On Prayer

Those who have truly resolved to serve the Lord God must practice the remembrance of God and unceasing prayer to Jesus Christ, saying in the mind: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner; and in the afternoon hours one may say this prayer as follows: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of the Mother of God, have mercy on me, a sinner; or one may turn directly to the Most Holy Mother of God, praying: Most Holy Mother of God, save us—or recite the angelic salutation: Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos… Through such practice, with guarding oneself from distraction and with the preservation of peace of conscience, one may draw near to God and be united with Him. For, in the words of St. Isaac the Syrian: “Without unceasing prayer you cannot draw near to God.”10

The manner of prayer was set out most excellently by St. Symeon the New Theologian.11

Its worth was very well described by St. John Chrysostom: “Prayer,” he says, “is a great weapon, a treasure never depleted, wealth never spent, a harbor free from storms, the cause of calm, and the root, source, and mother of ten thousand good things.”12

In church during prayer it is beneficial to stand with eyes closed, in inward attention; one should open the eyes only when drowsiness or sleep begins to weigh upon you and incline you toward slumber—then the eyes should be turned toward the icon and the candle burning before it.

If during prayer the mind is captured and carried off into a scattering of thoughts, one must humble oneself before the Lord God and ask for forgiveness, saying: “I have sinned, O Lord, in word, in deed, in thought, and with all my senses.” Therefore one must always strive not to give oneself over to distraction of thoughts, for through this the soul turns aside from the remembrance of God and love of Him, by the working of the devil—as St. Macarius says: “Our adversary’s entire effort is this: to turn our thoughts away from the remembrance of God, from fear of Him, and from love of Him.”13

But when the mind and heart are united in prayer and the thoughts of the soul are not scattered, the heart is warmed with spiritual warmth, in which the light of Christ shines forth, filling the whole inner person with peace and joy.

For all things we must give thanks to the Lord and entrust ourselves to His will; we must likewise present all our thoughts, words, and deeds to Him and strive that everything may serve only His good pleasure.