we live, move and have our being; therefore we must pray to Him.

How do we pray?

Sometimes we pray inwardly, with our minds and hearts; but since each of us consists of soul and body, for the most part we accompany prayer with certain visible signs and bodily actions: the sign of the cross, bowing to the waist, and sometimes, for the strongest expression of our reverent feelings for God and deep humility before Him, we kneel and make prostrations to the ground.

How should one pray?

One should pray at all times, without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) [Here and further references to the corresponding passages of the Holy Bible are given in the modern generally accepted abbreviation. Here: 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5, verse 17].

When is it especially appropriate to pray?

We should pray in the morning, upon awakening from sleep, in order to thank God for preserving us in the night and to ask His blessing for the coming day. At the beginning of the work, to ask for God's help. At the end of the work, to thank God for help and success in the matter. Before dinner, so that God would bless us with food for health. After lunch, to thank God who nourishes us. In the evening, before going to bed, to thank God for the day spent and ask Him to keep you at night.

For all these cases, the Orthodox Church has special prayers.

Where should we pray?

In every place; but a special place of prayer for us is God's temple, which we must attend at the appointed times of the Divine service, and especially on feast days, Sundays and fasts.

Besides God, whom do we honor and call upon in our prayers?

In addition to God, we venerate and invoke in our prayers the Mother of God, the Most Holy Virgin Mary, the angels and all holy people.

Are our prayers always pleasing to God?