What prayers are read at home during Lent 2018

Everyone knows that the Easter fast - from February 19 to April 7, 2018 - is the strictest and longest, and there are many food restrictions during this seven-week period.

However, many of us forget that, in addition to giving up certain foods, during fasting a person must also cleanse himself spiritually, thereby, as it were, trying to “get closer” to God.

There are special prayers for every day during Lent, which should be read by all people who are Orthodox Christians.

What prayers are read during Lent are indicated in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, where an entire section is devoted to how one should behave throughout the entire seven-week period.

The main prayer is considered to be the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, which promotes liberation from the so-called “illness” that prevents a person from communicating with God. This prayer sounds like this:

Lord and Master of my life,

spirit of idleness, despondency, greed and idle talk

The spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love,

grant to me, Thy servant.

To her, Lord the King, grant me to see my sins,

and do not condemn my brother,

for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages, amen.

God, cleanse me, a sinner!

Morning prayers during Lent remain traditional, but their reading is certainly supplemented by the above prayer of Ephraim the Syrian. It can be read not only in church, but also at home, and its purpose is to prepare a person for confession, repentance and purification.

It is important to understand that food restrictions, as well as morning, afternoon and evening prayers during Lent have one common goal - a person must learn to manage himself, control his own feelings and emotions.

The seven-week period of Easter Lent is a time of peace and repentance. Every Christian believer must consciously enter into fasting, observe it, and correctly exit this state.

As a rule, it is quite difficult for an ignorant person to do this, therefore, having decided for the first time to take such a serious step as observing Lent, it is better to enlist the support of church ministers, who will definitely help in everything and tell you how to act correctly.

Prayers for Lent

Prayers during Lent are considered to have greater power. François Mauriac once said: “You don’t need to have faith to pray; you need to pray to gain faith.”

Prayer is not simple words with a list of sins and bright feelings. This is not something you can talk about a lot and in different ways. And not something to be neglected.

Prayers were originally created so that every person could talk to God. A special melodious rhythm, syllable and Old Church Slavonic language are the key to a certain state when the mortal is forgotten and the spiritual triumphs. This is exactly the case when you may not have much faith when taking your first steps in prayer, but you will certainly feel the touch of the Divine.

Prayers for Lent

Lent is a special time for Christians and 2016 is no exception. During this period, it is commanded to especially observe the rules of abstinence, good morals and mutual assistance. This is the time when you need to limit your body in everything in order to free your spirit from its influence. Every day a layer of experience accumulates on us: emotions, desires, anger and routine interests. All this has negligible relation to the truth spiritual development. And restrictions, reaching the point of asceticism, are designed to remove everything similar, superficial, from our soul. In this matter, prayer becomes an integral assistant.

During Lent, the lifestyle changes; for many, these changes are noticeable to the point of discomfort. And when the body imposes its usual line of behavior, it comes to the rescue Holy Word. It has a wonderful effect, helping to renounce the feeling of dissatisfaction that often gnaws at the hungry, and the feeling of irritation that gnaws at the one who is limited. Prayer helps to understand and feel how fleeting all this is, how small in relation to the great Divine Principle that lives in each of us.

“Prayer must remain unanswered, otherwise it ceases to be prayer and becomes correspondence.”

A person praying who turns his heart to God must remember, especially during Lent, that one cannot expect miracles and instant accomplishments. The soul of the righteous is pure and submissive to the will of the Lord; it does not demand, but patiently waits and gives thanks for everything that happens, without complaining.

Lent is a time of prayer

The morning of the first day of Lent begins with special words addressed to Jesus Christ, Holy Trinity. These prayers are called initial prayers. They mean a willingness to humbly accept the test of fasting, humility and participation in the passions of Jesus that he experienced in the desert.

Every morning begins with a prayer to Christ, a psalm of David, the third prayer of St. Macarius the Great, praise and song to the Mother of God. These are the main prayers read during Lent by a layman.

Throughout the day, thoughts should be turned to a prayer of gratitude for our daily bread, prayers before and after eating food.

Before going to bed, a righteous Christian turns his heart to the Guardian Angel through prayer and to God the Father.

These prayers can be called necessary to be read by a Christian during Lent. There are many more of them, but if you call on the listed saints with a pure soul, this will be enough.

The church service during Lent is also different from the usual one. Be sure to add the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian to the reading. It is considered a truly Lenten prayer, which fully reflects its content.

During the period of fasting, clergy are required to spend a lot of time in prayer. For them, prayer is a special and at the same time fundamental part of life. It should be practiced after waking up, before and after meals, before studying, at moments when temptation or bad thoughts overcome, before going to bed.

During Lent, they pray for their deceased and for the health of living loved ones and relatives. It is believed that a purified soul is closer to God, and He hears all prayers better. Therefore, you can turn to the Almighty in any prayers, and it will certainly respond, inside or outside.

“Work is the best prayer”

During Lent, purification is considered not only by verbal prayers, but also by deeds. It is said that during this period you need to refrain from unnecessary words, actions and desires.

We are accustomed to watching TV - we abstain. Unless it's for business. We are used to spending a lot of time chatting with friends on the phone – we limit ourselves to this period. This is a kind of work on yourself, the hardest work called “changing yourself for the better.”

But if a neighbor or acquaintance, and even if a stranger needs help, you need to help. Especially during Lent. Of course, help is possible and from the heart. It often happens that people contact us at the wrong time, they come at the wrong time. But this period exists precisely in order to overcome one’s dissatisfaction, to free oneself from it, so that this place in the soul is occupied by the awareness of the frailty of existence, the heights of spirit and unity. All people are equal, and everyone is given time. This time belongs to God, which means no one can take it away from us personally. But if we devote this time with an open heart to benefit someone, who will feel bad from it? On the contrary, kindness will only come. This is the purpose of Lent.

“God does not hear the words of prayer, God sees your heart”

There are people who are trying fasting for the first time. They do not know prayers, have not encountered miracles of faith. But something led them to try. It's never too late to take the path of improving your spirit. And for these people it is a bit of a problem to master a large amount of text. It may happen that for them reading a prayer will become an effort to pronounce correctly the right words, and not by a true turning of the soul to the Lord. In this case, you need to turn to the priest, he can help in directing you to the main prayers of a Christian. IN this moment there are prayers translated to modern language while maintaining the meaning.

It is possible and advisable to attend church services. Prayer in church takes on a truly wonderful sound and effect. Everything is pure: the words, voices, thoughts of many dozens of lay people bowing their heads in bow. In this you can find for yourself the first lesson of a miracle taught by the Lord.

But ignorance of prayers does not mean that the desire for purity of spirit will go unnoticed. The main thing is pure thoughts and righteous actions. There is a divine censor in every person, and if you listen to him, our words will always be heard by God.

Prayers for Lent

During Lent it is customary to read different prayers, but the most important is the repentant prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian. A chapter in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah is dedicated to this holiday. It describes in detail how to behave during fasting and other nuances. On these days, you can perform various rituals, read conspiracies and prayers. People believe that all appeals to God during this period will certainly be heard.

Prayers read during Lent

As has already been said, the most important prayer During the days of Great Lent, an appeal from Saint Sirin is considered. It lists the most important aspects repentance, and also indicates what exactly needs to be done and what to work on. The main idea of ​​prayer is that a person must free himself from illness, which is an obstacle to communication with God. The prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian sounds like this:

“Lord and Master of my life,

Do not give me the spirit of idleness, despondency, covetousness and idle talk.

Grant me the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Your servant.

grant me to see my sins,

and do not condemn my brother,

for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages, amen.

God, cleanse me, a sinner!”

To make the prayer more understandable, you need to focus on the most important points which are described in it. First, a request is made to get rid of important sins:

1. Spirit of Idleness. The saint asks God to protect him from wasting his time. Everyone has certain talents and skills that need to be used correctly for the benefit of all humanity. Idleness is considered the root of all sins.
2. Spirit of despondency. If a person is controlled by despondency, then he does not have the opportunity to see goodness and happiness in life. He simply plunges into darkness and becomes a real pessimist. That's why to move in in the right direction and to be closer to God you need to get rid of this sin.
3. Spirit of greed. In almost every person’s life there is a desire to control people, for example, power in the family, at work, etc. The love of control can become a serious problem that prevents you from developing and communicating with God.
4. Spirit of pride. Man is the only creation of God who has received the ability to speak. Often words are used to insult, curse, etc. In prayer, the saint asks God to protect him from vain and evil words.

Fasting cannot take place without prayers. You can read morning, evening prayers or the Psalter. It is important to always add the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian.

Other prayers read during Lent:

Great importance have kneeling prayers, read not during Lent, but on the Great Trinity, which is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. The priest reads them, kneeling and facing the novices. The prayers contain an appeal to the mercy of God; they speak of the sending of the Holy Spirit, as well as the repose of the dead.

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Prayer during Lent for every day and before Easter, prayer by Ephraim the Syrian - Examples of prayers before meals during Lent

Lent, which begins in 2017 on February 27, is not only a refusal of animal food and alcoholic drinks. This is a time devoted to studying the life of Jesus Christ and turning to God in prayer. During Lent, a person becomes deeper, renounces many earthly goods, rethinks his life and his purpose in this world. Lent, which lasts six weeks and Holy Week, ends with the bright Easter of Christ - the resurrection of Jesus as a miraculous proof of the existence of the Lord. Every Christian must come to Christ's resurrection purified not only physically, but also spiritually. Not all believers know how and what prayer to read during Lent. Temple servants often say that you can turn to God in any prayer. However, the prayer after Ephraim the Syrian must be read every day with the exception of Saturday and Resurrection Day. It is also read before Easter, during the cheese-free week. The purpose of reading it is to free the “belly” (life) from bodily and, what is considered the main thing, spiritual ailments. Prayers during fasting before meals are also considered important in Orthodoxy. They help a Christian avoid gluttony, set him up for modest food and a long absence of entertainment.

Prayer for Lent for every day - How and when to pray during Lent

In Orthodoxy there are prayers for every day of Lent. Believers who visit the temple know that the first day of the first week begins with chants. Priests tell parishioners about John the Baptist and Herod. On Tuesday of the first week, the main, first prayer is dedicated to the life of Andrew of Crete, a saint who dedicated his life to God as a result of a miracle that happened to him (gaining the gift of speech after becoming mute). On Wednesday, the third day of Lent, churchgoers visiting churches will learn the interpretation of the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, etc. If you cannot, for any good reason, go to church for prayer, set aside at least ten to fifteen minutes a day to study the Scriptures - the Old and New Testaments.

Examples of prayers for each day of Lent

Any believer will tell you that fasting without prayer does not exist. Of course, this statement does not mean that you should completely renounce everyday worries and immerse yourself in reading prayers. In the absence of praying often and going to temple, read the Scriptures. When you find free time, devote it to reading one of the prayers of Lent. Now you can download them all on the Internet. We suggest paying attention to the most famous prayers relating to the time of abstinence before Easter.

Prayer of praise to the Lord God

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

In this prayer we praise God without asking for anything in return. It is usually pronounced at the end of a task as a sign of gratitude to God for His mercy towards us. This prayer is said in short: Glory to God. In this abbreviated form, we say a prayer when we finish some good deed, for example, teaching, work; when we receive any good news, etc.

God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.

Prayer for forgiveness of our sins. It must be said as often as we often sin. As soon as we sin, we must immediately repent of our sin before God and say this prayer.

Prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ

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

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us (show mercy to us). Amen.

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, our soul.

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, Who is everywhere and fills everything, Receptacle of all goodness and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all impurity, and save, O Merciful One, our souls.

Orthodox prayer during Lent before Easter - What is prayer

Any Orthodox prayer is an appeal to God, a conversation with the Mother of God, the saints. You can pray silently to yourself anywhere and at any time. They turn to God out loud at home, alone or in churches, standing before images. Before fasting, at the end of Cheese Week, they say the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, pray to the Lord God Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Most Holy Ones. Each prayer can be ended with an appeal to the Almighty, praise to God, a request and giving you strength during fasting.

Examples of Orthodox prayers before Easter during Lent

Church-goers have a custom of reading all the Gospels during the time allotted for Lent. Of course, not all believers are able to overcome Scripture. When fasting before Easter, read prayers whenever possible. We suggest memorizing the texts of some of them.

The Creed reads like this:

1. I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible.

2. 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, not created, consubstantial with the Father, by whom all things were.

3. For our sake, man and our salvation came down from Heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human.

4. She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried.

5. And he rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures.

6. And ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.

7. And again the coming one will be judged with glory by the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end.

8. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the life-giving, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets.

9. Into one holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

10. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.

11. I hope for the resurrection of the dead,

12. And the life of the next century. Amen

 I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, of everything visible and invisible.

 And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages: Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one being with the Father, by Him all things were created.

 For the sake of us people and for the sake of our salvation, he came down from Heaven, and took flesh from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became a man.

 He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried,

 And rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures.

 And he who ascended into Heaven and sat on right side Father.

 And He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; His kingdom will have no end.

 And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, worshiped and glorified with the Father and the Son, who spoke through the prophets.

 Into one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

 I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.

 I look forward to the resurrection of the dead,

 And the life of the next century. Amen (truly so).

What is said in the prayer to Ephraim the Syrian for Lent - What the prayer to Ephraim the Syrian calls for

History says that the prayer to Ephraim the Syrian was loved not only by the holy fathers, but also by A.S. Pushkin, the great Russian poet, who translated the words of the prayer into a poetic way. Saint Ephraim the Syrian, living in the Middle Ages, was filled with spiritual wisdom. He also owns “divine reflections” from the Psalter of the Mother of God. As for the famous prayer, which aims to cleanse the hearts of believers before Easter, it is known for its simplicity and depth. This prayer helps to cleanse the soul from idle talk, lack of chastity, and proud self-affirmation. She teaches meekness, humility, and gratitude.

When the prayer to Ephraim the Syrian is read during Lent

As the church recommends, the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian should be read daily, from late Sunday evening to Friday. There is no need to worry about repetitions of the prayer - each time you say its words, you perceive them in a new way. Prayer cleanses the soul and heart, setting the believer in a gracious mood during Lent.

“Lord and Master of my life, do not give me the spirit of idleness, despondency, covetousness and idle talk.

Grant the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant.

To her, Lord, King, grant me to see my sins and not condemn my brother, for blessed are you forever and ever. Amen".

What prayer should you read during fasting - Prayers that help you fast

Each prayer is an appeal to God, containing our thoughts, a request to free us from “filth” - dishonest, unclean thoughts and actions. By asking the Lord God in prayer to protect us from temptation, we really become better people. In principle, any pious prayer addressed to God in time helps us to fast, abstaining from passions and temptations.

How prayers help to fast during Lent

Any prayers said during Lent are aimed at cleansing the soul from unfavorable, ungodly thoughts. By praying and reading the Gospel, we come to know God more deeply and understand the meaning of fasting.

I believe, Lord, but You confirm my faith.

but You strengthen my hope.

I loved you, Lord,

but You cleanse my love

and set it on fire.

I'm sorry, Lord, but you do it,

May I increase my repentance.

I honor You, Lord, my Creator,

I sigh for You, I call upon You.

Guide me with Your wisdom,

protect and strengthen.

I commend to You, my God, my thoughts,

let them come from You.

Let my deeds be in Your name,

and let my desires be in Thy will.

Illuminate my mind, strengthen my will,

cleanse the body, sanctify the soul.

Let me see my sins,

let me not be seduced by pride,

help me overcome temptations.

May I praise You all the days of my life,

which You gave to me.

What prayer is said before meals during fasting - Orthodox prayer “Our Father”

Christian believers pray before meals, regardless of whether food is eaten on a fast day or not. The most common prayer before meals is also the most famous prayer, known by heart even by children - “Our Father.” Very often during fasting, before meals, praises are said to the Lord, who gave food and drink. At the end of the meal, believers thank God, who gave them food, with prayers.

Lord's Prayer. Our Father

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.

Our Father who art in heaven!

Hallowed be Thy name;

Thy kingdom come;

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;

Give us this day our daily bread;

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Examples of Orthodox prayers before meals during Lent

By saying an Orthodox prayer before meals during Lent, the believer prepares himself to accept modest food, where there is no animal food. Thus, prayer before meals helps Christians endure some of the restrictions of Lent.

The eyes of all trust in You, Lord, and You give them food in good season, You open Your generous hand and fulfill every animal’s good will.

Prayer for the blessing of food and drink for the laity

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, bless us with food and drink through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints, for blessed are You forever. Amen. (And cross food and drink).

Prayer after eating food

We thank Thee, Christ our God, for Thou hast filled us with Thy earthly blessings; Do not deprive us of Your Heavenly Kingdom, but as You came among Your disciples, Savior, give them peace, come to us and save us.

Every prayer in fasting helps to destroy human soul all dishonesty, deceit, sinful thoughts and actions. Home Christian prayer During Lent the Lord's Prayer always remains. It is read both before meals and at other times of turning to God. During fasting, great importance is attached to the repentant prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, asking the Lord to “give” us the spirit of chastity and patience, which we so need during fasting abstinence.

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Fasting can be a powerful spiritual experience, especially when it goes hand in hand with dedicated prayer. While fasting is perhaps one of the most notable Christian practices, it is not limited to Christianity - people of any faith can fast and pray if they feel prompted to do so. Read on for basic principles, instructions, and advice regarding fasting and prayer.

Steps

Part 1

Prayer and preparation for fasting

Pray for guidance regarding what type of fast to choose. Traditionally, fasting involves abstaining from food, but during fasting you can also abstain from the media and from any habits.

• A complete fast, or water fast, requires abstaining from all solid foods and liquids except water.
• A juice fast requires abstaining from any solid food, but allows you to drink any liquid.
• A partial fast requires abstaining from certain categories of foods or one meal during the day. This type of fasting is especially common during Lent.
• Traditionally, Lent is a partial fast. You should avoid taking meat dishes on Fridays and Holy Wednesday. On Holy Wednesday and good friday you should limit yourself to one full meal and two small ones that together equal one meal. Any drinks are acceptable.
• Fasting on water and bread allows you to eat only water and bread, nothing more.
• Fasting from the media requires refraining from receiving information through the media. It can apply to any media, or it can be limited to one format, for example, TV or the Internet.
• Habit fasting requires you to abstain from doing something certain type behavior. This could be anything from the habit of raising your voice to playing cards. This is another type of fasting practiced during Lent.

1. Ask in prayer to understand how long to fast. You can take any period, from one day to several weeks. Choose a period that will be both beneficial for your health and spiritual life.

   • If you have never fasted before, it is recommended to fast for no longer than 24-36 hours.
   • Do not fast from drinking water for more than three days.
   • Try to prepare yourself for a full fast. Start skipping one meal for a few days. After your body gets used to it, stop eating one more time and finally stop eating altogether.

2. Determine why you feel the urge to fast. In prayer, ask God for guidance on what to focus on during your fast. Clear goal will help you to be more focused in prayer and meditation.

   • A common reason for fasting is spiritual renewal. But you can also fast for the sake of seeing in which direction in life to move next, for the sake of patience or healing.
   • You can also fast for specific reasons other than your personal spiritual needs. For example, if a natural disaster occurs, you can fast and pray for the victims.
   • Fasting can also be an expression of gratitude.

3. Seek forgiveness. Repentance – key element successful fasting and successful prayer.

   • With God's help, make a list of your sins. The list should be as current as possible.
   • Confess these sins to God and seek and accept forgiveness.
   • You should also seek the forgiveness of those you have hurt or caused trouble, as well as express your willingness to forgive those who have hurt you.
   • Ask God for a vision on how to correct what has been done.

4. Pray about who to talk to about fasting. In a way, receiving public recognition for your post defeats the purpose of it. At the same time, you can ask other believers to spiritually support you during fasting.

   • Pastors, other important people and spiritual associates - a good option support.
   • Ask God for guidance on who to turn to for support.

5. Look for guidance in physical training. In addition to preparing spiritually, you need to prepare physically as well.

   • Start gradually, especially if you are not used to fasting. Before fasting, train yourself to eat small portions.
   • Avoid caffeine 24 hours before fasting, as caffeine may cause headaches as the body clears caffeine.
   • Gradually reduce your sugar intake about a week before starting a long fast, since people who regularly consume large quantities of sugar find it extremely difficult to fast.
   • A few days before starting a long fast, begin a strict diet of eating only raw foods.

   Part 2

   Prayer during Lent

   1. Focus your attention on the reason for your fast. Of course, you can pray about whatever you want while fasting, but identifying the purpose of the fast in advance will help you find a central theme for most of your prayers.

      • Be open to changing your focus. It is possible that at first you will feel the need to fast for one reason, and in the process God will reveal another for you to consider.

   2. Meditate on the Holy Scriptures. You can use a Bible study guide or access the pages of your Bible in any way that suits you. Write down what you have read and prayed about so that you can fully comprehend the lessons of Scripture.

      • Please note that if you are not a Christian, you can meditate on any sacred text according to your faith.
      • You may also want to meditate on other spiritual literature that you will read during your fast.

   3. Pray your own prayers and prayers from Scripture. Most of the prayers will be extemporaneous, in your own words. However, when you feel that the words are running out, switch to prayers from the Holy Scriptures, they will maintain your communication with God.

      • One of the most common prayers is the Lord's Prayer, or Our Father. But you can use any text from Scripture for prayer, especially if it resonates in your heart.

   4. Use prayer aids. Some faiths may be controversial about using aids for prayer, but for others it is completely acceptable.

      • Common aids among Catholics include rosaries, images of saints, and crucifixes. Members of non-Catholic Christian denominations may benefit from listening to instrumental versions of famous hymns or various types of prayer beads.

   5. Pray with other people. Although most of our prayers are offered in private, you may want to consider praying with others while fasting. Congregational prayer is seen as an invitation to God to be among you, making this form of prayer a powerful spiritual tool.

      • You can pray out loud or silently. If you pray out loud, the main thing is not to compare your prayers with the prayers of other people.
      • Good prayer partners are those people to whom you have told about your fast and those who are also fasting at this time.

   6. Find a secluded place. You can pray at any time of the day, no matter where you are or what is happening around you. However, during the concentrated prayer needed for fasting, it is important to find a quiet place where you can focus on communicating with God.

      • You can find such a place indoors. At home, they can serve as a bedroom, as well as any other secluded place at home or in the office. You can pray even when you are alone in your car.
      • Alternatively, you can pray to fresh air. The tranquility of the forest, for example, will allow you to not only spend time with God, but also enjoy the beauty of His creation.

   7. Seek a balance between spontaneous and planned prayer. Planning your prayer time is very helpful, especially during periods of long fasting, but do not follow the schedule too strictly so as not to miss moments of spontaneous prayer to which the Holy Spirit calls you.

      • Pray during free periods during the day. The time that you usually spend eating, watching TV or any other habit can now be spent in prayer.
      • Make a decision to start and end your day with prayer time.

   Part 3

   Additional procedures during fasting

   1. Take care of your personal hygiene. During a full, long-term fast, your body will release a lot of toxins during the first three days.

      • Take a bath or shower daily, especially in these first few days.
      • Brush your teeth more often these days to avoid bad breath.

   2. Don't look pained. Lent is a time of close personal communication between you and God. Showing others how you suffer evokes a mixture of pity and admiration. Both feed your pride and will prevent you from approaching God in humility.

      Continue to drink fluids. You cannot go more than three days without water.

      • You can abstain from other drinks such as juices or milk, but continue to drink water throughout the fast. Otherwise, you risk severe dehydration, which in turn leads to serious health problems.

   3. Watch your emotions. People who abstain from food tend to become irritable. Accordingly, it can be assumed that if you abstain from any food at all, you may become extremely irritable. Monitor your emotional state, and if you feel like you are ready to attack the first person you meet, find a secluded place and pray.

   4. Limit vigorous activity. Regular walking is acceptable and beneficial, but in general, fasting will take a lot of your energy, so you should give yourself rest as often as possible.

      • Likewise, any active exercise should be avoided.

During Lent, the laity must cleanse not only their bodies through abstinence, but also cleanse their minds. These days, believers refuse to eat heavy food, bad habits and unrighteous thoughts. Daily Prayers will help you resist temptation and not commit sins during fasting.

True believers try to rise spiritually on the eve of the brightest Sunday. To do this, they read the Holy Scriptures and turn to the Lord. Prayers can be read at home in the morning and evening hours. You can read prayers before meals or before bed. During Lent, it is very important to maintain purity of thoughts, not to get angry or swear. Special prayers help prepare for Easter day and meet him lightly and joyfully.

Morning prayers

The morning of the first day of Lent should begin with an appeal to Jesus Christ and the Holy Trinity. They are addressed with special words; such prayers are called initial prayers. With these prayers, the believer wants to show his readiness to test himself by fasting, to understand its meaning, and to be imbued with the words and deeds of Jesus. This is a test of your spiritual strength.

The morning begins with a prayer to Christ, a psalm of David, the third prayer of St. Macarius the Great, praises and songs to the Mother of God. This is a list of basic prayers on how to pray on the first day of Lent and before Easter.

Evening prayers

During the day you need to turn to God, with prayers and gratitude for the given daily bread. Prayers are read before eating and after finishing the meal.

Before going to bed, the believer should turn his heartfelt words to the Guardian Angel, thanking him for his help and intercession. This is the most wonderful time to open your heart and turn to God the Father in prayer. Lenten prayer to Jesus Christ should be permeated with a feeling of gratitude and enlightenment. The Son of God ascended to Calvary for the sins of men. It is important to remember and understand this.

Example of evening prayer:

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

Then you can read church prayers, or you can talk to God as your heart dictates. It is important to understand that the Lord will hear any words spoken sincerely and with soul. You cannot be distracted during prayer. Thinking about problems, worldly vanities, or indulging in unrighteous thoughts. If you pray, then the prayer must come from the heart. Otherwise, you simply shouldn't do it.

Prayer of Ephraim the Syrian

There are a lot of prayers that can be read to a layman on the 1st day of Lent, but Special attention you need to pay attention to the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian. This amazing prayer is read daily (except Saturday and Sunday); it is believed that it was first said by the great righteous man, Saint Ephraim the Syrian. The prayer is considered one of the most famous prayers and Fasting.

The text of the prayer must be read verbatim. At first, you can read by looking at the text, but it is best to immediately memorize this prayer. This prayer is very powerful and must be approached sincerely and with respect.

This prayer is read twice after the Lenten service from Monday to Friday. It is not read on the last two days of the week, since on these days the services are not held as usual.

In the first reading of the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, it is necessary to bow to the ground after each individual request. After this, they mentally read the prayer “God, cleanse me, a sinner,” twelve times and bow at the waist. Then they read the entire prayer again and make one prostration.

Many lay people wonder why this prayer is given such great value, during Lenten worship. The thing is that it lists all the negative and positive elements of repentance in a special, amazing way. This, so to speak, will determine the list of deeds of each believer.

During the first week of Lent, special prayers are offered and strict abstinence is observed. Almost all temples and churches read the Canon of Penitence of St. Andrew of Crete from Monday to Thursday. More details here:

Prayers for Lent

The second week of Lent is marked by relaxation for the food consumed, but does not in any way affect the spiritual state of the believer. All his thoughts should be aimed at internal purification and the pursuit of perfection of his thoughts.

Initially, prayers were created so that every believer could talk with God. They included a special rhythm and a special syllable. Old Church Slavonic words immerse one in a certain state when the one praying renounces everything earthly and ascends in thoughts, triumphing spiritually.

Lent is a special time for all true believers. On these days, it is necessary to observe the prescribed rules of abstinence, strive for good deeds and lead a pious lifestyle. It is prohibited to spend time in noisy companies, have excessive fun, drink alcohol, or engage in carnal pleasures. Restrictions placed on the body free the soul from the influence of its desires.

Every day a person experiences many different emotions:

• anger;
• envy;
• anger;
• joy;
• offense;
• disappointment;
• pride;
• hatred.

All this is layered gradually, adding fatigue and irritation. During Lent, you are given a wonderful chance to cleanse your soul from the burden of earthly sins, routine, everyday and petty interests. Prayer is a precious assistant that helps remove all accumulated negative burden from a person.

Prayers for those who are fasting for the first time

During fasting, a person completely changes the way of his life and this significantly affects his well-being, work, and daily affairs. However, habits do not want to let go and fighting them becomes more and more difficult every day. It is especially difficult for those people who have decided to fast for the first time to subordinate their desires.

During fasting, relaxation is allowed for those who are sick, for children, pregnant women and travelers. It is important to understand that following a strict fasting diet is not an indicator of spiritual purity and righteousness. Refusal of protein and fatty foods should cleanse not so much the body as thoughts and feelings. Some people confuse fasting with dieting. The purpose of fasting is to free yourself from envy, hatred, and sinful thoughts, and not to cleanse the body of extra pounds and toxins.

What should those who understand the true value of Lent, but find it difficult to withstand the restrictions, do? In this case, you need to rely on the Holy Word. It is prayer that helps overcome the feeling of discomfort that a person begins to experience when he restricts himself in food and his usual lifestyle. During prayer, an understanding comes of how small, fleeting and insignificant the fussy desires of a person thirsting for wealth, fame or honors are. Life is very fleeting, what will those people who did not do good and did not leave behind a bright memory take with them to heaven? Understanding the highest truths of existence comes during prayer and turning to God.

It's never too late to take the righteous path

Those who fast for the first time do not know what prayers to read and how to talk to God. If you want to follow the path of improving your spirituality, all obstacles will be overcome.

For those who are not familiar with church prayers Difficulties may arise. This and a large number of unfamiliar text, and Difficult language, and sometimes lack of understanding of the meaning. Sometimes such prayer can turn into an attempt to pronounce words correctly and not become a sincere appeal to God. In this case, you can turn to church ministers for help. There are many prayers translated into understandable and modern language, but the meaning is completely preserved.

During Lent, it is advisable to go to church services. Prayer in a holy place acquires incredible power. A person feels sublimity and real faith, which permeates the space around him. The church has a special atmosphere that cleanses the heart, making it overflow with kindness, joy and happiness.

It is believed that prayers performed at this time have enormous power. Of course, if they are read sincerely, with faith in the soul. Exactly how this should happen was noted in his famous saying François Mauriac: “You don’t need to have faith to pray; you need to pray to gain faith.”

Tell your fortune for today using the “Card of the Day” Tarot layout!

For correct fortune telling: focus on the subconscious and don’t think about anything for at least 1-2 minutes.

When you are ready, draw a card:

Most active Christians today live in cities. The metropolis leaves its mark on our spiritual life. The townspeople are immersed in many everyday concerns: they work, study, are always in a hurry somewhere... Some, under the influence of various circumstances, do not find the strength and opportunity to take part in all Lenten services. The portal asked the pastors to say a few words about the main thing that, in their opinion, should fill the life of a Christian during the days of Great Lent, to suggest something personal experience, to help troubled Christians set a spiritual agenda—highs and lows—for these days.

Hegumen Nektariy (Morozov), rector of the temple in honor of the icon Mother of God“Quench my sorrows”, Saratov:

– Our life is like a dream. The world draws us in, lulls us to sleep - we live day after day, not noticing what is happening in our soul, where we are moving, how healthy, or more precisely, how sick our “ inner man" The enemy also lulls us to sleep: as soon as we wake up and worry, he begins to insinuatingly reassure us: “Yes, we need to change something, fix it, and you will definitely do it, but not now, but then, later...”.

And often, from this lull, from this state of false tranquility, we are brought out only by some serious test - illness, grief, for which we are not ready. And for some, such an awakening is death...

Archpriest Vasily Mazur, rector of the Sergius Church at the regional hospital of Kherson, associate professor of the Department of Ecology and Geography of Kherson state university:

– help each other (tactfully, unobtrusively) prepare more carefully and seriously for confession, confess several times during fasting and, if possible, partake of the holy mysteries;

– also, with the help of loved ones or on your own, set and solve any specific moral tasks (get rid of a particular habit, for example, smoking, visit someone who needs your help, make tangible donations to a cause, etc. .P.).

What not to do: make vows “for fasting” to abstain from some sin, bad habit: if it is a sin, then you need to get rid of it forever. So, for example, if you have a “problem” with alcohol and vow not to drink during Lent, this means that you will look forward to drinking for seven weeks and will greet the saint like a pig.

Archpriest Sergiy Vishnyakov, dean of the Obninsk district of the Kaluga diocese, director of the spiritual and educational center “Faith, Hope, Love”:

– The most important thing for a Christian during this time is to spend these days very carefully. This is a period of intense work on your internal state. Both abstinence in food and prayer are only the conditions under which our goal - cleansing the soul - is achieved. If possible, you need to come to the temple to pray. It is especially good, which with the depth of repentant thoughts has a very strong effect on the heart and mind. If this is not possible, then there is no need to despair.

It is good to avoid external manifestations of your feat, not to make a downcast face during fasting, etc. Be friendly and calm. At the same time, try to be meek so that no negativity comes from you. One of the signs of incorrect fasting is irritability and anger. And it often manifests itself, especially when there is a struggle between the old and the new man. Therefore, attention (sobriety) is the core around which all life is built spiritual person. And during fasting, it is imperative to closely observe ourselves: what we say, what we listen to, where we look, what our heart’s thoughts are about. It is most important. It is necessary to understand that - not just some segment of our life path, and the image of our entire life is what the holy fathers taught.

While working on yourself, you need to figure out what torments your conscience more, what interferes with your life, what we want to get rid of. And try to make every effort to achieve this through fasting, repentance and prayer.

On the other hand, of course, the duration of fasting resembles a kind of tithe of the year, which we give to God, that is, it is a sacrifice to God. This is where you need to sacrifice. Let’s say a person has an attachment that seems innocent at first glance: he likes to crack seeds. Completely lean food, but it would be good to try to learn abstinence in small things, because, according to the words of the Apostle Paul, “nothing should possess me” (1 Cor. 6:12). Or, for example, try to abstain from sweets during fasting. Not to mention the fact that it is necessary to refrain from television, excessive communication, telephone conversations, communication on Internet forums and other activities that contribute to distraction.

And in a metropolis a person is quite capable of maintaining sobriety. In the first volume of his works there is even a chapter “The Order of One Who Pays Attention to Self, Living in the Middle of the World” - about how to save yourself in a big city, what thoughts to get up with, what to go to bed with, how to behave during the day. A Christian is not one who is isolated. If he’s a monk, then that’s a different matter, but we live in the world. Orthodox laity must be different from other people in their spiritual life. We pray: “Lord, hallowed be thy name.” The name is sanctified not only there, in heaven, but in us, so that people, looking at us, glorify our Heavenly Father and want to live as the Church teaches. This is what it means to love God. We should not all live the same way, but each one should live according to the measure of his faith, in accordance with the conditions of his life.

As for abstaining from food, everything is individual: fast as you can, but forcing yourself to abstain. For one it will be enough to abstain from meat, for the second it will be enough to fast more strictly, and for the third it is necessary to abstain from food altogether. A simple principle: “all things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable” (1 Cor. 6:12).

Pride has two extremes: either everything or nothing. But the proud cannot follow the middle path. Everything should be in moderation so that our body does not interfere with our mind from praying. This is the main principle.

Let's return to our first point - attention.

There is no need to take on feats beyond your strength in this first week. Fasting is relaxed for the sick, students, and pregnant women. Excessive fatigue of the body by fasting is just as harmful as overeating. How can you pray if you are already falling, your legs are giving way in prayer from exhaustion? Experience from church history: already the ancient ascetics realized that it turns out that fasting is easier than fighting thoughts, it is easier to sleep on earth than to forgive. And since those times, the attitude towards asceticism and working on oneself has changed.

If a woman sits at home with her children and cannot come to church on Sunday, then she can read this canon at home (there are plenty of books now), even at night, as our pious grandmothers did.

And the most important thing during fasting is not to isolate yourself, but to try to correct yourself. You shouldn't engage in self-criticism. We are far from perfect, we can see things in ourselves that will make our minds fly, so we need to quickly get rid of what we see in ourselves through confession. Otherwise, despair and despondency will overwhelm you if you only consider your sins. Outwardly we should be welcoming and friendly. Remember that we are children of our Heavenly Father.

Priest Pavel Gumerov, cleric of the Church of St. Nicholas at the Rogozhskoye cemetery in Moscow:

– When I studied at the seminary, the songs of Hieromonk Roman (Matyushin) were very popular in our Bursat community. Now I remember a line from one of his songs: “Fasting with prayer will warm the soul, / Above the earth bell ringing…»

It is important to limit exposure to information (TV, Internet) during fasting. Often such abstinence becomes more difficult than food restriction. As for our worries, we often multiply them for ourselves. You can safely forget about some of them during Lent.

And the most important thing, as I believe, is to set yourself a task during Lent - to overcome any specific, even small, sin. Without this, the post will be in vain. You can set yourself a reading program for Lent. For example, read some part of the Holy Scripture, some book from the ascetic works of the holy fathers, for example, the Monk Abba Dorotheos, St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov) or St. Theophan the Recluse. Lent should be a time of initiation into the reading of patristic literature.

Priest Vladimir Voitov, cleric of the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Obninsk:

– With the inner attitude we start any business, we will continue it with that. It’s the same with fasting: with what mood you entered into fasting, you will most likely spend it in the same spirit. This means that the first week of fasting must be treated especially responsibly. The Typikon prescribes complete non-eating during the first two days of Lent. However, our Typikon came from an ancient monastery Saint Sava Sanctified, who had the strictest rules, therefore I believe that such a strict rule is unacceptable for the laity. Once I asked the Old Believers: “How many days do you not eat during the first week?” “One day,” they answered. They even reduced this rule, although they strictly adhere to the letter of the charter. By the way, I know several Orthodox Christians who, during the first week, do not eat anything at all until Saturday. All week the “ascetics” have been walking around “green”; their psyche, one might say, is “at zero.” By the end of Friday they were already staggering with the wind from exhaustion... I am against this practice. According to the prediction of the ancient fathers and the general opinion of the holy fathers of recent times, extreme ascetic feats have been taken away from us, modern Orthodox Christians, due to our infection with pride. Such “extreme” feats will not benefit us, but will only fuel pride: “I’m not like everyone else!..” It’s very difficult to get rid of this feeling.

What rules should you take? The first thing you need to start with is to categorically refuse television and the Internet (except for work) for the entire Lent, until Easter. Only the Orthodox channel “Soyuz” is allowed - that’s what it was created for.

Second: it is necessary to refuse to visit guests - in principle, for the entire Lent, because there will definitely be temptations at a party: not only food, but also in the form of laughter and jokes. My position is this: we must not hesitate, but tell those inviting openly that now is the time of the saddest of all four fasts, because it is directly dedicated to the suffering of Christ, the Sacrifice of the Cross, for which God became incarnate in the world; For the sake of the suffering of Christ, we fast, abstaining from ourselves; The entire Orthodox world is fasting, and we are with it, so we won’t go on a visit...

In general, we Russian people tend to go to extremes. Just as some people don’t eat anything during the week, others, apparently strong, normal parishioners, come up from the very first day of fasting and, complaining of gastritis, say: “Allow the fast to be relaxed.” - "What would you like?" - “Eat meat or milk.” I know several people with stomach ulcers who follow. And they say that this does not harm their health at all, and they even feel better.

For pregnant, nursing mothers, children, the elderly and the sick, the fast is weakened, down to zero. For someone who does hard work physical work, there should also be relaxations. A person should feel: if there is exhaustion, mockery of his body, then he must, after consulting with a priest, reconsider his Lenten diet.

Fasting should not lead to a state of despondency or sadness. “Let us fast a pleasant fast,” it is sung in the stichera. Pleasant not in the sense of food, but in the sense of a beneficial effect on the soul, and if this is not so, then you need to change your fast.

Fasting is an exercise in abstinence, a small ascetic task that we can undertake. Exercise in abstinence fosters sobriety, that is, attention to oneself, the ability to restrain oneself, manage one’s emotions and feelings.

The maximum prayer program for the first week is to go to all services in the morning and evening.

In general, it is necessary for a layman, taking into account his life circumstances, to attend services at his own discretion. Everyone has their own measure of exercise in abstinence, so it is necessary to take into account age, soreness, and the severity of your work. It’s good to take a small separate additional rule in the middle of the day for Lent, or at least for its first week, for example, 30 Jesus prayers and five bows to the ground, but do this rule exactly as the holy fathers teach: slowly, carefully and with reverence. Why in the middle of the day? Because in the morning and evening we always pray at home or in church, but in the middle of the day we are most caught up in the bustle. It must be broken by turning to God: spend just a few minutes and calmly pray this short Jesus Prayer. This remembrance of God, restoration of connection with Him, repentance before Him will certainly give the peace of Christ to our soul. Anyone who has tried to do this knows what benefits it brings.

- a time of renewal, repentance and joy. The joy is not Easter, jubilant, but quiet and imperceptible at first glance, but at the same time somehow deep. Maybe this is because during Lent you once again want to move away from all the unnecessary, superficial vanity that envelops you every weekday, and find your true self.

Lent prepares us for the celebration of celebrations -. This is a real journey. This is the spring of the spirit. And this spring path should lead to us becoming at least a little better by the end than we were at the beginning.

What can you do to truly experience Lent?

1. Eat simply. Before we say anything about the spiritual component of fasting, we need to pay attention to how we will eat. After all, it is the nutritional differences that are most noticeable during fasting. The meaning of fasting is not to avoid eating animal food (food in itself does not make us closer to God or further from Him). Still, we are creatures of flesh and blood, and the issue of our nutrition is extremely important. General rule: you need to eat so that you feel light. You can burden yourself with lean foods. And don't get hung up on food. It's hardly worth searching all over the Internet delicious recipes Lenten dishes. Spend less time and attention preparing meals. Spend less money on food during fasting. In this regard, let us think about the question of how appropriate it is to purchase during Lent, for example, delicious seafood, which is not prohibited by the charter. By the way, for some categories of people definitions of food indulgence are acceptable: for patients, those engaged in hard work, pregnant and lactating women, etc. But for this it is better to consult with your confessor. If this is not possible for some reason, then take responsibility. It is also known that “it is better to under-fast than to over-fast.” Moderation is the golden rule.

2. Give up any dependence or attachment. Lent is the time of our liberation. Liberation from what enslaves us. At this time, we can accomplish a small feat: give up destructive attachment. Everyone will have their own. During this time, some completely abstain from alcohol, some from smoking, and some from television series. You shouldn’t demand such feats from others, but it’s good to try it yourself.

3. Pray regularly. Fasting without prayer is not fasting at all. It’s convenient for us to attribute our usual “lack of prayer” to the rhythm of city life, family worries, problems, etc. But try to free up at least 10 minutes for prayer in the morning and evening during fasting. You can read the usual morning and evening prayers or something else, for example, the Psalter, but during fasting you need to add one more to these prayers - the short and succinct prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, which sets the “tone” for these weeks.

4. Read Scripture. During Lent, the Church reads three Old Testament books during daily services: Genesis, Isaiah and Proverbs. There is also a pious custom of reading all four Gospels on your own during Lent. It is difficult to be a Christian without knowing the Scriptures. If you have not yet read the entire Old and New Testament- make up for lost time over the next forty days. And if you have already mastered the entire Bible, do not think that this is enough: the property of our memory is such that, unfortunately, we forget a lot. Try to read Scripture regularly, preferably every day, calm atmosphere where you can concentrate. It would be great if, after reading, you took the time to reflect a little on what you read and think about how to relate Scripture to your life.

5. Attend religious services. Lent is a special time in rhythm church services. But you can feel this if you only come to the temple during the week. After all, on Saturdays and Sundays, practically the same services are held as always. The special mood of Lent, what Father Alexander Schmemann called “bright sadness,” can only be felt in the quiet beauty of everyday services. Try to come to church at least once or twice to read the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. This canon, the longest existing in the Orthodox Church, born from the depths of repentance and imbued with the hope of the paternal love of God, is read in parts in the evenings from Monday to Thursday in the first week of Lent, and then repeated in its entirety on Wednesday evenings in the fifth week. You just need to come to the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts at least once during the entire Lent (it’s great if you find a church where it is served in the evening) and take communion, experiencing this day as a time of anxious anticipation of meeting Christ. And it is extremely important to be in church on Holy Days, starting from the evening of Maundy Thursday. But this time is still far away, and it is better to talk about it another time.

6. Clear your mind of clutter. Is it worth turning off the TV completely, introducing a moratorium on visiting blogs, forums and social networks– everyone decides for themselves. But what will really be useful is to read at least one good book spiritual content. This could be a book on the history of the Church, on the basics of doctrine, an interpretation on Holy Bible or anything else. Because the market Orthodox literature Today there is an abundance of not always “spiritually high-quality” publications, so you should approach the choice of literature very carefully. You can also read something from the world classics - this will also be useful for keeping your mind away from the hustle and bustle.

7. Do what you have been planning to do for a long time. Determine for yourself something that you have been thinking about for a long time, but never did. The time of fasting is a time of positivity. All restrictive measures (in food, entertainment, etc.) are important not in themselves, but as a means to free up our time and energy for the main thing: growing in Christ. And growing in Christ means doing good. Love God, neighbor and yourself. It’s worth choosing at least one thing that will be good not only for you, but also for your neighbors. Before fasting, we heard the words of Christ: “What you did to one of these little ones, you did to me.” With a little thought, you will probably discover how much you can accomplish in those 40 days. Collect things in Orphanage, cook dinner for your parents, do something useful for the house, make a birdhouse, delve into how your children live, and finally, you will probably find a lot of ideas.

In addition, you can come up with your own “commandments” for fasting. They may be different, but the main thing is to try to take the fast seriously, at the deepest level of your consciousness. After all, the time of fasting is a time that requires us to make decisions and constant efforts.