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? Not always.

If we pray absent-mindedly, without love or fear of God, if we pronounce prayers with our tongue alone, and at the same time turn our minds and hearts to something extraneous, then such prayer not only does not attract God's mercy to us, on the contrary, it angers God. What reminds us of God and His saints and helps us not to be distracted during prayer? Icons before which we usually pray. What are icons?

The image or images of the Lord God Jesus Christ, His Most Pure Mother, the Virgin Mary, holy angels and holy people. What can be said about someone who makes the sign of the cross incorrectly and carelessly during prayer, or is ashamed to be baptized? Such a person does not want to confess his faith in God, Jesus Christ Himself will be ashamed of him at His dreadful judgment (Mark 8:38). How should one be baptized?

To make the sign of the cross, put the first three fingers of the right hand - thumb, index and middle - together; The last two fingers, the ring finger and the little finger, bend to the palm. We put the fingers folded in this way on the forehead, on the chest, on the right and left shoulders. What do we express by folding our fingers in this way? By putting the first three fingers together, we express the belief that God is one in essence, but threefold in persons.

Two bent fingers show our faith that in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, there are two natures, Divine and human. By depicting the cross on ourselves with folded fingers, we show that we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, Who was crucified on the cross. Why do we bless the forehead, chest and shoulders with the cross? For the enlightenment of the mind, heart and for the strengthening of strength.   2.

Initial     prayers In Russian: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. [1]   In the name - in honor, in glory. Amen - truly, truly.   Who is meant by the words: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit? The Three Persons of the Holy Trinity. We believe that God is one, but in Him there are three persons: the 1st person of the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is God the Father, the 2nd person is God the Son, the 3rd person is God the Holy Spirit. To these three persons of the Holy Spirit.

The Trinity has the same authority, honor, and worship. Why is it said here: in the name, and not in the name? As a sign that God, although there are three persons in Him, is essentially only one. Why is the word Amen added? As a sign that everything that we read in the prayer is true. When should this prayer be said? Before every good deed, because we must do everything in honor and glory of the three persons of the Holy Trinity.

  The Publican's       Prayer In Russian: Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.   Be - be.   Whose prayer is this? This prayer is of the publican (tax collector), who repented of his sins and received forgiveness, as is evident from the parable of the publican and the Pharisee (Luke 18:10-14). What do we ask of God in this prayer?

We ask God to be merciful to us sinners, that is, to forgive us our sins and not punish us for them. When should we say this prayer? We need to say it as often as we sin often. As soon as we sin, we must immediately repent of our sin before God and say this prayer.   Prayer to Jesus Christ, Son of       God In Russian: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us (show mercy to us). Amen.   Radi - for, by. For the sake of prayers - through prayers.   To whom is this prayer? To Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

The Second Person of the Holy Trinity, our Saviour[2]. What do we ask of the Lord in this prayer? We ask that God, through the prayers of the saints, have mercy on us, that is, be merciful to us and forgive our sins. Who is the Most Pure Mother of the Lord? The Most Holy Virgin Mary, chosen for the special holiness of her life as the Mother of the Son of God, when He, eternally living as God, wanted to appear on earth as a man for the salvation of people[3]. Who are the saints?

Saints are people who lived on earth piously and are now in heaven together with God and pray to Him for us. Such, for example, are the prophets, apostles, saints, martyrs, and others. Through their prayers, and especially through the prayers of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, God has mercy on us. When is this prayer pronounced? This prayer, like the prayer of the publican, should be in the mind and heart of a Christian as often as possible, because, constantly sinning before God, they must constantly turn to Him with a request for mercy. Note.