Chapter 112

On Unceasing Prayer and the Order of the Day

^112.2.1 May the mercy of God be with you!

^112.3.1 As soon as you wake and it’s time to get up, get up right away, without lingering in bed. After getting up, sit for a little while, making the sign of the cross and saying: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me!’ Then put on your shoes, get dressed, wash yourself; but all this time keep God in your thoughts, saying: ‘Lord, have mercy...’, or: ‘Glory to You, our God, glory to You!’ Don’t fidget, don’t let your mind wander... Then stand for prayer... First make three full prostrations, saying: ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ Then read the appointed prayers... ‘O Heavenly King... Holy God... (the Trisagion) Our Father... Having risen from sleep... From bed and sleep... In vain the Judge... Having risen from sleep, I give thanks to You, Holy Trinity... Have mercy on me, O God... I believe... Theotokos and Virgin, rejoice... Guardian Angel...’ and at the end... make three full prostrations... venerate the icon or cross... and then—sitting or standing—say the Jesus Prayer twenty times. And if you feel inclined, even more. – Read the prayers unhurriedly, entering into the words, reading with the intellect, not just with the tongue.

^112.4.1 During the day often read: “Our Father...” and “Theotokos and Virgin...” and all the time try to remember God. And before the icons you can make a prostration, a second or third, so that no one sees.

^112.5.1 In the evening, going to sleep, pray like this. – Before prayer sit down, and, making the sign of the cross, say the Jesus Prayer up to ten times, until your thoughts gather. Stand up and make three prostrations, saying: ‘God! be merciful to me, a sinner.’ Then the opening prayers – from ‘O Heavenly King’ through ‘Our Father.’ Then – the prayers before sleep: ‘Have mercy on us, Lord... Lord, have mercy on us... The doors of mercy... O eternal God...’ and also: ‘Have mercy on me, O God... I believe... Theotokos and Virgin... Guardian Angel...’ Remember what wrong you’ve done, and repent... and give thanks to God for the good. And finish... Three prostrations. Then venerate the icons... then, sitting or standing, say twenty Jesus Prayers or more... Undress modestly and lie down... Once you’re lying down, don’t let your thoughts wander, but remember God and say the Jesus Prayer until you fall asleep.