Morning prayers - 22 texts, how to pray

Why should you pray at home?

A conversation with God is a natural need of a believer.

Prayer in church during the Divine Liturgy is a conversation between God and man face to face, but when a person is at home it is like talking on the phone. The liturgy is a great treasure that should not be neglected. By visiting it, a person talks with God very closely. If a person receives communion, then he eats His Body and drinks His Blood, which is simply incomprehensible at home.

In church, dozens or even hundreds of people pray with you, which means that prayer becomes stronger and charged with special energy. Then the question arises: why pray at home if you can go to church and just read the evening rule at home? The thing is that these are simply different types of prayers: a person does not pray in church the same way as at home, and vice versa. After all, Jesus Christ not only prayed with his disciples, he sometimes went away to be alone. The fact is that when we pray at home, we are left alone with God, there is no one nearby. This is the most personal conversation possible. Even if someone from the family is at home, what will happen? Prayer will simply become different. A person will no longer be able to cry, for example. He’ll be embarrassed and won’t be able to say anything out loud. He will always limit himself to the fact that someone is looking at him. Therefore, there is great joy both in church prayer and in solitary prayer too.

When did the rule come into being?

The rules for reading morning prayers and the prayers themselves did not appear immediately: most of the prayers were written by different Orthodox saints who lived in different countries and at different times, the first collections of prayers appeared in Rus' only in the 16th-17th centuries, and the modern prayer rule was formed only two hundred years ago .

How to read prayers in the morning, reading rule

When praying, you need to speak to God with faith in Him, with humility in accepting His will for you - and the Lord will always manage everything for the better, you just have to ask Him about it through prayer. Remember, even if it seems that everything is going wrong, pray, do not give up prayer - God knows best what is best for us.

Prayer is usually performed in front of icons; although this is not necessary, it is desirable. After all, when we are apart from our loved ones, we want to see them, we look at their photographs. It’s the same with God and the saints - it’s easier to speak from the heart when you see holy icons - their images, images. You can light a candle or even burn incense, a fragrant, resinous substance.

The timing of reading a prayer is a complex issue. It is customary to pray in the morning and evening according to the prayer book (in the sections “Morning Rule” and “Evening Rule”). Few modern people have time to do this. But after morning prayer, wings grow! You can pray the rosary throughout the day. And you can pray in difficult circumstances as much as your soul asks - the main thing is not to be proud of the fact that you prayed for a long time, because this is the need to talk with God, as if having a conversation with a Friend to whom you tell your sorrows and ask for help.

Be sincere, don’t be afraid of your emotions, tell God about them, for example: “Lord, I feel so bad, I’m so upset, show me what to do, calm me down!” Short morning prayers should be read in Russian from the heart.

It is important not so much to read prayers over time, but to live church life in general. Try to attend services in church and begin the Sacraments of Confession and Communion. Remember that these are not rituals, but a living spiritual life, the health of the soul.

Moral preparation for worship

Prayer is not a request whose purpose is to obtain something, such as forgiveness. The meaning of prayer lies in the very meeting with the Creator, in communication with him - it breaks down the barriers between the Lord and man.

Anyone who considers prayer a routine ritual, pretend chatter, or an obligation is unable to overcome the barriers between himself and the Lord. The best solution for such “believers” is to refuse prayer. Christ considered prayer his way of life, and not a burdensome duty.

What is important to know

Prayer for all Orthodox Christians must be performed standing; only an elderly and sick person can sit. While reading the prayer book, in recognition of their sinfulness and imperfection, showing humility, people bow, some to the waist, while others bow to the ground.

Some Orthodox believers pray on their knees, but the holy apostles opposed such worship. They explained this by saying that only slaves kneel, and children (of Masters) do not need to do this. The exception is severe sin.

Sign of the Cross

The sign of the cross is the overshadowing of the sign of the Cross, externally expressed in the movement of the hand, which reproduces the symbolic outline of the Cross on which the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. During this action, a person expresses inner faith in the Holy Trinity.

In general, death on the cross was considered the most terrible and shameful death. Men who committed a particularly serious crime indulged in it. On the cross, the hands and feet were nailed. Death occurred from suffocation, heart rupture and blood loss. They died on the cross painfully for long hours, and sometimes even days.

An Orthodox believer makes the sign of the cross with his right hand, using the first three fingers (thumb, index, middle). These three fingers are connected, and the other two are bent to the palm. This addition, called “three-fingered”, symbolizes:

the first three fingers - the Holy Trinity;
two fingers bent to the palm - the Divinity and Humanity of Christ

In the Orthodox tradition, one must be baptized with the right hand - regardless of whether the person is right-handed or left-handed - in the following order:

Forehead.
Stomach.
Right shoulder.
Left shoulder.

The right shoulder always comes first, then the left. According to legend, it is the right side of a person that is the best. Angels sit on the right shoulder and to the right of the person is the entrance to heaven. The left side is perceived as hell, so the right shoulder is baptized first, then the left. Thus, the believer asks for salvation and admission to heaven.

Sign of the Cross

The usual order of morning prayers

Morning prayers are intended not only to remind the believer of God, but also to train his will. The prayer rule is usually read according to the established canon, however, with the permission of the confessor, this list can be modified - supplemented or, conversely, shortened.

Brief prayer rule of St. Seraphim of Sarov

Miracles began to happen to this saint from early childhood. One day, a little boy tagged along with his mother to see the progress of the construction of a new temple begun by his father. The child, driven by curiosity, climbed the bell tower and fell off it. However, the boy did not receive a single injury. Many considered this a sign of God’s special mercy.

When you wake up and get out of bed, you should read:

“Our Father” (3 times), in honor of the Holy Trinity.
“O Mother of God, Virgin, rejoice” (3 times).
Symbol of faith.

St. Seraphim of Sarov considered unceasing prayer to be the first necessity for any person.

Morning prayer rule

A prayer rule is a list of prayers. There is a general order of sacred reading for morning and evening. This rule consists of:

Appeals to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Initial prayer.
Prayers to the Holy Spirit.
Three readings of the trisagion (Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us) with the sign of the cross and bow to the waist.
Appeals to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Petitions for forgiveness of sins (Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake).
Three times “Lord, have mercy.”
Appeals to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Lord's Prayer “Our Father!”
Songs to the Most Holy Theotokos.
Prayers to the Most Holy Trinity
Psalm 50 (Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy).
Symbol of Faith (I believe in one God the Father, Almighty).
Prayers of Macarius the Great (God, cleanse me, a sinner).
Another prayer of Macarius the Great (To You, O Lord, Lover of Mankind, I have arisen from sleep and come running)
Prayers to the Guardian Angel.
Appeals to the Most Holy Theotokos.
A prayerful invocation of the saint in whose honor it is named.
Prayers for the living.
Prayers for the departed.
At the end of the morning ritual: It is worthy to eat as one truly blesses Theotokos, Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and Mother of our God. We magnify You, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Thy Most Pure Mother, our reverend and God-bearing fathers and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.

The Holy Father teaches us to approach our morning ritual of prayer with reason: not to give in to your passions, laziness, or self-pity. However, one must learn, without temptation or embarrassment, to shorten or even slightly modify the prayer when there is a real need for it.

Is it possible to read the rule while sitting?

Freedom is not permissiveness. A person is designed in such a way that if he allows himself to relax, it can be very difficult to return to his previous state. If a person is very tired or sick, then you can sit in church while Home Prayers are being read. However, you should understand whether to be guided by pain or ordinary laziness. In the second case, it is tedious to overcome oneself and the temptation and remain standing, but in the first there is nothing shameful. If a person is seriously ill, you can even lie down. During services, the Charter regulates when you can stand or sit. For example, we listen to the reading of the Gospel and akathists while standing, but while reading kathismas, sedals, and teachings we sit down.

Is it possible for a woman to read the prayer rule at home with her head uncovered?

In ancient times, a married woman in the East was required to cover her head. It was a symbol of humility and submission to her husband. It was considered indecent for a married woman to go outside with her head uncovered, because only her husband could see her hair. By the way, this tradition is still preserved in Eastern countries.

In Christianity, the tradition of a woman covering her head when entering a temple arose in apostolic times due to the words of the Apostle Paul: “And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered shames her own head.”

So is it possible to pray with your head uncovered? The fact is that in different countries these standards of decency are different. Therefore, Christians in different countries are different - faithful to God and faithful to the norms of decency of their society, if they do not contradict the first.

What else, besides morning and evening prayers, can be included in the prayer rule

Daily prayer is called a rule because it is obligatory. Every Orthodox Christian prays in the morning and before going to bed; he prays before eating, and after eating he thanks God. Christians pray before starting any task, but the morning rule can include not only morning or evening prayers, it can also include psalms, various appeals to the saints, and one’s own thoughts and requests. After all, as mentioned earlier, prayer is communication with God, accordingly, you can add prayers to the framework of the rule.

Why read prayers in the morning?

In prayer they turn not only to God: they pray to the Heavenly Powers - the angels who, after Baptism, are assigned to every Orthodox Christian - and, of course, to the Mother of God, the Intercessor of the entire human race before God.
A short morning prayer is an appeal to the Lord and the saints, this is help to you from God. After all, after praying in the morning, you tune in to the wave of God’s support. There are different prayer rules; usually they are performed with the blessing of the confessor. For example, Psalm 36 may be included in a short prayer book for morning prayers.

They also read and include in the rule the short morning prayers to John the Theologian. This is the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian - a saint, known and revered throughout the world. He is one of the 12 apostles, called by the Orthodox Church “the hidden place of God.” Prayer to him in all centuries and today remains strong, because this is an appeal to the beloved disciple of Christ, one of his twelve closest and the only one who did not betray the Lord, remaining with him even at the Cross. Dear Brothers and Sisters, we remind you that our Orthodox shop “House of Icons” offers you to buy icons of the Savior at a low price, and you can also buy an icon of the Lord Pantocrator from us!

How to relate to modern prayers?

The priest’s answer to this question: “Personally, I am more moved by the words of the more ancient canons, the stichera. They seem deeper and more insightful to me. But many people also like modern akathists for their simplicity.”

If the Church has accepted prayers, you need to treat them with reverence, respect and try to find benefit for yourself. But understand that some modern prayers are not as high quality in content as the prayers compiled by ancient ascetics.

When a person writes a prayer for public use, he must understand what responsibility he takes on. He must have experience in prayer, but at the same time be well educated. All texts offered by modern prayer creators must be edited and undergo strict selection.

Features of the prayer rule

A Christian who begins to read prayers will not immediately be able to enter into a prayer rhythm. To read prayers in Church Slavonic, you need skill and understanding of the text. A confessor can help with this. But without the sincere interest of the person praying, without his ardent faith, it is difficult to achieve spiritual grace from prayer. So that the soul does not fall out of Orthodox life, so that sinful thoughts do not bother a person immediately after waking up and before going to bed, one must not forget about the prayer ritual.

By thoughtfully and leisurely reading prayers in the Old Church Slavonic language, we become familiar not only with the image of the Creator, but also comprehend our native culture and history.

List of morning prayers

Before pronouncing the text, it is necessary to get rid of all the vain thoughts of life in order to be filled with the grace and love of our Lord. Morning Orthodox prayers must be read daily, for at least 15 minutes. To begin with, you can read them from the prayer book, and then you can recite the texts from memory.

The Publican's Prayer (Luke 18:13)

God, be merciful to me, a sinner. (Bow)

Initial prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Good One, souls ours2

Trisagion

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Read three times, with the sign of the cross and bow from the waist.)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen 3

Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity

Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.

Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity

Having risen from sleep, I thank Thee, Holy Trinity, for for the sake of Thy goodness and long-suffering you were not angry with me, lazy and sinful, and you destroyed me with my iniquities. mi; but you loved mankind as a rule, and in the despair of a man who lay, you raised me up to exercise and glorify your power. And now enlighten my mental eyes, open my lips, to learn Your words, and to understand Your commandments, and to do Your will, and to sing to You in confession with my heart, and to sing praises to the All-Holy. Your name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages centuries. Amen.

Psalm 50

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the multitude of Your compassions, cleanse my iniquity. Above all, wash me from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin; for I know my iniquity, and I will take away my sin before me. I have sinned against You alone and have done evil before You, so that You may be justified in Your words and triumph over Your judgment. Behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and my mother gave birth to me in sins. Behold, you have loved the truth; You have shown me Your unknown and secret wisdom. Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be clean; Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. There is joy and gladness in my ears; the bones of the humble will rejoice. Turn away Your face from my sins and cleanse all my iniquities. Create a pure heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of Your salvation and strengthen me with the Lord’s Spirit. I will teach the wicked your way, and wickedness will turn to you. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salvation; my tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise. As if you had desired sacrifices, you would have given them: you do not favor burnt offerings. The sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; God will not despise a contrite and humble heart. Bless Zion, O Lord, with Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then take pleasure in the sacrifice of righteousness, the offering and the burnt offering; then they will place your calf on the altar.

Symbol of faith

I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, to whom all things were. For our sake, man and our salvation, who came down from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became human. Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And the one who is to come will judge with glory the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, who proceeds from the Father, who is with the Father and the Son, we are worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I hope for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the next century. Amen.

Prayer 1, Saint Macarius the Great

God, cleanse me, a sinner, for I have done no more good before You; but deliver me from the evil one, and let Your will be done in me, that I may open my unworthy mouth without condemnation and praise Your holy name, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages centuries. Amen.

Prayer 2, of the same saint

Having risen from sleep, I bring the midnight hymn to Ti, O Savior, and falling down crying to Ti: do not let me fall asleep in a sinful death, but have mercy on me, crucify with your will and hasten to raise me, who lies in laziness, and save I stand in prayer and in nightly sleep Rise upon me a sinless day, O Christ God, and save me.

Prayer 3, of the same saint

To You, Lord, the Lover of Mankind, I come running from sleep, and I strive for Your works with Your mercy, and I pray to You: help me at all times, in all things, and deliver me from all worldly evils these things and the devil's haste, and save me, and bring us into Your eternal Kingdom. For You are my Creator and the Provider and Giver of all good, in You is all my hope, and I send glory to You, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 4, of the same saint

Lord, Who has given Your much goodness and Your great bounties to me, Your servant

, the time of the night has passed so that without misfortune you will pass away from all evil that is contrary to you; You Yourself, Master of all Creators, grant me with Your true light and an enlightened heart to do Your will, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 5, St. Basil the Great

Lord Almighty, God of hosts and all flesh, living in the highest and looking down on the humble, searching the hearts and wombs and innermost parts of men, the forerunner, the Beginningless and Ever-Everlasting Light, with Him - there is no change, or change, overshadowing; Himself, Immortal King, accept our prayers, even at this time, for the multitude of Your generosity boldly, from the profane we create to You, and forgive us our sins, even in deed, and in word, and in thought, in knowledge, or in ignorance, we have sinned; and cleanse us from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. And grant us with a cheerful heart and sober thoughts to pass through the whole night of this present life, awaiting the coming of the bright and revealed day of Your Only Begotten Son, Lord and God and our Savior Jesus Christ, the Judge of all will come with glory, to give to each according to his deed; let us not fall and become lazy, but be alert and raised up for the work of what is to come, prepare for joy and the Divine palace of His glory in the depths, where those who celebrate the unceasing voice, and unspeakable sweetness in vain those who show Your face unspeakable kindness. For You are the true Light, you enlighten and sanctify all things, and all creation sings to You forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 10, to the Most Holy Theotokos

My Most Holy Lady Theotokos, through Your saints and all-powerful prayers, take away from me, Your humble and accursed servant, despondency, oblivion, foolishness, negligence, and all that is filthy, bow ugly and blasphemous thoughts from my damned heart and from my darkened mind; and extinguish the flame of my passions, for I am poor and damned. And deliver me from many and cruel memories and enterprises, and free me from all evil actions. For Thou art blessed from all generations, and glorified is Thy most honorable name forever and ever. Amen.

Prayerful invocation of the saint whose name you bear

Pray to God for me, holy servant of God (name)

Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos

Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.

Troparion to the Cross and prayer for the Fatherland

Save, Lord, Your people, and bless Your heritage, granting victories to Orthodox Christians against the enemy, and preserving Your life through Your Cross.

Prayer for the living

Save, Lord, and have mercy on my spiritual father (name)

, my parents
(names)
, relatives
(names)
, bosses, mentors, benefactors
(names)
and all Orthodox Christians.

Prayer for the departed

Rest in peace, Lord, the souls of your departed servants: my parents, relatives, benefactors (names)

, and all Orthodox Christians, and forgive them all sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven.

If you can, read this memorial instead of short prayers for the living and the dead:

About the living

Remember, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Thy mercy and generosity from all eternity, for whose sake thou didst become man, and crucifixion and death, for the salvation of the right of those who believe in Thee, thou didst deign to endure; and rose from the dead, you ascended into heaven and sit at the right hand of God the Father, and listen to the humble prayers of those who call upon You with all their hearts: incline Your ear, and hear the humble prayer of me e, Thy unnecessary servant, into the stench of the spiritual fragrance, brought to Thee for all Thy people . And first of all, remember Your Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, which You have provided with Your honest Blood, and established, and strengthened, and expanded, multiplied, died, and invincible hell preserve the new gates forever; Calm the tearing apart of the Churches, quench the pagan vacillations, and quickly destroy and eradicate the heresies of rebellion, and turn them into nothingness by the power of Your Holy Spirit. (Bow)

Text of a short prayer book, morning prayers, Psalm 36 2300

Many of our contemporaries visit Orthodox churches, discovering the power of prayer, turning to the Lord and the Sacraments of the Church. Pray every morning, read holy words, for example, the Psalm of David.

Do not be jealous of those who are evil, nor be jealous of those who commit lawlessness. Like the grass, the grass will soon dry up, like the potion of grain will soon disappear. Trust in the Lord and do goodness, and populate the earth, and enjoy its wealth. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will grant you the petitions of your heart. Open your way to the Lord and trust in Him, and He will do it: and He will bring forth your righteousness like the light and your destiny like the noonday. Obey the Lord and beg Him. Do not be jealous of the one who sleeps on his way, the person who commits a crime. Stop being angry and abandon rage, do not be jealous or cunning. Those who are evil will be consumed, but those who endure the Lord will inherit the earth. And yet a little, and there will be no sinner, and you will seek his place, and will not find it. The meek ones will inherit the earth and enjoy the abundance of the world. The sinner despises the righteous and gnashes his teeth. The Lord will laugh at him, and will see for sure that his day will come. The sinner has drawn the sword, strained her bow, cast down the wretched and the poor, and slain the upright in heart. Let their sword enter into their hearts, and let their bows be broken. A little is better for the righteous than much for the riches of sinners. The sinners' muscles will be broken, but the Lord confirms the righteous. The Lord knows the way of the blameless, and their success will endure forever. They will not be ashamed in times of cruelty, and in days of famine they will be satisfied, as sinners will perish. Defeat the Lord, become famous for them and ascend, vanishing like smoke. The sinner borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives. For those who bless Him will inherit the earth, but those who curse Him will be consumed. From the Lord, man’s feet are straightened, and his ways are greatly admired. When he falls, he will not be broken, for the Lord strengthens his hand. The youngest was, for he grew old, and did not see the righteous man left, below his seed asking for bread. All day long the righteous man shows mercy and gives back, and his seed will be a blessing. Turn away from evil and do good, and dwell in the age of the century. For the Lord loves judgment and will not forsake His saints, they will be preserved forever. The wicked will become wives, and the seed of the wicked will be consumed. The righteous will inherit the earth and dwell in it forever and ever. The mouth of the righteous will learn wisdom, and his tongue will speak judgment. The law of his God is in his heart, and his feet will not falter. The sinner looks at the righteous and seeks to kill him. The Lord will not leave him in his hand; he will judge him lower when he judges him. Be patient with the Lord and preserve His path, and He will exalt you to inherit the earth, never to be consumed by a sinner. I saw the wicked exalted and towering like the cedars of Lebanon. And he passed by, and behold, he was not there, and sought him, and his place was not found. Maintain kindness and see righteousness, for there is a remnant for a peaceful man. The wicked will be consumed together; the remnants of the wicked will be consumed. The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord, and their Protector is in time of trouble. And the Lord will help them, and deliver them, and remove them from sinners, and save them, because they trusted in Him.