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Prayer by agreement: together, at one hourtranslated

July 5, 2026 · 3 min read

“Truly I also tell you that if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven, for where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:19-20). The Church has kept these words of the Lord since apostolic times - and they surprisingly simply apply to our life today, in which close people are so often separated by distances.

Covenant prayer is an ancient practice in which several people are persuaded to pray about the same thing at the same time. Each remains where he is - at home, on the road, at the bedside of the sick - but at the appointed hour they all stand before God together, with one heart and one mouth. This is how they prayed for the sick, for those traveling, for peace, for children. You can pray this way today.

On Orthodox House there is a section called “Prayers by Agreement” for this purpose. It is designed simply. There are common prayer groups - for example, the Universal Prayer for Peace, which is performed every day at the same hour around the world. You join with one click, and fifteen minutes before the start a quiet reminder comes: it’s time to stand for prayer. In the group, the text of the prayer is visible - short, clear - and everyone reads it at the appointed hour, each in his place: some in America, some in Europe, some in Australia.

Names can be added to the prayer. If your mother is sick, if your son is taking exams, if a friend is on the road, write their names in the group, and not just one person, but the entire congregation will pray for them. This is the power of agreement: the request of one becomes the request of many.

You can create your own group - for your parish, for your family, for friends scattered across different cities. Select a circle, set an hour, put the text of a prayer - and invite. The parish community can pray for its sick; Seminary classmates who have dispersed to different dioceses can adhere to one rule; a grandmother in one hemisphere and grandchildren in the other can get up for prayer at the same time every evening.

Prayer by agreement does not replace the church and does not replace church prayer - it continues it. Liturgy remains the heart of our lives; but there are six days between Sundays, and how good it is when on these days a person knows: today at nine in the evening I am not alone - dozens more people are praying with me, and the Lord, according to His word, is among us.

In the coming days, we will tell you in more detail how prayer groups work, how to join them from your phone, and how to create your own. And you can start today: open the “Prayers by agreement” section on Orthodox House, enter the general prayer - and at the appointed time, just stand for prayer along with everyone.

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💬 Comments (18) 🌐 Show original

Світлана Ткаченко

Thank you for reminding me. Here in Poltava, several women from our parish have already tried to pray like this for sick parishioners — at 8:00 p.m. in the evening, in short, who where. Indeed, when you know that you are not alone, it is easier. And how to add names so that everyone can see?

Łukasz Kowalski

Here in Białystok, several grandmothers from the parish also made an appointment for 7:30 p.m. for their grandchildren who went away to study. It's simple and you really feel like you're not alone. And how to add the name of the sick mother so that everyone can see it, as Svitlana asked?

Dušan Stanković

Here in Banja Luka, a few of us from the church of the Holy Great Martyr Dimitrije made an arrangement for one of our brothers who is undergoing treatment in Belgrade - exactly at 8:30 p.m. we read a short prayer given by our father. It really helps to know that it's not just your words. And how are the names entered for everyone to see, as Svítlana and Łukasz asked?

Mihai Barbu

Here in Cluj, at our parish, several families agreed to pray in the evening at 9:00 PM for the children who went to college in other cities. It's exactly what the article says - you know you're not alone and the text is short, clear. How do you add the names for all to see, as Svitlana also asks?

Анастасия Кузнецова

In our parish in Yaroslavl, we also tried to pray like this a couple of times in the evening for one elderly parishioner after surgery - at 20:30, in short, who is where. Indeed, when you see that the names have been added and everyone is reading together, it somehow becomes calmer. How exactly should names be entered so that they are visible to everyone, as Svetlana asks?

Jakub Szymański

In Krakow, several elderly ladies from the parish also do this at 8 p.m. for their children and grandchildren abroad. Simple and it works. You add the name of the sick mother in the "Names" field when joining the group - then everyone sees it and includes it in the prayer.

Богдан Коваленко

Thank you, Svetlana, for sharing about your Poltava group - that's exactly how it starts, with a simple "who's where at 8:00 p.m." Names are added directly in the group itself: there is an "Add a request" field, you enter the name and a short description (for example, "Mary, health"), and it appears in the shared list for everyone to see. Do you often pray like this or have you only tried it a few times?

Katarzyna Zielińska

In our parish in Warsaw, several people also started making appointments for a sick neighbor after surgery at 8:30 p.m. The text is short, so even when I'm on the road, I tune in. Thanks for explaining about this "Add request" field, now I know how it works.

Олег Фёдоров

In our parish in Novosibirsk, we also planned to pray like this a couple of times for one of our grandfathers after a stroke - at 21:00, in short, some at home, some on the road. When you see “Vladimir, health” on the list and know that ten other people are reading at the same time, it really makes it easier. Thank you for explaining about the “Add passage” field - I’ll go and try adding my names.

Nikola Živković

Thank you, Dušan, you described it beautifully - we also have a similar arrangement for the sick here at the Saint Nicholas Church, so people feel that they are not alone. For names, in a group on Orthodox House, you just click on "Add name" or "Attach names" and write them, so everyone in the group sees them when the text of the prayer is opened. Have you tried making your own group for your whole church yet?

Karolina Nowak

In my Warsaw, several grandmothers from the parish also make arrangements for 8:30 p.m. for families in England and Germany. Simple, and you feel that you are not alone. Jakub, do these ladies from Krakow pray one short prayer or each of their own?

Florin Matei

Here in Timișoara, at our parish, several families agreed to pray in the evening at 8:30 p.m. for an old woman from the nearby village who had a stroke. It's exactly as it says in the article - you know you're not alone and the text is short. Thanks for explaining how to add the name in the "DODAJ PROțANIE" field, now it's clear.

Олександр Ткаченко

Yes, Svitlana, it turned out well in Poltava - precisely at 20:00 is convenient, because after dinner it is already calm. Here in Lviv, several parishioners also tried this for one sick uncle, and the truth is, when you know that others are reading at the same time, you are not distracted. And tell me, did you compose that short prayer yourself or did you take it ready-made from the website?

Milica Živković

Thank you, Nikola, you reminded us of St. Nicholas in your place - in our church after the Liturgy, we also often mention the sick on the list. I haven't made my own group yet, but I will try for my two daughters and their children, every night at eight. Did you add names for any of yours?

Daniela Florea

Here, at the parish of St. Dimitrie in Bucharest, we did the same with several mothers whose daughters are at university in Timișoara and Iași - we pray at 8:30 p.m. with a short akathist. Names are added directly to the "Intentions" field in the created group, and they appear visible to all members, just like Svitlana. Have you already tried making the group on your phone or are you still using a separate WhatsApp group?

Tomasz Nowak

In my place in Gdańsk, we also do this with two neighbors from the parish, exactly at 8:30 p.m. for children in the Netherlands. We pray one short prayer so that it will be simple and harmonious. And in your Warsaw, do these grandmothers add something else from themselves or do they stick to one text?

Piotr Wiśniewski

Here in Białystok, we stick to one short text, because when someone starts adding on his own, it quickly diverges and there is no longer any "consistency". And at 8:30 p.m. it's time to bathe my daughter, so sometimes I finish the prayer with wet hands 😂 What exact prayer did you and your neighbors choose?

Simona Ciobanu

Thank you for telling about your parish in Timișoara. At our church in Bucharest, a few sisters from the choir do the same for a mother with cancer - we pray in the evening at 9:00 p.m. and put her name in that field "DODAJ PROȘANIE". It's true, you feel different when you know you're not alone. How does the old lady feel now?