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 souls.
You already know, children, that the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, the Son of God, our Savior Lord Jesus Christ, came to earth in order to teach people a pious life, so that people would obey God in everything, honor their parents, never lie, never quarrel among themselves, but would live in love and harmony and help one another in everything. Having taught people, Jesus Christ then ascended to Heaven. How is it, children, Jesus Christ taught the people with whom he lived, and then ascended to Heaven; who will teach us what the Savior taught while living on earth? - But listen. “When Jesus Christ told those who believed in Him that He would soon ascend from them to Heaven, they began to grieve about this. Then Jesus Christ said to them as a consolation: It is better if I leave you; then I will ask you from My Father for the Comforter Spirit, Who will remind you and repeat with you what I have told you, and will guide you into all truth (See: John 14:16-17; 16:13-14).
Indeed, only ten days passed after the Ascension of the Lord, when the Holy Spirit descended on the believers in Christ, enlightened their minds, and they remembered and understood with particular clarity everything that Jesus Christ taught them.
Since then, the Holy Spirit has guided believers in Christ into all truth and helped them in every good deed. Therefore, we should take care not to upset the Holy Spirit with anything, so that the grace (power) of God does not leave us. And to prevent this from happening, we need to turn to the Holy Spirit more often with heartfelt prayer. After the Jesus Prayer and a short doxology, it is now established to ask the Holy Spirit to teach us what Jesus Christ taught people during his earthly life, so that he could cleanse us from all sin and thus save our souls from eternal destruction.
Here, children, is a prayer to the Holy Spirit: cross yourself and listen to its translation into Russian with attention. Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, Who is everywhere and fills everything, Treasure of the good and Giver of life! Come and dwell in us, cleanse us from all impurity, and save, O Good One, our souls. Let's look at the prayer to the Holy Spirit in parts.
How many Persons are we talking about here, children? One or three? - Here we are talking about the same Person; but this Person is called by three names. Why are three names given to the same Person?
King of Heaven is the first title. You know that on earth the most honorable and greatest name is king; There is not a single person in the entire kingdom equal to the king in power. The king rules the whole people; He gives mercy to the good and punishes the evil. Who, children, can we call the Heavenly King? — The Heavenly King can be called the One who has the most power in Heaven. And who, besides God, is highest in Heaven?! This means that when we say to the Holy Spirit: King of Heaven, we call Him God. The Holy Spirit is God, the Third Person of the Most Holy Trinity, reigning together with the Father and the Son in Heaven and throughout the world. Should be repeated with children.
Comforter is the second name. Do you remember, children, whom Jesus Christ calls the Comforter? He called the Holy Spirit the Comforter when He promised to send Him to earth. Since then, the Holy Spirit, descending on believers, gives them true consolation and holy joy in all troubles, sorrows and misfortunes. Human life is full of such sorrows that no one on earth can alleviate. The Holy Spirit alone always brings comfort and peace in any sorrow. Repeat along with the previous one.
The Spirit of Truth is the third name. Why is the Holy Spirit also called the Spirit of truth? Because He instructs people in only one truth, helps them do only one good. There is, children, also a spirit of lies: an evil spirit that teaches us to tell lies and tempts us to do bad deeds. We must always move away from him so as not to be subjected to grave sorrows and troubles. Repetition.
So, children, three names are given to the Holy Spirit in prayer so that we know: the Holy Spirit is God, who comforts people in all troubles and guides them to all saving truth.
Why is the Holy Spirit called the King of Heaven? (Require a complete answer from the children.) What is another name for the Holy Spirit? Who called the Holy Spirit the Comforter and the Spirit of truth? Is there a spirit of lies in the world? Repeat all three names of the Holy Spirit. Why are these three names used in prayer to the Holy Spirit?
Now let’s look, children, what else is said in this prayer about the Holy Spirit. Further in the prayer to the Holy Spirit it is said that He is everywhere and fills everything. Who can be everywhere at the same time? - Can you and I be both in class and at home at the same time? No, we can't. Apart from God, no one can be everywhere. The Holy Spirit, like God, can be everywhere. And wherever we pray to the Holy Spirit, He will hear our prayer everywhere and give us what we ask of Him in prayer. Repetition with children.
Further in the prayer the Holy Spirit is called the Treasure of the Good. A treasure, or storehouse, storeroom, is also a precious thing. The Holy Spirit is called the Treasure of the good because He distributes the Divine powers necessary for a person to live a pious life. Believers can receive as many gifts of grace from the Holy Spirit as they can accept and accommodate. It is said about the Holy Spirit that He distributes His gifts of grace to each believer separately, as He pleases (1 Cor. 12:11). These gifts constitute a precious, irreplaceable treasure for Christians. Repetition.
The prayer to the Holy Spirit also says that the Holy Spirit is the Giver of life. What, children, is the difference between a living person and a dead person? Yes, because a living person can do something, but a dead person cannot do anything. Why can’t a dead person, like other people, do anything? Because there is no life in it, there is no power to act. This means, children, if a person does not have the strength to do good deeds, then he does not have a full life. It’s wonderful when the spring sun begins to warm up a plant frozen in winter, out of nowhere, on it: first the buds, then the leaves, then the flowers and finally the fruit. Likewise, a person without the Divine power of the Holy Spirit cannot do anything good and saving for himself: everything good then seems difficult and even impossible to him. But as soon as the Holy Spirit revives us with His gracious power, we become capable of great things. And this is because the Holy Spirit gives us Divine power to do and live as our Savior Lord Jesus Christ commanded us to live.
This same Holy Spirit, together with God the Father and the Son, at the creation of the world, gave life to man and other creatures, which is why He is called the Giver of Life. Repetition.
What have you children learned about the Holy Spirit? Why can He be everywhere and fill everything in the world? When and where can you pray to the Holy Spirit? Why is the Holy Spirit called the Treasure of the Good? What does the prayer say about the Holy Spirit and how should we believe in Him?
After meaningful children's answers to the proposed questions, you can continue studying prayer to the Holy Spirit.
Did we, children, ask for anything from the Holy Spirit in the words of the prayer we analyzed? Not yet. And we are allowed to ask much, very much from the Holy Spirit; we can ask Him to come and dwell in us and cleanse our souls from the filth of sin.