Prayer is the breath of a living soul, prayer is a conversation with God, prayer is the power that opens the gates of help from the Heavenly Father to the suffering and toiling servant of God.
By the providence of God, holy intercessors and patrons have been identified to help us on earth in a variety of everyday and spiritual needs.
The prayerful intercession of these saints before the throne of the Lord has great power in calling upon God’s help for our needs, undertakings and deeds.
This book includes rare prayers that the great Russian saints and devotees of piety prayed themselves.
In the prayers of the saints, precious spiritual experience is conveyed - covenants on how to relate to loved ones and relatives, enemies and persecutors, how to acquire the gifts of the Holy Spirit, how to begin every task, how to pray in trouble, in illness, when death approaches.
The secret of the birth of these prayers was revealed by the holy righteous John of Kronstadt: “It’s good to say a few of your own words in prayer, breathing with ardent faith and love for the Lord... And how pleasing to the Lord this babble of ours, coming straight from a believing, loving and grateful heart, cannot be retold: you just need to say that the soul trembles with joy at its words to God... You will say a few words, but You will taste so much bliss that you will not receive it to the same extent from the longest and most touching prayers of others, pronounced out of habit and sincerely.”
For many centuries, these holy prayers, with ardent faith and love, lead us, sinners, to the Lord, helping us to overcome our thorny path of life in gratitude to God for all the sorrows, sorrows and oppression.
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The Monk Nikon of Optina said the following about acquiring the gifts of the Holy Spirit:
“...We were deemed worthy to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit at baptism. How many people remember this? It’s not enough to receive, you also need to preserve, improve, multiply, and not bury it. To do this, jealousy must be stirred up. How?
1. Read the Holy Scriptures - after all, holy books are written by the Holy Spirit, and He blows from them. No secular pleasure can give that peace, that joy that is given by the Holy Spirit. Chants, psalms.
2. Pay attention to yourself.
3. Frequently participate in the Holy Sacraments, through which the Holy Spirit is communicated to a person.
4. Frequently visiting the holy church is a place of special presence of the Holy Spirit.
5. Finally, prayer is a great thing for receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially the prayer “to the Heavenly King.” It must not only be listened to with special reverence during prayer in church, but also pronounced during work, asking for help from the Holy Spirit.”
Captivate me, Master, into the sweet captivity of Your Holy Spirit, so that, like streams in the south, my words will flow to Your glory and to the salvation of Your people! Grant me this sweet and powerful inner urge to express freely on the charter the fullness of spiritual visions and feelings! Let my tongue be like the reed of a scribe (Ps. 44:2) - the All-Holy Spirit!
God! Behold, I am Your vessel: fill me with the gifts of Your Holy Spirit, without You I am empty of all good or, moreover, full of all sin.
God! Behold, Thy ship I am: fill me with a load of good deeds.
God! Behold Your ark: fill it not with the charms of the love of money and sweets, but with love for You and for Your animated image - man.
God, enlighten us with Your Holy Spirit, so that we all understand Your love.
Those who ask me for prayers, I tearfully ask the Lord for them:
“Lord, give them Your Holy Spirit, that they may know You by the Holy Spirit. Merciful Lord, teach us all by Your Holy Spirit to live according to Your will, so that in Your Light we all come to know You, the true God, for without Your Light we cannot understand the fullness of Your love. Enlighten us with Your grace, and it will warm our hearts to love You.
Most merciful Master, grant us a humble spirit, so that our souls may find peace in You.”
“Most Holy Mother of the Lord, ask, O Merciful One, for us a humble spirit.
All saints, you live in heaven and see the glory of the Lord, and your spirit rejoices - pray that we too may be with you. My soul is also drawn to see the Lord and misses Him in humility, as unworthy of this good.
Merciful Lord, teach us Your humility by the Holy Spirit.
Lord, correct us, as a tender mother corrects her little children.
Let every soul know the joy of Your Coming and the power of Your help. Give coolness to the suffering souls of Your people, and teach us all through the Holy Spirit to know You. The human soul languishes on earth. Lord, even with his mind he cannot be strengthened in You, because he does not know You and Your goodness.”
“O Lord, teach us by Your Holy Spirit to be obedient and self-controlled. Give us the spirit of Adam's repentance and tears for our sins. May we praise and thank You forever. You gave us Your most pure body and blood, so that we could live with You forever, and be where You are, and see Your glory.”
“Lord, let the peoples of the whole earth know how much You love us and what a wonderful life You give to those who believe in You.
Have mercy on me, O God, Thy fallen creation.
How many times have You given me Your grace, and I have not kept it, because my soul is vain; but my soul knows You, my Creator and God, and therefore I seek You, weeping, as Joseph wept for his father Jacob at the tomb of his mother, being taken into Egyptian slavery.
I offend You with my sins, and You leave me, and my soul misses You.
O Holy Soul, do not leave me. When You leave me, bad thoughts come to me and my soul misses You to the point of great tears.”
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Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt teaches:
“When you begin to pray to the Queen Theotokos, before praying, be firmly confident that you will not leave Her without receiving mercy. To think this way and to be confident about Her is worthy and righteous. She is the all-merciful Mother of the all-merciful God the Word, and all centuries and all Christian churches proclaim Her mercies, innumerably great and countless. She is definitely an abyss of goodness and generosity, as it is said about Her in the canon of Hodegetria (canto 5:1).
Therefore, to approach Her in prayer without such confidence would be unreasonable and impudent, and doubt would offend Her goodness, just as the goodness of God is insulted when one approaches God in prayer and does not hope to receive from Him what is asked.
How do they rush for mercy to some high and rich person, whose mercy everyone knows, who has proven his mercy through numerous experiments? Usually with the calmest confidence and hope of getting from him what they want.
So we must not doubt in prayer, and not be cowardly.”
Most pure Mother of my Christ, Intercessor and Intercessor, strong helper to the human race! Be an intercessor for us, unworthy, always praying to Your Son and our God, that He may look upon this holy place, which is entrusted to the praise and honor of the Holy Name forever. For you, Mother of sweet Christ, we offer you an intercessor and a prayer book, for your servants have gained much boldness towards Him, for all those who are saved have found peace and refuge.
Lady Theotokos! You, whose love for Christians surpasses the love of every earthly mother, every wife, listen to us in our prayers and save us! May we always remember You! May we always pray to You fervently! May we always resort to Your holy roof without laziness and without doubt.
Oh, all-merciful Virgin Mary, Mother of generosity and love for mankind, dear to my hope and hope!
Oh, Mother of the sweet, first-born and all-surpassing love of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Lover of mankind and my God. Light of my darkened soul!
I fall to You, a great sinner and hopeless, and I pray to You, Source of mercy, Virgin Mary, who gave birth to the abyss of mercy and the abyss of generosity and love for mankind: have mercy on me, I cry to You painfully, have mercy on me, who was wounded, who fell among the cruel robbers, and who clothed me in nakedness, O Father, woe is me, naked. Moreover, my wounds grew stale and rotted away from the face of my madness.
But, my Lady Theotokos, I humbly pray to You, look at me with your merciful eye and do not disdain me, all that is darkened, all that is defiled, all that is in the mire of sweets and immersed in passions, fallen in the ferocity and unable to rise: have mercy on me and give the world a helping hand, so that I can raise me up from the depths of sin.
O my joy! Deliver me from those who have passed me by; make Thy face shine upon Thy servant, save the perishing, cleanse the defiled, raise up the fallen: for thou canst do all things, as the Mother of Almighty God.
Pour on me the oil of Thy mercy, and give me the wine of tenderness: for You truly have the only hope of gain in my life.
Do not reject me, who flows to You, but see my sorrow, O Virgin, and the desire of my soul, and accept this and save me, Intercessor of my salvation. Amen.
Oh, All-Merciful Lady, Virgin Lady Theotokos, Queen of Heaven! By Your Nativity You saved the human race from the eternal torment of the devil: for from You Christ was born, our Savior. Look with your mercy on this (name), deprived of God’s mercy and grace, intercede with Your maternal boldness and Your prayers from Your Son, Christ our God, so that He may send down His grace from above on this perishing one. O Most Blessed One! You are the hope of the unreliable, You are the salvation of the desperate, may the enemy not rejoice over his soul!
All-merciful, my Lady, Most Holy Lady, All-Pure Virgin, Mother of God Mary, Mother of God, my undoubted and only Hope, do not disdain me, do not reject me, do not leave me, do not depart from me; intercede, ask, hear; See, Lady, help, forgive, forgive, Most Pure One!
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Parents need to pray to God for their children, so that He Himself will teach them His fear and make them wise for salvation.
They need to show examples of good deeds in themselves. Young people, and people of all ages, are better taught by good life than by words. For children especially imitate the life of their parents; what they notice in them, they do themselves, whatever they see is good or bad. Therefore, parents themselves need to guard against temptations and set an example of a virtuous life for their children if they want to instruct them in virtue. Otherwise they will not succeed in anything. For children look more at the life of their parents and reflect it in their young souls than listen to their words. The word of any mentor, connected with life, is worthy and strong instruction; especially the instruction of parents.
The most important task for parents is to raise their children in the fear of God and good morals. Without this, all teaching and education are nothing. A small tree will be inclined towards which side it will grow; That’s how small children are raised, so they will live.
Many teach their children foreign languages, others teach the arts, but they do not neglect Christian education and upbringing: such parents give birth to children for temporary life, but do not allow them to eternal life. Woe to them, for they kill not their bodies, but their souls through their negligence.
Lord, You are the only one who weighs everything, who is able to do everything, and who wants to save everyone and come into the understanding of the Truth. Enlighten my children (names) with the knowledge of Your truth and Your Holy will, strengthen them to walk according to Your commandments and have mercy on the least sinner. Amen.
Merciful Lord, Jesus Christ, I entrust to You my children whom You have given to me, fulfill my prayer. I ask You, Lord, save them in the ways in which You Yourself are. Save them from vices, evil, pride, and let nothing that is contrary to You touch their souls. But grant them faith, love and hope for salvation, and may their life path be holy and blameless before God. Bless them, Lord, may they strive every minute of their lives to fulfill Your Holy will, so that You, Lord, can always abide with them by Your Holy Spirit. Lord, teach them to pray to You, so that prayer may be their support, consolation in sorrow and the consolation of their lives, and so that by their prayer we, their parents, may be saved. May Your angels always protect them. May my children be sensitive to the grief of their neighbors, and may they fulfill Your commandment of love. And even if they sin, then grant them, Lord, to bring repentance to You, and You, in Your ineffable mercy, forgive them.
When their earthly life ends, then take them to Your Heavenly Abodes, where let them lead with them your other chosen servants. Through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother of God and the Ever-Virgin Mary and Your saints (all holy families are listed), Lord, have mercy on us, for You are glorified with the Beginning Your Father and with Your Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Lord looks with reverence at the prayer of our love and at our boldness before Him... When praying, say:
Lord, it is possible for You to do (this) and (that) to Your servant (name); Do this to him, for Your name is the good Lover of Mankind and the Almighty. If we, the evil one, know how to give good things, not only to our children, but also to strangers, since You have given all kinds of good things to those who ask You. Good Lover of Humanity! Who created creation with one word and created man from it, visit Your fallen servant with Your ineffable love for mankind, so that the work of your hand may not be completely destroyed. Yours. Amen.
Grant me, Lord, to love every neighbor of mine as myself, always, and not to become embittered towards him for any reason and not to work for the devil.
May the world crucify my self-love, pride, covetousness, lack of faith and other passions.
Let our name be: mutual love; Let us believe and trust that everything is the Lord for all of us; let us not worry, let us not worry about anything; may You, our God, be the only God of our hearts, and besides You, there is nothing.
Let us be among ourselves in the unity of love, as it should be, and let everything that separates us from each other and separates us from love be in contempt for us, like dust trampled underfoot. Wake up! Wake up! Amen.
If God has given Himself to us, if He abides in us and we in Him, according to His true word, then what will He not give me, what will He spare me, what will He deprive me of, what will He forsake me?
The Lord shepherds me and will deprive me of nothing (Ps. 22:1).
So, be very calm, my soul, and know nothing but love.
This commandment I command you, that you love one another (John 15:17).”
Lord, teach your servant, who has fallen into the pride of the devil, meekness and humility, and remove from his heart the darkness and burden of satanic pride!
Lord, do good to this servant (name) by Your grace!
Our treasure is imperishable and our wealth is inexhaustible! Grant to this Thy servant, created in Thy image and likeness, to know the flattery of wealth, and like all earthly things - vanity, shadow and sleep. Like the grass are the days of every man, or like the abyss, and like You, you alone are our wealth, peace and joy! Don’t be embittered by anything, conquer everything with love: all sorts of grievances, whims, all kinds of family troubles. Know nothing but love. Always blame yourself sincerely, admitting that you are the culprit of the troubles. Say: I am guilty, I am a sinner. Remember that just as you are weak, so is your neighbor, and weakness for weakness is destroyed, and there is nothing to blame for the weak and sinners, even if they admit their weakness. The devil, strong in evil, must be blamed.
Lord, enlighten the mind and heart of Thy servant to the knowledge of Thy great, countless and unsearchable gifts, which they will receive from Thy innumerable bounties, in the blindness of passion. Forgetting Your rich gifts, and being impoverished, He is rich in Your blessings, and for this reason He looks with delight at the goodness of Your servants, oh O most unspeakable Grace, give mercy to everyone who is contrary to his power and according to the intention of Your will. Take away, O all-merciful Master, the veil of the devil from the sight of the heart of Your servant and give him heartfelt contrition and a tear of repentance and gratitude, so that the enemy does not rejoice over him, caught alive from him according to his will, and let him not be plucked out of Thy hand.
Lord, look mercifully on Your servant, deceived by the flattery of the belly and carnal merriment. Grant him to know the sweetness of abstinence in fasting and the fruits of the Spirit flowing from it. Amen.
Lord, our sweetest Heart, which never perishes, but remains in eternal life! Cleanse this servant of yours (name) from the filth of gluttony, all flesh created and alien to your Spirit, and grant him to know the sweetness of your life-giving spiritual meat, which already exists Thy Flesh and Blood and Thy holy, living and active word!
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Lord, have mercy on me, Son of God: my soul is angry. Lord, help me. Give to me, that I may be satisfied, and I am like a dog from the grains that fall from the table of Your servants. Amen.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of God, Son of David according to the flesh, just as you had mercy on the Canaanites: my soul is angry with anger, rage, evil lust and others. harmful passions. God! Help me, I cry to You, who does not walk on earth, but sits on the right hand of the Father in heaven. Hey, Lord! Grant my heart, through faith and love, to follow Your humility, goodness, meekness and long-suffering, so that in Your eternal Kingdom I may be granted the opportunity to partake of the table of servants Yours, whom you have chosen. Amen.
Forgive me, Lord, for I am very weak, and grant me Your peace, which You give to Your servants.
Lord, give me a spirit of meekness, so that I may be meek toward my neighbors and refrain from anger.
Grant me the spirit of humility, so as not to think highly of myself and not to be proud.
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The Athonite elder Kirik taught how to correctly pray for the success of every undertaking: “Do not begin any undertaking first, even the smallest and most insignificant, until you call on God to help you accomplish this undertaking. The Lord said: “Without Me you cannot do anything,” that is, neither say nor think. In other words: without Me you have no right to do any good deed! And therefore, one must call on God’s gracious help either in words or mentally:
God bless! Lord help me! Without God's help we cannot do anything useful or saving; and if we do anything without asking God for gracious help for our work, then we only reveal our spiritual pride and resist God. But by calling on the name of God we receive a blessing from the Lord... At every smallest task and the beginning of this task: whether we are walking on a level place or on a rough road (this word means our various kinds of affairs and activities in all types and kinds) - always cry out to the Lord for help, otherwise there will be no prosperity.”
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Do not forsake me, O Lord my God, do not depart from me; Come to my help, O Lord of my salvation.
Whoever offends you in word or deed, do not be angry with him, but forgive him from your heart and, having gone away, pray for him, saying:
Lord, leave it to him (or her).
The soul cannot have peace unless it prays for its enemies. The soul, taught to pray from the grace of God, loves and pities every creature, and especially man, for whom the Lord suffered on the cross and his soul ached for all of us.
The Lord taught me to love my enemies. Without the grace of God we cannot love our enemies, but the Holy Spirit teaches love, and then we will feel sorry even for the demons: we have lost humility and love for God.
I beg you, try it. Whoever insults you, or dishonors you, or takes away what is yours, or persecutes the Church, then pray to the Lord, saying: “Lord, we are all Your creation; have pity on Your servants and turn them to repentance,” and then you will tangibly carry grace in your soul. First, force your heart to love your enemies, and the Lord, seeing your good desire, will help you in everything, and experience itself will show you. But whoever thinks evil about his enemies does not have the love of God, and he does not know God.
If you pray for your enemies, peace will come to you; and when you love your enemies, then know that the grace of God lives in you, great, but not yet perfect, but sufficient for salvation. And if you revile your enemies, it means that an evil spirit lives in you and brings evil thoughts into your heart, for, as the Lord said, evil or good thoughts come from the heart.
A good person thinks: everyone who strays from the truth perishes, and therefore one feels sorry for him. And whoever has not been taught love by the Holy Spirit will, of course, not pray for his enemies. He who is taught love from the Holy Spirit grieves all his life for people who are not saved, and sheds many tears for the people, and the grace of God gives him the strength to love his enemies.
If you do not have love, then at least do not revile or curse them; and this will be better; and if someone curses and scolds, an evil spirit clearly lives in him, and if he does not repent, then after death he will go to where the evil spirits reside. May the Lord deliver every soul from such trouble.
Understand. It's that simple. I feel sorry for those people who do not know God or go against God; my heart aches for them, and tears flow from my eyes. We can clearly see both heaven and torment; we knew it by the Holy Spirit. So the Lord said: The Kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21). So from here eternal life begins; and eternal torment begins from here.
Do not allow temptation, or sorrow, or illness beyond my strength, to come upon me, O Master of the Lord, but deliver me from them or grant me the strength to endure them with gratitude.
Oh, my gracious Lord Jesus Christ, my soul cleaves to You, and Your right hand accepts me: incline Your ear to me and hear my prayer. And give me a way to find, so that I may please You: for I thirst for the source of salvation.
Be my helper and do not forsake me, O God of my Savior, for my father and mother abandoned me and deprived me of a spouse; He gave birth to his only son, and he is disobedient and unfaithful, and people are also unfaithful.
But you, Lord, have called me alone to trust.
But, Lord, in Your mercy and in the abyss of Your bounty I place my soul’s hope and, running to You, I pray: teach me to do Your will and save me from of this obstinate generation, a multitude of unfaithful people.
Even if they have lost the essence of Your grace, but You, Master, for the sake of Your love for mankind, do not despise them, but visit them and call them to reason, and bring them to your knowledge.
Just as from me you have appropriated what was alien from ancient times to your property, so, Lord, heal this people, who are sick with unbelief, with good faith and, turning to yourself, attract them, and you, too, Once enlightened by You, they will glorify Your Most Holy Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit to generation, and to generations, and forever.
Lord, You are the Judge of the earth, You do not love untruth, hear my unworthy prayer and send Your power, and send Your help where enemies, visible and invisible, will meet me, and so that pillars will stand in the place where Your power will meet them. Amen.
Blessed be the day and hour, in which my Lord Jesus Christ was born for my sake, endured crucifixion and suffered death. Oh, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, at the hour of my death, receive the spirit of Your servant, in your wanderings, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints. Amen.