ORTHODOX PRAYER
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place� (Matt 6:6) Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Prayer Answer these three questions: How do you pray now? When do you pray now? Where do you pray now? What is your favorite prayer?
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Prayer
Do we still pray like a child?
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Why Do You Pray? Aim is to have a personal relationship with God. The way to God is an inner journey accomplished in the mind and heart. Theophan, AP p73 The primary work of the moral and religious life.
Theophan, AP 61
We must attune the thoughts of the mind and the disposition of the heart so the spirit of man wi! always be with the Lord as if joined with Him - Theosis. Theophan, AP 73
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Differing Needs 1. One who is careless about his salvation Comes to church according to custom as an obligation. 2. One who has abandoned sin and is zealous for virtue Reads many prayers and goes to church often trying to keep his attention from wandering and experience feelings 3. One who has entered within Stands before God in his heart without distraction or use of long verbal prayers. Take away oral prayer from the second you will take all prayer from him - impose oral prayer on the third you will extinguish prayer in him. Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Two Types: Inner and Outer Prayer 1. Outer prayer - worship and reading 2. Personal prayer - aims towards inner prayer. Outer
Inner
Both are necessary. Outer prepares for the inner To join with God in His kingdom, we must learn to withdraw within ourselves. Best achieved with concentrated inner prayer. Wednesday, March 11, 2009
What is Inner Prayer? Prayer is the raising of the mind and heart to God in praise and thanksgiving to Him and in supplication for the good things that we need, both spiritual and physical. St. Theophan the Recluse, p 53 Art of Prayer A mutual personal encounter with God. When we open our heart to God. To pray is to stand before God with our mind in our “heart.�
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God
Soul Mind Taste Smell
Reason Will
Holy Spirit
Brain
Assumptions Patterns
Sound Touch Sight
Heart
Through the Heart we find Union with God
Emotions Actions Bodily functions Heart beat Passions Digestion Breathing Body Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Heart Jesus: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they sha! see God.” Matt 5:8 What did He mean by Heart? Innermost part of our being & part of our subconsciousness. Where the knowledge of God is revealed to us. Soul’s control center that reigns over the body. Place from which grace penetrates throughout the body and the mind. Where Christ comes to dwell within us. Peter says, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward... rather let it be the hidden person of the heart.” 1Peter 3:3-4 Wednesday, March 11, 2009
What are Requirements for Inner Prayer? Inner prayer first requires: Faith based on an inner experience of God Fear (awe) of almighty God Acknowledgement of His infinite powers Joining with Christ in His Church. Attitude of repentance (Metanoia) Commitment & continual eort to practice God’s commandments. Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Why is Prayer so Difficult? God Because of our separation from God - our sinfulness. The body’s programing in the brain
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Body
Soul
Brain - Enemy of Prayer Mental programming - Patterns of behavior etched in our brain. The devil knows our weakness and continually temps us. We respond automatically - an exercise of our will We lack capacity to intercede in the moment to live a virtuous life. Through prayer we gain self control and capacity to receive grace. As we learn to control our passions we increase our ability to pray. Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Review Adam and Eve separated themselves from God, deceived by the snake to disobey Him, and were expelled from paradise. With this came death and suffering. “Curse of death is sin” Paul God sent the prophets and laws. Then he sent His only Son - the incarnate God. He taught, was cruelly killed, rose from the dead claiming victory over death. He ascended into heaven, and empowered the Apostles with the Holy Spirit testablishing the Church on earth. Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Through Baptism we become part of the body of Christ and enter into His Church with clean slate. Church nurtures our spiritual health Worship services,sacraments, clergy, teaching ascetic practices such as personal prayer, fasting... Environment helps us become liberated from our traditional mental programming the devil uses us to keep us separated from God. Through regular worship, participation in the Sacraments, and personal prayer we can work on our transformation which comes through the grace of God - Synergia Personal prayer plays a key role. Warning: These methods used outside the Church often lead to strengthening our ego and separating us further. Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Orthodox Life Incarnation Resurrection
P a r Theosis a Virtuous Life Death & d Final Judgment i s Prayer Ascetic Fasting e Love God Love neighbor
Baptism Awaken
Grace
Worship & Communion
Synergy
C r e a Fall t i o n
Discipline
Will Repentance
The Church Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Study Meditation
Stages of Prayer
Oral prayer Mental prayer Inner (noetic) prayer of the heart
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Oral Prayer Prayer of the Worship services and the home Prayers handed down through the tradition of the Church It is not in the Orthodox tradition to make up extemporaneous prayers, unless you are in a spiritual state. If you don’t have noetic or inner prayer, you should pray with your mind using prayers from the church services. Use of prayer books Extemporaneous prayer can be dangerous spiritually. How? Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Oral prayer leads to inner prayer Enter into the spirit of prayers you read and hear, reproducing them in your heart. Oer them up from your heart to God as if they were born in your heart under the action of the Holy Spirit.
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Remember Oral prayer is prayer only if the mind and the heart also pray. Theophan AP 59
We must aim at inner prayer - there is a progression To do so we must purify our heart through a life of repentance.
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Orthodox View of Prayer When Scriptures mentions the Holy Spirit praying within someone, a prophet or Apostle, it is not talking about prayer using the rational faculty (external) but about prayer of the heart (inner). When the disciples came to Jesus and asked “Master, how should we pray?” Jesus did not respond: “Just talk to me.” What did He tell them? Luke: “He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ And he said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Our Father which art in heaven... Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Orthodox View of Prayer When St. Paul talks about prayer and participation in the Body of Christ, he is talking about something sensed and perceived inwardly. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God� Romans 8:16 This inner sensation awakened by the Holy Spirit makes up the patristic Tradition on prayer and worship.
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Where do we begin? 1. Have a rule of prayer Begin with a short rule for morning and evening.
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What is a Rule of Prayer? Personal and individual - depends on your spiritual growth and living conditions. Determined by you, and confirmed (the rule, as well as any changes) — by your Spiritual Father. Once determined, the rule becomes a commandment Purpose — To dispose the soul towards active association with God, to awaken repentant thoughts, and purify the heart of sinful corruption. We learn, by the words of the Apostle, "praying always with a! prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with a! perseverance and supplication for a! the saints" (Eph. 6:18).
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Rule of Prayer
Should be recited at the same time each day. Be specific.
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Daily Cycle The Evening Service of Vespers In the Orthodox Church the liturgical day begins in the evening with the setting of the sun. This practice follows the biblical account of creation, "And there was evening and there was morning, one day" (Genesis 1:5).
The Morning Service of Matins (Orthros) The Orthros Service is centered in thanksgiving for the coming of the true light of Christ and calls all to repentance by uniting the elements of morning psalmody and prayer with mediation on Biblical canticles, the Gospel reading, and the particular theme of the day in the given verses and hymns.
The Four Services of the Hours: the coming of the true light (First Sunrise) the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (Third 9:00) the crucifixion and passion of the Lord (Sixth 12:00noon) and the death and burial of our Lord (Ninth 3:00)
The Compline Service It is a service of psalms and prayers to read following the evening meal before one retires to sleep. It focuses on three things: thanksgiving for the day that has passed; protection for the ensuing night; and forgiveness of wrongs committed during the day.
The Midnight service This service consists of psalms and prayers that are said in the middle of the night. This service focuses on the significant "middle" of the night events that are found in Scripture, the resurrection of our Lord and His Second Coming.
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Rule of Prayer Should not be excessive in length. Should fit your schedule and able to be said in diďŹƒcult times, when traveling or in deep distress. I wi! repeat once again that the essence of prayer is the li'ing of the mind and heart to God; these little rules are an aid. We cannot get by without them because of our weakness. Theophan: From
The Spiritual Life and How to Be Attuned to It (Platina, CA: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 1996), Ch. 47, pp. 204-209.
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Time of Prayer Begin with morning and evening. Then add times during the day. How can you make time for this?
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Place of Prayer Where to you pray? Rule should specify a private space for your prayer. Set up a small home icon stand. Icons of Christ, Theotokos, and your patron Saint Oil lamp or candle Incense burner Cross Prayer book and Bible Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Where do we begin? 2. Incorporate standing, making the sign of the cross, prostrations, kneeling, reading and at times, singing, silence.
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Sign of the Cross put together the first three fingers of the right hand, which symbolizes Trinity. The other two fingers should be bent towards the palm signifying the descent of the Son of God to earth from Heaven - two fingers being the image of two natures of Christ. First touch the forehead , then the belly near the solar plexus, then to the right and finally to the left shoulder . Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Sign of the Cross Signifies Christ’s suering, death and resurrection for our salvation. Forehead symbolizes Heaven; the stomach, the earth; the shoulders, the place and sign of power. The hand to the forehead may be seen as a prayer to the Father for wisdom; the hand to the stomach as a prayer to the Son who became incarnate; and the hand to the shoulders as a prayer to the Holy Spirit. Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy on us. Marking the four points of the Cross on Calvary over one's body. Represents loving God with all one's heart, soul, mind and strength. Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Sign of the Cross Why right to left? right hand signifies strength, skill, and dexterity right hand represents God’s almighty power, His omnipotence, particularly in bestowing salvation, deliverance, victory, and preservation also signifies the position of honor, blessing, and preeminence - Jesus seated at the right hand of God. The Lord separated the sheep from the goats, putting the faithful sheep on His right side, and the goats on the left. The Church treats the right side as the preferred side. In the Roman Catholic Church, the faithful crossed themselves from right to left until the 15th or 16th century. Catholic Encyclopedia
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Sign of the Cross Us as short prayer any time. Most often made at the name of the Holy Trinity, to show reverence for Theotokos or a saint, holy object, or person, at the beginning or end of a prayer, to show humility or agreement.
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Saint Cyril of Jerusalem Let us not then be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Let the Cross be our seal made with boldness by our fingers on our brow and in everything; over the bread we eat, and the cups we drink; in our comings in, and goings out; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we awake; when we are in the way and when we are sti!. Great is that preservative; it is without price, for the poor's sake; without toil, for the sick, since also its grace is (om God. It is the Sign of the faithful, and the dread of evils; for He has triumphed over them in it, having made a show of them openly; for when they see the Cross, they are reminded of the Crucified; they are a(aid of Him, Who hath bruised the heads of the dragon. Despise not the Seal, because of the (eeness of the Gi'; but for this rather honor thy Benefactor. 4th Century "Catechetical Lectures: On Crucifixion and Burial of Christ," A Library of Fathers of the holy Catholic Church (Oxford: John Henry Parker, 1845), Vol. 34, Lecture XIII: 36, pp. 161-162.
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Prostrations
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Where do we begin?
3. Use the prayer books and read the prayers.
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Beginning Prayer Rule Place: In the icon stand in the spare bed room Time: 6:30am and 11:00pm for ~20 minutes each time Begin by lighting a candle, and making three prostrations and then stand quietly to collect yourself in your heart Trisagion Prayer One of six Morning or Evening Psalms Intercessions for the living and the dead Psalm 51 and confession of our sinfulness Creed Doxology and the morning or evening prayer Occasional prayers from prayer book or private prayer. Jesus prayer - repeat 100 times. Reflect quietly on the tasks of the day and prepare yourself for the diďŹƒculties you might face, asking God to help you. Dismissal prayer Remember to stop mid morning, noon and mid afternoon to say a simple prayer. Repeat the Jesus Prayer in your mind whenever you can throughout the day. Oer a prayer before and after each meal thanking God and asking for His blessing.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Where do we begin? 1. Begin with a short rule for morning and evening. 2. Incorporate standing, prostrations, kneeling , making the sign of the cross, reading and at times singing. 3. Use the prayer books and read the prayers. 4. Keep your awareness in the heart. 5. Once you establish a rule always fulfill it. 6. Work with your spiritual father. Wednesday, March 11, 2009
HOW DO WE PRAY?
1st - Do not start to pray without brief preparation. 2nd - Do not perform your prayer carelessly. 3rd - Do not return to your usual occupations immediately.
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1ST - PREPARATION Stand, sit or walk for a while. Quiet your body and Steady your mind. Turn your mind away from all your worldly activities. Think about who God is - on who you will be addressing. Waken a feeling of humility and reverent awe. Prostrate yourself a few times.
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2ND - DO NOT PRAY CARELESSLY Have a rule of prayer Make sure you understand every word of the prayers. Learn them by heart. Concentrate the attention on words of prayer. Still the brain. When your mind wanders, recite again what you said while your mind was elsewhere. Enter into every word. Bring meaning down into your heart.
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3RD - DO NOT GO ONTO SOMETHING ELSE IMMEDIATELY Stand for a while. Consider to what this commits you. Hold in your heart what has been given to you to feel. “He who tastes sweetness does not then wish to taste something bitter.”
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Based on the Book, The Path to Prayer: Four Sermons on Prayer by Saint Theophan the Recluse. Whoever fulfi!s these rules wi! see the (uits of their eorts.
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Intercessory Prayer Pray for one another pray for one another, that you may be healed. (James 5:16) Family, friends and enemies Pray for the dead. Why? In God all are alive. They are not to be deprived of spiritual nearness to those of us on earth. Neither death nor life... sha! be able to separate us (om the love of God, which is in Christ our Lord (Rom 8:38-3)
All ancient liturgies attest to this in both the East and West.
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Why Do We Pray to the Dead? In praying for the dead We pray for the forgiveness of sins for all who have died for no one is sinless. Prayer helps the seeds of a new life which our departed ones have taken up. Nothing can revive rotten seeds. Powerless are prayers for those who have died in impiety and without repentance. On earth we don’t know what lot one has been subjected to. A prayer of Love can never be profitless. Those who are in heaven respond to our prayers with prayers for us. Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Prayer with Saints Who are the Saints? Based on the common conviction of the sanctity of the reposed confirmed by special testimonies. Martyrdom Fearless confession of faith Self-sacrificing service Gift of healing Miracles after death when person is remembered in prayer. Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Prayer with Saints These the Lord call His friends You are My (iends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I ca! you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have ca!ed you (iends, for a! things that I heard (om My Father I have made known to you.(John 15:14-15) Those He has received in His heavenly mansions in fulfillment of His words: where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:3)
Instead of praying for forgiveness of their sin, we praise them for their struggles in Christ Ask them to pray for the remission of our sins and our spiritual growth, seeking help in our spiritual needs. Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Prayer with Saints They are near the Throne of God Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, who praised the Lord. (Rev 5:11) Communion in prayer with the saints is the realization of the bond between Christians on earth and the Heavenly Church. (Heb 12:22-23)
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Prayers to the Theotokos First and foremost among the saints Title "Theotokos," "God-bearer," to safeguard the identity of her Son as fully God and fully Man. She made our salvation possible. Why? She was chosen by God to bear His Son, but had to give her consent to this choice. She is called the "New Eve" (as Christ is the "New Adam") because, by her obedience, she lifted the curse that was laid on mankind through the disobedience of Eve. Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Theotokos Mary is greatly honored in the Orthodox Church, but in common with the other saints, she is not worshipped. Nor is she regarded as a mediator between God and man. She leads the Church in its intercession before God.
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Theotokos What do mean when we sing in the Liturgy, "Most Holy Theotokos, save us," ? We are not suggesting that Mary saves like Christ saves - salvation from death and damnation. We are asking Mary to protect us from the dangers of this earthly life through her prayers, just as we ask our brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for us. Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Theotokos In icons, Mary is almost always depicted with Christ; in the most common pose, she holds the infant Christ in one arm and gestures toward him with the other hand, directing the believer's attention to Christ.
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Theotokos Blessed Queen of the universe, you know that we sinners have no intimacy with God whom you have borne. But, putting our trust in you, through your intercessions we your servants prostrate ourselves before the Lord: for you can (eely approach Him since He is your son and our God. Thus I, too, unworthy believer that I am, entreat you, holy Queen, that I may be a!owed to perceive the gi's of grace bestowed on you and on the other saints, and to understand how you do display so many virtues. Simply your giving birth to the Son of God shows that you excel above a! other beings. For He Who, as creator of a!, knows a! things before they come into existence, found your womb worthy of His indwe!ing. From St. Peter of Damascus (Book 1 : A Treasury of Divine Knowledge, The Philokalia Vol. 3 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pgs. 129-130) Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Orthodox Life Incarnation
Fall
P a r Baptism Theosis a Awaken Final d Grace Judgment i s Prayer Ascetic Fasting e Communion Disciplines Study Love God Love neighbor
Synergy
Will Repentance Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Meditation
Wednesday, March 11, 2009