Chapter 123

How Many Prostrations to Do

Prostrations—as you choose. If you did not have this in your rule before, then do 50 bows from the waist, small ones, and 5 full prostrations before the beginning of your morning and evening prayers, on the large knot—a great bow on the prayer beads. Do the same at the end of the rule. With prostrations—short prayers. The main one—the Jesus Prayer. Then to the Mother of God, your saint, and to other venerated ones. For each person, decide how many prostrations yourself, so that in total you have 50. Roughly—to the Savior 30, to the Mother of God 15, to other saints 5.

(Letter 487. Vol. 3, p. 154)