Questions from TV viewers are answered by Priest Konstantin Morozov, cleric of the Church of St. Prophet Elijah on the Porokhovs. Broadcast from St. Petersburg.

-Tell us about your new position?

I was approved as director of the Center for Spiritual Culture and Religious Education of the Vyborg District in St. Petersburg. Priests in all districts of the city received such appointments. This center is designed to improve work with secular schools in the field of Fundamentals of Orthodox culture, organize advanced training courses for teachers, unite and diversify the activities of Sunday schools, establish interaction between churches and Sunday schools, organize concerts and exhibitions.

- Question from a TV viewer from Lipetsk: “When is the Psalter read to the Most Holy Theotokos?”

-In each district of the city there will be a certain center. Who can contact him?

School teachers can contact us to hold certain events (for example, dedicated to Prince Vladimir, because this year we are celebrating the 1000th anniversary of his death) or lectures, conversations, excursions for children to various spiritual centers of St. Petersburg. The center can help in the implementation of these ideas and plans, but its main activity is to unite on the basis of the center those who are engaged in religious education in deaneries. In our diocese, after the reform, the deanery district coincides with the city districts. In each district there is now a center to support teachers on the Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture and to help teachers work in Sunday schools. Previously, the priest would ask some knowledgeable parishioner, perhaps even one with a spiritual education, to work with the children. Pedagogical knowledge is very important, but processing of the material that the teacher offers to children in Sunday school is also important, and this does not always happen in good level. The Center for Religious Education and Culture of the Vyborg Deanery District of St. Petersburg has a website.

- Will these centers be of the same type, or does everything depend on the initiative?
- The center has a certain direction of activity, but how and with what help it will develop, what this center will use in implementing its tasks assigned to it, depends on the director.

- Most often, the organization of a center depends on the premises. Is it already there?

We have a Sunday school building in our temple, where there are enough classrooms. It is not necessary that all events be held in one or another room of the center - they can be offsite: in schools, cultural centers, or in premises that will be provided by the district for the implementation of the program. We will have an Easter concert for students secondary schools, which will take place at the Vyborg Side club. The club provides its premises for the concert.

Question from a TV viewer from the Tyumen region: “I don’t remember whether the late aunt was baptized. Can we read the canon to the holy martyr Huar for her?”

There is nothing wrong with praying for a baptized person as for an unbaptized one. But there are cases when a person is alive and does not remember whether he was baptized or not, and for some reason evidence of this has not been preserved. In this case, the person must be baptized. The priest baptizes him and says: “The servant of God is baptized even if he is not baptized.” And then, if a person is really not baptized, he is baptized, and if he was baptized, then the Sacrament of Baptism is no longer performed on him, but the grace that is over him is confirmed.

- What are your plans for this center? How would you like to see it ideally?

I would like to see it multifaceted, so that it attracts a large number of different people, because it is a center not only of education, but also of culture. “Culture” comes from the word “to cultivate”, as well as from the word “cult”, that is, “spirituality”. This is already going away, many words cease to play an important role. The main direction of the center should be the words spoken by His Holiness: “If earlier the word “parish” was formed because people came, now we ourselves must go out to meet them and talk to them about what is dear to us.” Unfortunately, the old stereotype still applies that we will pray, live a spiritual life, and the people will come. This sometimes works because the ministry of more experienced priests took place under Soviet rule, when there was no opportunity for extensive preaching. Therefore, many questions arise about how to tackle this again. Now is the time when the Church must speak about itself, but not sinking to the level of the average person, but raising him to its own level. The main task of the center is to enter into a lively dialogue between the Church and society on the basis of culture and education.

Question from a TV viewer from Yekaterinburg: “Name practical advice for two important weeks that end the fast. How to attend worship services so you can stand before God without getting distracted. As they say, the end is the crown of the matter. I would like everything to go well."

What we lack is that we do not think through the Gospel that is read on Sunday. If we thought through this passage, thought about it throughout the week, then the Lord might have done something with us. We would not just listen, but experience this passage. And when we heard it another time, we would have a completely different perception of the text of Holy Scripture. It is important not only to hear, but also to read Holy Bible, which is read at services. You can take this passage with you to better perceive the text that is offered to those praying.

The second thing that can be said about the coming weeks is the experience of the Passion of the Lord. We will remember them, about why the Lord came into this world. He came voluntarily to suffer for us. To experience these Passions more, various moments can help us with this: prayers, expanding the morning and evening prayer rules. Nowadays there is a lot of literature dedicated to Holy Week, where there are texts that are read at services. Come with these little books to the reading of the twelve Gospels, so that you not only hear, but also see. Prepare by reading the texts and thinking about what is happening these days. For example, when I talk about Maundy Thursday, I can say that this is the Last Supper. Read about what is really happening there, what the Lord did at the Last Supper, and why it is so important to us.

There is a wonderful book by Alexander Schmemann “ Lent" In it, the author describes the services of Lent. For me, at one time, Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion of the Christ” became a kind of discovery. I experienced differently what the Lord endured for me when I watched this film. It was filmed on a historical basis, based on studies of the Shroud. I began to perceive Holy Week in a completely different way, when cinematic images were partially superimposed on the divine service that was performed and spoke about it.

- At the seminary, we even gathered in classes on Passion Street and watched “The Passion of Christ.”

- There should be one spiritual and educational center. Will they be connected?

They are connected because the directors of the center gather for meetings, discuss problems and share their joys. This is all just beginning for us. On March 31, there will be a second meeting of the directors of the centers, and I proposed to develop a common reading, an Olympiad, so that the activities of the centers would be united, and their direction could be adjusted so that everyone would respect the common boundary. This proposal will be considered by the chairman of the department, Bishop Ambrose, and his deputy and will help direct this in the right direction.

- Does the center need a confessor?

Each center is headed by a priest who will spiritually care for the employees he recruits to carry out his obedience.

- Will it be mostly the laity who work?

Of course, the active role of the laity in the Church will be well realized here in the organization of missionary projects in the future. This year, in our deanery, we will publish books by Patriarch Kirill during Holy Week and on Palm Sunday with his speeches from the “Word of the Shepherd” program about Easter; booklets that we print for the twelve holidays. All this will make it possible to involve the laity in the activities of parishes and help priests in carrying out their obedience.

Question from a TV viewer: “When reading a prayer rule, can prayers constructed in the masculine gender be converted into feminine ones? Isn't this a sin?

In my opinion, no. My mother asked me this question when she just started praying: “I’m not a servant of God - I’m a servant of God.” It seems to me that there is no problem with this, if she feels that it would be more correct for her, then go ahead.

Question from a TV viewer: “How to prepare for general confession, should you do it with a priest or on your own?”

If you need general confession, then it needs to be carried out with one priest, and if it is very long, then it is better to split it into several confessions. Let’s say you tell part of your life in one meeting, part of it in a second or third. General confession is bringing repentance for your life. This good experience, when a person can comprehend his life, if he is a person who has lived enough time and lived, as it seems to him, incorrectly. All brochures that are printed, such as “1001 sins” or something like that, should be avoided. In my opinion, confession should come from the heart. I have to remember my life, understand what I did wrong in my life, understand what torments me in it.

Very often than more people confess, the more it becomes automatic. On the one hand, because a lot of people come to Sunday services, many are just getting into church, they need help and adjustment, and this is confession. Therefore, confession is a “sieve” through which all parishioners are passed every Sunday or holiday in order to weed out people who are just preparing to approach Communion or who do not understand what it is at all. So that it doesn’t happen like this: “Everyone has come up, and I’ll come up.” Our confession is tied to the Liturgy. Because of this, it is difficult for many faithful, every time they receive communion, for example, every Sunday, to experience confession as repentance of their sins. I experienced this too. We do not achieve such ascetic activity as to be inwardly contrite and bring complete repentance.

If general confession is performed correctly, then, of course, it is better for this person to sit quietly for several days, without rushing anywhere, to reflect on his life from his first days, as he remembers himself, until the day he sat down for desk, placing in front of him a blank sheet of paper, which should be filled with the untruths that he has committed in his life.

Question from a TV viewer from Lipetsk: “I want to take communion on Maundy Thursday. Do I need to read the canons or can I just read the Rule for Communion?”

If you receive communion on Maundy Thursday, then you must read the entire Rule. There is no such rule that by this day it is enough to read the Rule for Communion, and the canons are omitted. Although, everything is at the discretion of your confessor. If he says that you can only read the Rule, and there is no need for the canons, then read the Rule for Communion.

Many, preparing to receive communion on Maundy Thursday, forget that Liturgies are served earlier in the week. It turns out that these services remain unattended. How to participate in services and Liturgies during Holy Week?

Participation in any Liturgy consists of Communion. Perhaps there has been an incorrect stereotypical opinion that Communion on Maundy Thursday is a special Communion, because of which everything else fades, and it is enough to take Communion on Maundy Thursday and you can go a year without communion. This is still a pre-revolutionary formula. Perhaps due to the fact that people had lost their living religiosity, they received communion very rarely, sometimes once a year or only during fasting 4 times a year and the 5th time on Angel Day. The Church has weakened in that it has ceased to play a living role as a Eucharistic community.

Question from a TV viewer from the Stavropol Territory: “My husband had surgery, he has epilepsy, and he cannot do without medication. In the morning he needs to take medicine, and Communion usually takes place at 10 o’clock. What can he eat when taking medicine at 8 o’clock?”

My confessor told a story. He was ordained by Father Nikodim (Rotov). Once, when he was still a young deacon, he had a headache, he felt unwell, caught a cold, and in the morning he thought: “I will serve, but I will not receive communion.” Deacons are allowed to do so without preparation. I took the pills and went to the service, and when everyone began to approach the bishop for his blessing, he asked: “Why didn’t you take communion today?” He replied: “Vladyka, I was sick, I took a pill.” The Bishop replied: “Father Alexander, shame on you! Do you think that Christ won’t pass through your pill?” If someone needs to take a pill and eat before the service, just not to get too full, then this is allowed. If a person has diabetes, then he will physically not be able to stand the service without eating a small piece of bread in the morning. Let him eat and take communion. There is no problem with this; let your spouse, who is sick, take the necessary pills and eat what he needs before Communion.

Question from a TV viewer: “My husband was baptized according to the Old Believer rite at home with a priest, but he doesn’t really remember this - he is completely unchurched. I am trying to attract him to spiritual life, being Orthodox. My husband and his relatives sometimes go to general confession in Old Believer Church without priesthood. Can I go with my husband and find out what is going on there, is there Communion and confession there? Since there is no priest there, I understand that there are no Sacraments. Is this a church or is it a sect?

With the Old Believers, we have a division into priests and non-priests. Communion is handled differently in every community. Some Old Believers had such a thing that they pounded pre-Nikon’s prepared Gifts, when they still had the priesthood, many centuries ago, and added them to the dough. Prosphoras were made on them and thus they received communion. Of course, the Bespopovites do not have communion. We recognize their baptism, but if a person converts to Orthodoxy, then he should be anointed and thus join the Russian Orthodox Church. You can go, however, you may encounter the fact that they will not let you into the temple, but will leave you to stand in the vestibule and pray there, because the Old Believers are quite conservative in these matters. Even though you are a spouse, they have their own community.

- Can I advise you to contact the Russian Orthodox Church of the Same Faith?

Can. But the question is that co-religionists are those who left the rituals before Nikon, pre-reform, but became part of the Moscow Patriarchate. We have such a parish in the city; it is located next to the Museum of the Arctic and Antarctic. There you can contact Father Pavel. But if the listener’s husband visits the Bespopovites, then everything will probably be different. I would recommend going to fellow believers, they have a small chapel. She can consult Father Michael about Communion and everything she needs there.

Question from a TV viewer from Lipetsk: “At the general confession, I will confess the sins I committed in childhood. Can I make an excuse that, as a child, I did not understand, did not know, someone influenced me. Is this allowed?

Firstly, general confession begins at the age of 7. Secondly, in confession there is no need to make excuses at all. When you read your prayers, say: “Lord, forgive me my voluntary and involuntary sins.” An involuntary sin is still a sin. Sin is a mistake, a mistake. If you admit that this is a mistake, you must correct it by repentance. Excuses for mistakes are mutually exclusive actions. The formulation “I, of course, am wrong, but I had some circumstances connected with this” is not suitable for confession.

Unfortunately, we talked very little about the Mother of God. What place does the Blessed Virgin Mary occupy in your life?

The Mother of God occupies a special place in the life of every Christian. Unlike the Western Church, which emphasized Her virginity and chastity in the image of the Mother of God, the Eastern Church emphasized motherhood, and for everyone She is the Mother. When I came to the temple, I had such a feeling while standing in prayer, like turning directly to the Protector, the One Who will always cover you with love. Yesterday we read about Mary of Egypt: when she was not allowed into the temple, she saw an image Mother of God and said: “Blessed Mother, You are pure, but I am not pure. You, of course, may not look at me, but let me enter the temple.” What follows is a description of how Mary of Egypt enters the temple with tears and how throughout her entire repentant life she feels the Mother of God as her Intercessor. And only because of this love of the Mother of God, who allowed her into the temple, Mary accomplished such a feat of her life. The Mother of God condescends to each of us and our lives, because she is a special Intercessor for us before God.

- Is the akathist that was read today different from other akathists to the Mother of God or to the saints?

He is one of the first, on the basis of which many other akathists familiar to us were written. There is a tradition of not reading akathists during Lent. It appeared precisely in order not to diminish the dignity of the Akathist to the Mother of God, which was read today at the service “Rejoice Unbrided Bride.” In relation to this chant, the exclamation with which each ikos ended speaks of the special place of the Mother of God in the Church.

Question from a TV viewer from St. Petersburg: “Is it necessary to tell a person that his actions are a sin, or is it not worth it, since we ourselves are sinners, and we once committed the same sins, but repented?”

Sin must be named if it exists. However, there is an amazing line in one of the prayers that I try to say so that people can use it as a guide when they communicate with someone about their sins. It says: “Lord, send me at the right moment a person who is ready to tell me the truth, but tell it lovingly.” Not everyone is capable of telling the truth in love. Therefore, if you communicate with a dear and significant person and you will tell him about his sin, strive to say it with love so that he feels it.

- So you can get carried away and start denouncing everyone.

On the one hand, it depends on a person’s internal culture: how to speak, to whom to say and what. On the other hand, there should be no arrogance. And the TV viewer can say from her own experience, if she had these sins, and she repented: “You know, I also encountered this, but now I really repent that I had this in my life.” A woman who tells a girl about to have an abortion can talk about how she regrets with all her heart now that she herself once had an abortion. Any sin in our life is a tragedy.

A certain indicator of attitude towards a person is death. I have said many times that when someone dies, we cry for ourselves. We feel sorry for ourselves because we didn’t do something, didn’t say what could have been said, didn’t lend a helping hand, didn’t say a word of support. But the person died - and nothing can be changed. Therefore, the voice of conscience tells us that we were less human than we could have been. But, on the other hand, death before us reveals the secret of eternity, because when a person dies, you feel that he has not left, that he is next to you. We must take care of people while they are alive, because when they resign to the Lord, we will no longer be able to tell them how dear they are to us, how significant they are.

- Is it a big sin to make a mistake when reading the Psalter?

There is no sin in this. A slip of the tongue or misreading of a word occurs due to inexperience. It is enough to re-read this sentence or pronounce this word correctly. There is nothing criminal in any mistake, because the Lord knows the Psalter by heart, He is not a teacher of Russian literature who punishes us for incorrect pronunciation of a word. The Lord needs our heart, and in this regard, if you read the Psalter correctly, but your heart is cold, then there is no use in it. Some grandmother who knows nothing reads the Psalter, but incorrectly, but her heart burns - this is the real reading of the Psalter. Very often we reduce the Lord to what is right and what is wrong, and we forget the most important thing, why we undertake the feat of prayer in the first place. We take the Psalter to make our hearts burn, and not to practice correct pronunciation.

- Is it necessary to include an akathist to the Rule for Communion?

I think no. This is for those interested. But sometimes it happens that a person takes on very large rules: reading the canon, several akathists a day. He can't cope and becomes despondent. All this happens because a person has taken on more than he can bear. The prayer rule should be varied, there should be several morning and evening rules. If a person does not have time to read a long one, then he prays with a short rule. If I’m not in a hurry, but realize that I don’t have time to read the full one, then I pray for the middle one. In the evening, if I am tired, I pray briefly, but still devote time to prayer. Prayer Rules should be adjusted depending on what my condition is. My good teacher Igor Tsesarevich said: “A man came to me to pray and made mistakes. I think I won’t tell him that he’s making mistakes, so as not to upset him, and so that next time he won’t think that I can expose him for not praying correctly with me.”

Presenter: Deacon Mikhail Kudryavtsev
Transcript: Anna Solodnikova

In any incomprehensible situations, read the psalms - this is what Christian advice could sound like. And indeed, the Old Testament hymns have not lost their relevance in our time; there is a psalm for every mood. But what about a more modern creation - the “Psalter of the Mother of God”? Read about this in the article.

Canonical Psalter

The Book of Psalms, or Psalter, is one of the most beloved books of Christians. Although it was written back in the Old Testament - most of the psalms were written by King David - the book has not lost its relevance in our time.

No matter what mood a person is in, he will find consolation in the psalms. King David conveyed a wide range of emotions - gratitude to God, the search for support, the struggle with despondency, and repentance for sins.

The Psalter formed the basis of the divine services of the Orthodox Church; it is read in churches and at home. The book consists of 150 psalms - hymns of praise to the Lord.

For ease of reading, the Psalter is divided into 20 kathismas, each kathisma into three “Glories”. At each “Glory” the living and the dead are commemorated. If the Psalter is read for only one person, then his name is remembered at each “Glory”. If they pray for both health and repose, then the living are remembered in the first two “Glories”, and the deceased in the third.

If everything is clear with the traditional Psalter, then one book with a similar name - the Psalter of the Mother of God - raises questions.

Theotokos psalms

Psalms to the Mother of God are a creation of the 17th century, the author of which is St. Demetrius of Rostov. Saint Demetrius was Metropolitan of Rostov and went down in history as the compiler of a collection of the lives of saints. A significant part of his works is devoted to repentance and prayer.

Dimitri of Rostov especially read the Mother of God, even composed psalms in her honor, similar to those written by King David.

The Psalter of the Mother of God is not considered a canonical book. This is only the creation of Saint Demetrius, his prayer to the Most Pure One. There is no clear opinion on how to treat these hymns.

On the one side, the psalms were written by a canonized saint. Today in the bookstores of churches and monasteries you can see this book, published with the blessing of the bishops.

Many members of the clergy see nothing wrong with distributing and reading this book. Priest Dionysius Svechnikov answers the puzzling questions of the Orthodox this way:

This is the creation of St. Dmitry of Rostov. I don't see anything wrong with this reading.

On the other side, Some members of the clergy have a negative view of creation. Archpriest Gennady Fast is categorical:

... today in our churches you can see the “Psalter of the Mother of God”, where the word “Lord” is simply replaced by the word “Mother of God”. This is an unacceptable technique, although the book was published with the blessing of the bishops. How can one replace the name of the Lord with the name of anyone in revealed prayer books?!

The priest points out that Christianity is a monotheistic religion, and we first of all pray to God, and then to the Mother of God, the saints, and the angels. But the Lord stands in the center, so prayers addressed to Him should not be “twisted.” There are other prayers for the Most Pure One and the saints.

Nevertheless, the “Psalter of the Mother of God” is compiled only “in the likeness of the psalms”: it is similar in form and some wording, but different in meaning.

How can one be a believer when the priests cannot come to a common opinion? Should we limit ourselves only to the canonical Psalter?

We need to look at specific situation. If a person thinks the Psalter to the Mother of God is something dear and spiritually consonant, then there is nothing bad in reading this book - on the contrary, only benefit. If, instead of prayer, doubts and condemnations arise, then it is better to choose other prayer texts.

Saint Demetrius of Rostov

Psalter of the Mother of God

Christian hymns to the Most Holy Queen of Heaven, Ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of God.

Compiled in the likeness of the Psalms.

PRAYER

To the glory of the Holy, Consubstantial and Indivisible Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and in honor and praise of the heavenly Queen, the Most Pure Virgin Mary.

We take refuge under Your compassion, O Virgin Mother of God, do not despise our prayers in sorrow, but deliver us from troubles, O pure and blessed One.

O Lady, open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise.

My lady, please help me. Glory to Thee, orphans Mother, make us a merciful Almighty God.

ABOUT, Holy Lady, Most Pure Virgin Mary, Mother of my Lord God Jesus Christ! I fall down and pray, like the Tsar’s Mother, commending my unworthy prayer to You, having accepted it, Fr. Mother of the King of heaven and earth, bring to the King of those who reign, all to the Lord, Thy Son and God, and ask forgiveness for all my sins, grant correction to my life and at the end of the air enemies a peaceful passage, open the divine entrance to the kingdom, intercede with me and there the heavenly food of pleasure , the mountain of this city, the most beautiful Jerusalem, the joy and indescribable beauties, the lordship of the threefold Trinity light and the sweet voice of angelic singing: make me the heir of glory and joy and a participant in all the saints, all you can, as the Mother of the Almighty King; and now, more than ever at this hour, hear me, O All-Merciful Lady, who stands before Thee; look, O Lady Queen, I offer prayers to Thee.

Worship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Come, let us worship our Queen Theotokos.

Come, let us worship the Virgin Mary, our Queen Mother of God.

Come, let us bow and fall before the Lady Virgin Mary herself, our Queen Theotokos.

We bow to You, Most Holy Theotokos, by Your Nativity revealing to us the true light, Queen of heaven and earth, hope of the unreliable, helper of the weak, intercessor to all sinners; Cover us and intercede from all troubles and needs, mental and physical, and be our intercessor, we pray, with your holy prayers.

We worship Your blessed conception and birth from your holy parents, from Joachim and Anna; We pray to Thee, our Lady, grant us a sinless life to conceive and bear the fruits of repentance.

We bow to Your introduction into the Church of the Lord, who was the third-year-old Maiden, and we pray to You, our light, to make us a church of the Holy Spirit through Your prayers.

We worship Your Annunciation, Most Pure Virgin Mother of God, when through the action of the Holy Spirit with the voice of the Archangel you conceived the Word of the Father, and we pray to You, our light, to bring salvation to us desperate ones.

We worship Your birth, when You incarnated and gave birth to Christ, the Savior of the world, and You appeared as the Mother of God, glorified and exalted from all creation, and we pray to You, our light, to show yourself the Mother of mercy now and in the age to come.

We worship Your purification, undefiled, unblasphemous, incorruptible, Most Pure, and we pray to You, our light, cleanse us from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit through Your prayers.

We worship and honor Your illnesses, which You endured during the free passion of Your Son, when Simeon’s prophecy came true: Your soul the weapon will pass, and we pray to Thee, our light, to deliver us from mental and physical illnesses.

We bow to You, Lady, remembering the joy You had during the resurrection of Your Son, and we pray to You, our light, not to deprive us of spiritual joy.

We bow to Your honest and glorious Dormition, and we pray to You, our light, to rest our carnal passions with Your help.

Oh, Most Holy Lady Theotokos! Accept this little prayer and offer it to Your Son and our God, that He may save and enlighten You for the sake of our souls.

Looking at Your most holy image, as if we behold You as the true Mother of God, with heartfelt faith and love from the soul we fall and worship with the eternal Child held in Your hand, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Oh, Our Most Holy Lady, Heavenly Queen, glorious Lady, Virgin Mother of God, righteous consolation to all who are sad and life and resurrection to all who trust in You! Incline, O Lady, Your most pure ears to our prayer, offered to You from us, Your indecent and unworthy servants.

Oh, our merciful Mother! Show Thy mercy to us, who are always in sorrow and always in sin, and do not despise us, Thy many-sinful servants.

Oh, our beautiful Mother! Thou art the wine of all good things, the revival of mortal man and the deliverance of the lost, accept our unworthy this prayer, Thy fallen and many-sinful servants, in this hour of our bitter, lamentable, and painful petition, as we now dare to speak to You, the Most Holy Lady Queen Theotokos, This prayer and joyful invitation with the Angel is: Virgin Mother of God, rejoice, full of grace Mary, for you have conceived in the flesh the Son of God. Rejoice, for you carried Him in Your womb. Rejoice, for you gave birth to Him. Rejoice, for you nourished the breasts. Rejoice, for the wolves worshiped Him. Rejoice, for you have found Christ in the church in three days. Rejoice, for Christ has risen from the dead and ascended to heaven. Rejoice, for you yourself have been taken to heaven. Rejoice, for You are superior to the virginity of the Angels and the glory of the Saints. Rejoice, for You are creating peace on earth. Rejoice, for all the inhabitants of heaven are obedient to You. Rejoice, for you can ask what you want from your Son, Christ our God. Rejoice, for you have been honored to be near the Most Holy Trinity. Rejoice, for You are the Mother of embittered people who resort to You. Rejoice, for Your joy will never end. Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you.

Prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary

These quite rare and beautiful prayers are taken from the book “The Psalter - Helper and Patron.” They are located after each kathisma, there are twenty of them in total, according to the number of kathismas. Saint Nicholas of Serbia mentions a custom when, during the reading of the Psalter, after one or several kathismas, prayers were read containing special petitions for neighbors in difficult circumstances.

First prayer.

O Most Holy Virgin, Mother of the Lord Most High, All-Merciful Intercessor and Patroness of all who come running to You with faith! Look from the height of Your heavenly glory on the servants of God (names) and on us, falling at Your foot, hear the humble prayer of us, sinful and unworthy Thy servants, and offer it before Your beloved Son: (request). Oh, Most Blessed Mother of God! You, who are called Quick to Hear and Joy to all who mourn, hear us, the sorrowful; You, called the Quenching of Sorrow, quench our mental illnesses and sorrows; You are the Burning Kupino, save the world and all of us from the harmful fiery arrows of the enemy; You, Seeker of the lost, do not let us perish in the abyss of our sins; You, Healer of the afflicted, heal us who are wounded by mental and physical infirmities; You, Unexpected Joy, with the joy of Your salvation have taken away from us the fear of future torment; You, the Helper of sinners, be also for us, sinners, the Benevolent Helper of our repentance and salvation. In You, according to God, we place all our hope, may we become the Vigilant Intercessor and All-Powerful Representative before Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; strengthen our faith in Him, confirm us in His love, teach us to love and glorify You, Holy Mother of God, Most Blessed Mary; We entrust ourselves to Your Almighty Protection, Mother of God, for all eternity. Amen.

Second prayer

O Queen Theotokos, Mother of Christ our God! Hear us: (request), and deliver the servants of God (names) from all sorrow and sorrow, protect from all misfortune and evil slander and from the unrighteous and cruel slander of the enemy. You can, O Gracious Mother of God, not only save Your people from all evil, but also provide them with every good deed and save them: are not other intercessors for You, sinners, imams to Your Son, Whom you implored, O Lady, that we may glorify Your salvation Your Son and our God, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer three.

O All-Merciful Lady, Virgin Mother of God! Listen to our humble prayer: (request), and lift up to Your Son and our Mother God Your prayer for the servants of God (names), that He may not cast away their sinners from His presence, but, as He is merciful, may He forgive them their sins, voluntary and involuntary, may they be saved from the temptations of the world, from the snares of the devil and from the attacks of invisible enemies, may they create good and serene days, for the Lord is good to all creation, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, glorified forever. Amen.

Prayer four.

O Most Gracious and Most Merciful Lady Queen Theotokos! You, even if you desire, can ask everything from Your Son Christ our God: do not deny the servants of God (names) from Your intercession: (request), and grant liberation from troubles and sorrows and deliver them, All-Immaculate One, from visible and invisible enemies and from evil people those who slander them, and pray to Your Son and our God, that on the day of Judgment He will place us at the right hand, for the sake of Your intercession. To him be glory and power, with His Originless Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Fifth prayer.

O Most Holy Lady Theotokos! Look with mercy at our prayers: (request), and do not turn Your face away from the servants of God (names) for their many sins, but stretch out to them the hand of Your mother’s mercy and do a sign for good with them. Show Thy rich help and prosper in every business; Turn them away from every sinful undertaking and evil thought, so that they may always glorify Your Most Honorable Name. Amen.

Prayer six.

O Most Holy Lady Lady Theotokos! With fear, faith and love before honest and miraculous icon With Your falling, we pray to You (request), and do not turn Your face away from those who come running to You. Pray, O Merciful Mother, to Thy Son and our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, to keep our country peaceful, to keep His Holy Church unshakable, and to deliver from unbelief and heresies and schism. There are no imams of any other help, no imams of other hope, except for You, Most Pure Virgin; You are the all-powerful Helper and Intercessor of Christians. Deliver all those who pray to You with faith from the falls of sin, from the slander of evil people, from all temptations, sorrows, illnesses, troubles and sudden death. Grant to Thy servants (names) the spirit of contrition, humility of heart, purity of thoughts, correction of sinful lives and the remission of sins, so that all who gratefully sing of Thy greatness and Thy mercy shown here on earth, we will be worthy of the Heavenly Kingdom, and there with all the saints we will glorify the Most Honorable and Magnificent Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Seventh prayer.

Most Holy Lady, Lady Theotokos! Hear us: (request), and have mercy on Thy sinful and unworthy servants (names), pray to the Merciful Lady, Thy Son and our Lord Jesus Christ, that He may turn away His righteous anger from them, that He may forgive their sins and iniquities, for that they may be worthy of His goodness end your life in repentance and receive His mercy with all His chosen ones: for blessed and glorified are you forever. Amen.

Eighth prayer.

God-happy Lady, All-merciful Intercessor for the whole world! Thy servants diligently resort to Thy intercession: (request), and make a warm prayer to Thy Son and our God for the servants of God (names), so that for Your sake He will deliver them from all illnesses and sorrows, and free them from all sins, the heirs of His Heavenly Kingdom will show them; Great and indescribable, like Mother, you have the boldness to Him and you can ask everything from Him, the One Blessed One forever. Amen.

Ninth prayer.

O Most Holy Lady, Lady Theotokos! We humbly fall and pray to Thee: (request), and do not close Thy bounties to Thy servants, sinners (names), deliver them from the fall of sin, from the slander of evil people, from sorrows and troubles, from sudden death and eternal torment, and grant them the spirit of contrition , humility of heart, purity of mind and remission of sins, so that all who sing gratefully to You, let us be worthy of the Heavenly Kingdom and there, with all the saints, let us glorify the Most Honorable and Magnificent Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer tenth.

Zealous Intercessor, Mother of the Lord Most High! Look now from Thy holy heights upon the servants of God (names) and show them Thy wondrous mercies: (request), and deliver them from all sorrow, guide them on the path of all virtues and goodness, save them from temptations, troubles and illnesses. Imams have no other help, no other intercession, no consolation except You, O Mother of all who mourn and suffer. According to God, You are our hope and intercessor, and we trust in You, ourselves and each other, and we commit our whole life to You forever and ever. Amen.

Eleventh prayer.

O Most Merciful Lady, Queen Theotokos! Accept our humble prayer: (request), and do not reject the servants of God (names) and do not abhor them, unworthy. But like the Merciful Mother, do not stop begging, You gave birth to Him, may He grant them forgiveness of many sins, may He save them in the image of their destinies. Have mercy on them, Lady, have mercy on them, for there is no salvation for them from works. Grant to the servants of God tenderness, repentance and contrition of heart. Vouchsafe them all the days of their lives to do the will of Thy Son and our God and to please Him alone in everything. In the hour of death, Most Holy Virgin, deliver the servants of God (names) from the power of demons and condemnation, and the answer, and terrible trials, and bitter ordeals, and eternal fire, so that having been honored with the Kingdom of God, they magnify You and glorify Christ our God incarnate from You To Him be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer twelve

O most holy lady, mistress and mother of God! Accept our unworthy prayer: (request), and save the servants of God (names) from the slander of evil people and from sudden death, and grant us repentance before the end, and soften their evil hearts. Strengthen the right faith in them, put into their hearts the spirit of the fear of God, the spirit of piety, the spirit of humility, patience and love and in good deeds prosperity: deliver the servants of God (names) from temptation, corruption and eternal destruction. And make them worthy at the right hand of your son, Christ our God, at his second coming, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven and eternal life with all the saints for ever and ever.

Prayer thirteen

To whom shall we cry, O mistress; to whom do we resort in our sorrow, if not to you, queen of heaven; who will receive our crying and sighing, if not you, most immaculate, the hope of Christians and refuge for us sinners? Who is more in mercy than you: incline your ear to us, mistress, mother of our God, and do not despise those who require your help: (request), and hear our groaning, strengthen your servants of sinners (names), enlighten and teach, queen of heaven, and do not depart from them, mistress, for grumbling, but be their mother and intercessor and entrust them to the merciful protection of your son: arrange for them as your holy will pleases, and lead them, sinners, to a quiet and serene life, so that they may cry for their sins theirs, may they always rejoice with you, now and ever, and forever and ever.

Prayer fourteen

O most holy lady, mistress and mother of God! Accept our unworthy prayer (request), and save the servants of God (names) from the slander of evil people and from sudden death, and grant them repentance before the end. Have mercy on our prayer and grant joy instead of sorrow. And deliver them, madam, from all misfortune and adversity, sorrow and illness and from all evil. And grant us, thy sinful servants, to be at the right hand at the second coming of thy son, Christ our God, and heirs! The existence of the kingdom of heaven and eternal life with all the saints throughout the endless ages of ages.

Prayer fifteen

Hope to all the ends of the earth and to your servants (names). You, most pure virgin, Lady Theotokos, are our consolation! Do not disdain your servants (names), sinners, who trust in your mercy: (request), and extinguish the sinful flame in them and water their withered hearts with repentance, cleanse their minds from sinful thoughts; accept the sigh from the soul and heart of those who bring you the prayer. Be an intercessor for them to your son and God, and tame his righteous rage with your motherly prayers. Heal mental and physical ulcers, Lady Mother of God, quench the illnesses of souls and bodies, calm the storm of evil attacks of the enemy; take away the burden of the sins of your servants and do not leave them to perish until the end. For you are the leader of the human race, an ambulance in sorrow. True Mother of Christ our God, help your sinful servants always, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.


Prayer sixteen

Accept, O all-blessed and all-powerful Lady Lady Virgin Mary, these prayers for your unworthy servants (names), now brought to you with tears from us, to your celibate image the singing of those who send up with tenderness, as if you yourself are here and heed our prayer: (request ), at whose request you fulfilled, alleviated sorrows, granted health to the weak, healed the weakened and sick, drove away demons from demons, delivered the offended from insults, cleansed lepers and graciously cared for little children; Moreover, O Lady and Lady Theotokos, you free us from bonds and prisons and heal all kinds of varied passions; All this is possible through your intercession to your son, Christ our God. O all-sung mother, most holy Mother of God! Do not cease to pray for your unworthy servants, who glorify you and honor you, and who worship with tenderness your most pure image, and who have irrevocable hope and undoubted faith in you, ever-glorious and blameless virgin, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.

Prayer seventeen

Mother of the Lord of heaven and earth, grant the intercession of your servants (names) upon leaving this temporary life, help them to comfortably pass through all the aerial ordeals of the ruler of the darkness of this age and be worthy to dwell in the heavenly abodes with the chosen ones, so that in the light of the saints they sing the magnificent name of father and son and the holy spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.


Prayer Eighteen

Lady Theotokos, I humbly appeal to you: hear me, attend to my prayer and petition: (request), and may my prayer be corrected, like a censer before your face; Make, O mistress, your servants (names) always understand what is pleasing to you and confirm their hearts in true love for you.

Prayer nineteen

Oh, most holy lady, my mistress, Mother of God, heavenly queen! Save and deliver your sinful servants (names) from vain slander, from all troubles and misfortunes and sudden death. Protect them, Lady Theotokos, from all enemies, visible and invisible, and from every evil situation: (request), and in every place and at every time, be for them, O blessed Mother, an insurmountable wall and a strong defense always, now and ever, and in forever and ever. Amen

Prayer twentieth

Holy Virgin! Mother of the Lord, show me, the wretched, and the servants of God (names) your ancient mercy: (request), and send down the spirit of reason and piety, the spirit of mercy and meekness, the spirit of purity and truth. Hey, most pure lady! Be merciful to them here and on the Last Judgment. For you are, lady, the glory of heaven and the hope of earth. Amen.

Sometimes a person comes to the line, beyond which there is an abyss. He stands at the edge in despair, helplessness and hopelessness, wondering whether to step or hold on? A person in this state is very lonely, and he has no one with whom to share the burden of his torment, and there is no friend nearby who would take him by the hand and lead him away from the edge of the terrible abyss.
In such moments, even if they last more than one month, we need to remember that there is One who is always with us. He is very close to us, we just don’t hear Him. We are so absorbed in our own pain, our own problems that we do not see or feel His participation in our lives. And the Lord stands humbly at the door of our heart and waits for us to let Him in.
When a child fails at something, when someone has offended him, when he wants to receive something as a gift, when he doesn’t know what to do, he turns to his parents. So we too can turn to our heavenly Father with all our needs, like children - in simplicity and kindness.
Conversation with God occurs during prayer. Prayer is a conversation with God, it is a means by which they seek and find God. As the holy teachers of the Church say, prayer is the art of arts.

Ever since the light of the Christian faith shone in Rus', among Orthodox people The veneration of the Most Pure Mother of God, the Mother of our Lord God Jesus Christ, was firmly established. Many hymns of praise have been composed in Her honor; people turn to Her in prayers of repentance and ask Her for intercession in everyday troubles. The collection of such prayers, called the “Psalter of the Mother of God,” will be discussed in our article.

Rostov saint - shepherd, preacher and teacher

Its author is an outstanding spiritual writer, preacher and teacher of the era of Peter I - Metropolitan of Rostov and Yaroslavl Dimitri (Tuptalo). Almost half a century after his blessed death in 1709, he was canonized as a Russian saint. Orthodox Church. His being chosen by God was irrefutably evidenced by both the incorruptibility of his relics and the numerous miracles revealed through prayers at his grave.

In his earthly life, the holy saint of God became famous, in addition to his pastoral and teaching activities (he founded a Slavic-Greek school in Rostov), ​​also as an outstanding spiritual writer, who authored numerous works on the study of the patristic heritage and hymnography. One of the most famous such works is the Psalter of the Mother of God.

Successor of King David

When compiling it, the author took as a basis the well-known Psalter (note that this is a feminine word) - the Old Testament bible book, whose authorship is attributed to King David. It is no coincidence that the title of the book comes from the name of the ancient Eastern musical instrument- psalms. Once upon a time, to the sound of its strings, the sons of Israel sang praises to God, who led them out of the land of slavery.

Just like the creation of King David, it is divided into twenty kathismas - individual parts, including both psalms and songs of praise, as well as prayers. The only difference is that the Hebrew psalmist addresses God in his work, and his Russian imitator addresses the Queen of Heaven.

Unlike the creation of King David, the Psalter of the Mother of God is a much less well-known work, and even the majority of believers and churchgoers do not know about its existence. The reason for this phenomenon lies, obviously, in the fact that this Psalter is not included in the composition and is read only in those cases when a spiritual need arises.

Reverence Holy Mother of God inseparable from Orthodox faith. From time immemorial, gratitude to the Mother of the Savior of mankind from the darkness of eternal death was expressed in akathists, prayers, songs of praise and hymns. It was the reverent love of the people that once prompted Metropolitan Dimitry of Rostov and Yaroslavl to write a collection entirely dedicated to the praise of our Heavenly Intercessor, and entitled “Psalter of the Mother of God.”

How should this set of psalms and prayers be read? There is no specific information about this in church literature, since canonically it is not included in any divine service, but is intended exclusively for home prayer.

But even without outside help, every believer, guided only by the voice of his heart, feels that the psalms composed by the Rostov saint can become both a source of pure repentant tears and deep consolation - a guarantee of the intercession of our Heavenly Lady, the Most Holy Virgin Theotokos.

The Power of Prayer

The extent to which the Psalter of the Mother of God can have a tangible effect on a person in each specific case depends only on the person who reads its lines or listens to them. It is hardly necessary to mention a well-known truth, which is determined primarily by the sincerity and faith with which it is pronounced.

The gospel words of Jesus Christ that everyone receives according to their faith are as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago. And it doesn’t matter to whom the prayer chants are addressed - to Himself or to His Most Pure Mother, what matters is only the depth of heartfelt feeling put into them.

Modern critics of Saint Demetrius

At the end of the conversation, it is necessary to dwell on one more thing important aspect problems associated with the fact that the Psalter of the Mother of God, the text of which, although compiled by a religious figure glorified as a saint, was not included in the list of materials used during church services.

The fact is that, despite the approval given by the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, a number of modern clergy are skeptical about the spiritual value of this work.

Time-tested works

This position is extremely puzzling and can only be a consequence of a misunderstanding of the essence and meaning of the psalms written by an outstanding theologian late XVII And early XVIII century. Both during the years of the saint’s earthly life and after his blessed death, his works invariably received high praise even from the most severe critics.

With all certainty, they can be attributed to those fruits of creativity that have stood the test of time, and therefore deserve our attention. It should also be taken into account that they are not prohibited, and therefore there is no reason to exclude them from your circle spiritual reading. Everyone has the right to make the final decision themselves.