The rule of Seraphim of Sarov for the laity: text, morning, evening, how to read and pray

Having gotten sick, my grandmother just kept saying, I’ll pray to Father Seraphim, he’ll help. The pious old woman did not talk about her assistant and protector. I was afraid that I would start retelling what I heard at school, and we grew up in a period of atheism.

When the persecution of the church stopped, my grandmother advised me to contact the monk. She believed that he was an assistant in a variety of matters. Two dates are also marked in grandma’s calendar: on January 15, the elder appeared before the Lord, and on August 1, his relics were found.

My grandmother aroused my interest in learning more about the saint, who spent his entire life serving God. The elder assured that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Daily and constant prayer is a conversation with the Heavenly Father. The conversation is conducted according to certain rules. One of them is the rule of Seraphim of Sarov.

Prayer rule of Seraphim of Sarov

How and to whom it helps

Everyone who turns to our Lord with a sincere heart and pure thoughts is given what we ask for in these requests. Healing from diseases, finding peace of mind, fulfillment of desires. After all, words spoken with faith have a special property, and the Lord is all-merciful. Father Seraphim said that everyone who regularly communicates with God will achieve Christian perfection.

Reading rules

Even during the elder’s life, pilgrims came to him. People admitted that they could not always go to church. Father advised them to make it a rule to turn to God during the day. We know this advice as the prayer rule of Seraphim of Sarov for the laity.

When you wake up, read the main prayers in front of the icon:

“Our Father” (address to the Holy Trinity) three times;
the song “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice” three times;
"Creed" once.

Everyday activities can be interspersed with communication with the Lord. On the way, at the service before lunch, quietly say: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” If there are strangers nearby, say mentally “Lord have mercy.”

Before lunch and before bed, repeat your morning prayers again. While doing your work, before going to bed, turn to the Mother of God “Save me, a sinner.” Start praying by crossing yourself.

Prayer text

“Our Father” is fundamental. With it, we confidentially turn to the heavenly Father in different life situations.

Song "Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice." The Mother of God is the heavenly intercessor for all believers. An appeal of praise helps to cope with adversity and join in the joy.

“The Creed” is a brief summary of the foundations of the Orthodox faith. Each of its 12 members contains one of the dogmas of Orthodoxy.

Why is a prayer rule necessary?

Staying in prayerful communication can be compared to exercising. Some people do it from time to time, forcing themselves, realizing that it is necessary for the sake of health, while others have found joy in it and can no longer imagine another life.

During the day, a church-going Christian lives an attentive life, checking his actions to see how pleasing they are to God. It is much easier for Orthodox Christians to strengthen their spiritual life if they have their own spiritual mentor, who will guide and strengthen them in faith through reading the prayer rule. The holy saints knew about the weakness of the human spirit, so they wrote rules for prayer, both complete and brief, so that a person could remain in the presence of God at any time.

Icon of Seraphim of Sarov

An example of a prayer book is Seraphim of Sarov, who learned the joy and importance of communication with the Lord from childhood.

Important! The prayer rule of Seraphim of Sarov for the laity is a set of morning, afternoon and evening appeals to the Creator, helping to live the day in spiritual purity.

The Orthodox Church honors the memory of Saint Seraphim on January 15, the day of the saint’s death, and on August 1, on this day the saint’s relics were found.

Many Orthodox laity took as the basis of their spiritual life the prayer rules compiled by the reverend elder, who throughout his life was known as a humble prayer book.

What is Seraphim's Rule

Biography

Prokhor was born in the 18th century into the family of a wealthy Kursk merchant Moshnin. Deeply religious parents and sons were raised in Christian traditions. When a 17-year-old boy decided to go to the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, his mother blessed him. The woman was sure that she owed the Mother of God the miraculous healing of her son after he fell from the bell tower.

From Kyiv, Prokhor's path lay in the Sarov Hermitage. After serving there, he became a monk and received the name Seraphim. The monk led an ascetic life in a solitary cell in prayer. He collected meager food in the forest and in the vegetable garden, which he planted nearby.

The monk revived the eldership in Rus', spending many years in silence. He is also known as a stylite: he prayed at night on a boulder, raising his hands to the sky. During his lifetime he became known as a healer and seer. He predicted terrible trials for Russia and its revival as a strong power. At the beginning of the 20th century, he was canonized on the initiative of John of Kronstadt and Emperor Nicholas II.

History of appearance

The monk was the patron of the Diveyevo convent for many years. He left a prayer rule for the sisters of the monastery. In the morning, read the rule as for the laity (Praviltse), other morning prayers. Doing obedience could not interfere with reading.

From lunch until night, the priest recommended reading “My Lady, Most Holy Theotokos, save us.” Before going to bed - Praviltse and prayers for the coming sleep.

Evening rule of the Diveevo Convent:

12 psalms chosen by desert dwellers;
commemoration;
teaching;
100 bows from the waist with prayers: “Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us sinners!”, “Our Lady, Most Holy Theotokos, save us sinners!” and “Reverend Our Father Seraphim, pray to God for us sinners!”;
repeat Pravilce.

Other prayers of St. Seraphim

Around the 7th-8th century, the Theotokos prayer rule was known. It helped in illnesses and misfortunes. For some time this rule went out of use. The Sarov elder returned this strong prayer.

You need to say “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice” 150 times a day. After every ten, one should read “Our Father” and “Open doors of mercy for us, blessed Mother of God.” Then comes the troparion in accordance with one of the events in her life.

At the Diveyevo monastery, parishioners marched around the temple with the Song with the blessing of the elder. This tradition is still alive today. After all, numerous pilgrims go to the monastery to venerate the relics of the saint, walk along the Mother of God Canal, and draw holy water from the source.

During his lifetime, the priest helped everyone who turned to him. He does not forget those who come with faith and deep hope. Therefore, in every church there is an icon of the saint, and there are several prayers for communicating with him.

One of the main ones is “Prayer of Seraphim of Sarov for every day” (O most wonderful father).

Patients often turn to the elder asking for help to overcome their illness (About healing and health).

The saint patronizes family matters. It helps all girls who have not found their soul mate after 30 years to choose a worthy spouse. (About love and marriage).

We cannot cope with any problems alone. Then every Christian prays to the monk for help in business and good luck.

Traders honor the patron and pray to Father Seraphim for good trade and good luck in financial matters.

They tell the same story. In 1928, one old man was threatened with arrest. And then Seraphim of Sarov appears to him and orders him to write down the text of the prayer to the Mother of God “All-Merciful” and always read it. The old man endured 18 years of hard labor.

Morning

When you wake up, stand in front of the icons, cross yourself, read “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

Then carefully, slowly say the prayers:

publican (verse 13, chapter 18, Gospel of Luke);
Pre-initial;
Holy Spirit (twice);
Trisagion (three times with the sign of the cross and bow);
to the Most Holy Trinity (three times);
Lord's
Troparia Trinity;
to the Most Holy Trinity (with bows);
Psalm 50;
Symbol of faith;
First, Saint Macarius the Great;
Second. Saint Macarius the Great;
Third, Saint Macarius the Great;
Fourth, Saint Macarius the Great;
Fifth, Saint Basil the Great;
Sixth, Basil the Great;
Seventh, Mother of God;
Eighth, to Our Lord Jesus Christ;
Ninth, to the Guardian Angel;
Tenth, to the Most Holy Theotokos;
Invoking the saint whose name you bear;
Song to the Mother of God;
Troparion to the Cross and prayer for the Fatherland;
about the living (with bows);
about the departed (with bows);
end of prayers.

Evening

Before going to bed, we again stand in front of the icons and turn to the Lord. Light a candle, forget about the vanity of the world.

The words of prayers will come from your heart one after another:

Pre-initial;
Holy Spirit (twice);
Trisagion (three times with the sign of the cross and bow);
to the Most Holy Trinity (three times);
Lord's
Tropari;
1st, Saint Macarius the Great, to God the Father;;
2nd, Saint Antiochus, to our Lord Jesus Christ;
3rd, to the Holy Spirit;
4th, Saint Macarius the Great;
5th, (Lord Our God, who sinned in these days with this word...);
6th, (Lord Our God, in Him we have believed...);
7th, St. John Chrysostom (24 prayers according to the number of hours);
8th, to Our Lord Jesus Christ;
9th, to the Most Holy Theotokos, Peter of Studium;
10th, to the Most Holy Theotokos;
11th, to the Holy Guardian Angel;
kontakion to the Mother of God;
prayer of Saint Joannikius;
the rumor of St. John of Damascus;
To the Honorable Cross (crossing himself);
Relax, leave, forgive, God...;
Forgive those who hate and offend us, O God...;
everyday confession of sins;
to go to bed.

Purify your thoughts and heart before prayer, then your soul will be filled with love, and the Reverend will not leave you.

Brief prayer rule of Seraphim of Sarov for the laity

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. (Read 150 times daily) .

After every ten, you need to read “Our Father” and “Doors of Mercy” once.

After every ten additional prayers are read:

First ten.
We remember the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We pray for mothers, fathers and children. O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, save and preserve Your servants
(names of parents and relatives)
, and rest those who died with the saints in Your eternal glory.

Second ten.
We remember the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We pray for those who are lost and have fallen away from the Church .
O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, save and preserve and unite (or join)
Thy lost and fallen servants
(names) to the Holy Orthodox Church.
Third ten.
We remember the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We pray for the quenching of sorrows and the consolation of those who mourn. Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, assuage our sorrows and send comfort to your grieving and sick servants
(names)
.

Fourth decade.
We remember the Meeting of the Most Holy Theotokos with Righteous Elizabeth.
We pray for the unification of those who are separated, whose loved ones or children are separated or missing. Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, unite your separated servants
(names)
.

Fifth decade.
We remember the Nativity of Christ, we pray for the rebirth of souls, for new life in Christ.
Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, grant to me, who was baptized into Christ, to be clothed in Christ.

Sixth decade.
We remember the Presentation of the Lord, and the word prophesied by Saint Simeon: “And a weapon will pierce your very soul.”
We pray that the Mother of God would meet the soul at the hour of death and would grant her, with her last breath, to partake of the Holy Mysteries and lead the soul through terrible ordeals. Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, grant me, with my last breath, to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ and lead my soul through terrible ordeals.

Seventh decade.
We remember the flight to Egypt of the Mother of God with the Infant God, we pray that the Queen of Heaven would help us avoid temptations in this life and deliver us from misfortunes.
Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, do not lead me into temptation in this life and deliver me from all misfortunes.

Eighth decade.
We remember the disappearance of the twelve-year-old boy Jesus in Jerusalem and the grief of the Mother of God over this.
We pray, asking Our Lady for the constant Jesus Prayer. Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, Most Pure Virgin Mary, grant me the unceasing Jesus Prayer.

Ninth decade.
We remember the miracle in Cana of Galilee, when the Lord turned water into wine according to the word of the Mother of God: “They have no wine.”
We ask the Mother of God for help in business and deliverance from need. Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, help me in all matters and deliver me from all needs and sorrow.

Ten ten.
We remember the standing of the Mother of God at the Cross of the Lord, when sorrow, like a weapon, pierced Her soul.
We pray to the Mother of God for strengthening of spiritual strength and for driving away despondency. Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, Most Blessed Virgin Mary, strengthen my spiritual strength and drive away despondency from me.

Eleventh ten.
We remember the Resurrection of Christ and prayerfully ask the Mother of God to resurrect the soul and give new vigor to feat.
Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, resurrect my soul and grant me constant readiness for heroic deeds.

Twelfth decade.
We remember the Ascension of Christ, at which the Mother of God was present.
We pray and ask the Queen of Heaven to lift up the soul from earthly vain amusements and direct it to strive for things above. Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, deliver me from vain thoughts and grant me a mind and a heart striving for the salvation of the soul.

Thirteenth decade.
We remember the Upper Room of Zion and the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and the Mother of God and pray: “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.” Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, send down and strengthen the grace of the Holy Spirit in my heart.

Fourteenth decade.
We remember the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos and ask for a peaceful and serene death.
Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, grant me a peaceful and serene death.

Fifteen ten.
We remember the glory of the Mother of God, with which She is crowned by the Lord after Her transmigration from earth to Heaven, and we pray to the Queen of Heaven not to abandon the faithful who are on earth, but to protect them from all evil, covering them with Her Honest Omophorion.
Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos, save me from all evil and cover me with Your Honest Omophorion.