Morning prayers during the fast before Easter. Morning prayers for Lent

Starting March 11, 2019, Orthodox Christians begin their longest fast. Great Lent lasts 48 days, starting on Holy Monday and ending on the eve of Easter on Holy Saturday.

Duration of Lent

The church established a seven-week fast in memory of how Jesus Christ spent 40 days in the desert. All this time he did not eat anything and constantly resisted the temptations of the devil. He withstood the test of loneliness and hunger, did not succumb to the temptations of the Devil, and forced him to retreat.

A believer, starting a multi-day fast, strives to cleanse his soul, fighting external and internal temptations. This behavior helps us understand what feat the Savior accomplished, struggling for 40 days with the passions of human nature, and to feel the weight of resisting temptations.

To the 40 days of Christ's Fast in the desert, the Church added Holy Week, in memory of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem, where the Savior suffered and suffered martyrdom. During Great Week, believers remember and experience the torment of Jesus, mourn on the day of his death in order to sincerely rejoice on the Bright Sunday of Christ.

Post Description

Great Lent is not only the longest, but also the strictest of all the fasts of the annual cycle. It involves a complete rejection of meat and dairy products. Fish and vegetable oil are allowed to be consumed several times in 48 days. Last Holy Week The rules of fasting are close to complete abstinence from food. The church presents in detail the daily diet of a fasting person at annual Orthodox calendars. Such calendars can be purchased at any church store.

To make it easier for people to endure Great Lent, it is preceded by Maslenitsa week. This is a time of festive feasts with an abundance of savory dishes. The body stores up required quantity animal proteins, and abstinence from meat and dairy products is much easier to tolerate.

For beginners, maintaining a multi-day fast can be very difficult. The clergy say that you should not exhaust yourself with fasting on the road, in illness or in motherhood. Nursing mothers, sick people, as well as those who need more on the go nutrients to maintain the body, therefore during such periods it is not only possible, but necessary to retreat from fasting.

Those who have just set out on the path of Christianity, first of all, need to understand that the time of fasting is not only the refusal of certain foods, it is abstinence from all sin, including alcohol, intimate relationships and slander.

The holy apostles and clergy unequivocally say that the time of fasting is a time for the education of the spirit. “It’s not the sin that goes into the mouth, it’s the sin that comes out of the mouth,” says the biblical aphorism. This phrase contains the deep meaning of fasting. By deviating from the rules of eating Lenten food, a person does not sin in the eyes of the Lord, but when he curses and curses, offends his neighbors in word and deed, then his soul is denigrated by grave sin.

How to pray correctly during Lent?

It is difficult to endure Lent according to all church canons. Prayer helps strengthen oneself in faith. During Lent, churches hold daily services to help parishioners pray. That is why during Lent you should strive to come to church as often as possible. The clergy will prompt and guide the believer who has accepted fasting. During the service, a person not only joins in the divine chants, but has the opportunity to communicate with like-minded people and feel that he is not alone in his faith. Communication with other believers increases the desire to endure the fast to the end according to all the rules.

Lay people who are unable to attend church can pray at home on their own or with the whole family. During Lent, daily morning and evening prayers are read, to which is added the famous universal prayer of Ephraim the Syrian.

When choosing daily prayers, the fasting person must remember that on these days he only needs to ask the Lord to cleanse his soul from vices and strengthen him in faith. Petitions for love and prosperity are best left for holidays.

Prayers need to be read daily, and several times a day, especially when moments of temptation arise. Take your mind off bad thoughts Reading the Gospel helps. If you have children, have a Bible reading every night. By introducing a child to faith, parents themselves become one step closer to God, pleasing him with their actions.

No matter how long Lent is, it ends by Easter. Believers who were able to withstand it Orthodox laws, on the festive night of the Resurrection of the Lord they receive an indescribable reward - God's Grace. May God be with you.

Prayers during Lent

The prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian is one of the most frequently pronounced during the Great Orthodox fasting. The prayer is read daily, except weekends and until Wednesday of Holy Week inclusive.

Lord and Master of my life, do not give me the spirit of idleness, despondency, covetousness and idle talk. Grant the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant. To her, Lord, King, grant me to see my sins and not condemn my brother, for blessed are you forever and ever. Amen

Morning prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be it your name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

The temptation is great to fall into despondency: “How can I live without tasty food! No more fun now! What long services!” - whereas there is no reason for despondency. Long service- these are high examples of medieval spiritual poetry, and philosophical reflections on man’s place in eternity, and a feeling of unity with other worshipers, and communication with God Himself.

It occurs no less often, if not more often. back side Lenten despondency: “I cannot fast according to the rules. I miss services. I get distracted by the bustle of the world.”

It’s banal, but no less true: remember that God does not need a stomach and legs, but a heart. He sees in the human soul a sincere desire to serve Him, and He also sees infirmities.

This constant remembrance of God will be our unceasing joy in Him.

No, of course, we all don’t need to become hesychasts for fasting, but we can try to become half a step closer to the ideal.

It’s worth spending a little more time on prayer than you usually do. More attention during services - sometimes it is worth taking with you a book with the texts of the service. Execute more carefully prayer rule- leave the computer half an hour earlier and read evening prayers. Add . On the road, listen to or read the Psalter.

It is useful to fight numerous Lenten temptations with prayer: respond to irritation, anger, and despondency with yourself short prayer Jesus.

Household chores, the road during rush hour, noise at work - even if we were able to organize our lives in such a way that we eat only permitted food, read the entire prayer rule and even pray during the day, we get terribly tired from all this fuss. And here the temple comes to our aid.

In monasteries and in many parish churches in big cities During Lent, services are held every day in the morning and evening. It’s worth going to at least part of the service before or after work - it puts you in a completely different mood from the surrounding reality.

There are divine services for which it is not a sin to take time off from work early. These are - in the first four days of Great Lent, on Wednesday evening of the fifth week, an akathist to the Mother of God on Friday evening, services...

It is good to visit at least once during Lent - by the way, in some churches it is sometimes performed in the evenings (for example, in the Sretensky Monastery several times during Lent, the Presanctification begins at 18.00).

It is well known: it is not God who needs fasting, but us. Great Lent consists of two parts: Lent and Holy Week. The first is the time of repentance, the second is the time of cleansing, preparation for Easter.

It is not for nothing that the Church offers us the reading of the canon of St. Andrew of Crete twice during Lent. It is not for nothing that every Lenten Saturday during the All-Night Vigil we hear the chant “Open the doors of repentance, O Giver of Life.” It is not for nothing that three weeks before Lent the Church calls for repentance: with the parable of the publican and the Pharisee, the parable of prodigal son, a reminder of the Last Judgment and the expulsion of Adam from paradise.

It is for repentance that we need the time of Lent. If you are not going to repent, you should not start fasting - it is a waste of your health.

By the way, health. If problems with well-being arise during fasting, the degree of abstinence should be immediately discussed with your confessor.

There can be no question of any unauthorized fasting according to the regulations or even close to the regulations if there are diseases associated with the stomach or metabolism. IN modern conditions Even monasteries on rare occasions fast with dry eating - God will not condemn a working person who is not in excellent health.

(It is worth remembering that during Great Lent a sacrament is performed in churches - anointing with specially consecrated oil with a prayer for the healing of the sick.)

A stomach ulcer will in no way bring you closer to God, but can also significantly distance you - there is an extremely thin line between a sincere desire to obey the church charter, not sparing your belly, and pride in your zeal.

“If I fast, I become vain, and if I don’t fast, I become vain,” he laments in his “Ladder.”

“Vanity by fasting” is dangerous in its obviousness and goes hand in hand with condemnation. Brother eats fish during the first week of Lent, while you sit on bread and water? None of your business. He drinks milk, but you don’t even put sugar in your tea? You don’t know the specifics of how his body works (by the way, in seminaries students are often given dairy products). You ate a sausage and the next day went to receive communion, whereas you began the Eucharistic fast even before the All-Night Vigil? This is a matter for him and the priest who admitted him to the sacrament.

“Vanity through non-fasting” is a more subtle passion. In our time, there is such a character as the tax collector, who is proud that he is not a Pharisee. And here another trend arises: he doesn’t eat vegetable oil- but at home I make a hundred prostrations before going to bed! He doesn’t drink any alcohol - but I repent every weekend!

Therefore, I would like to repeat the call of educators to kindergarten: “Look at your plate!”

And in general, talk less about food. No matter how much this simple truth sets one's teeth on edge, Lent is only to the smallest extent - a change in diet.

Vegetarians never eat animal food - this neither brings them closer to God nor removes them, exactly in accordance with the words of the apostle.

Continuation famous quote: “but by every word of God” - ideally suits the Lenten period, when special attention is paid to reading the Bible - the word of God.

Behind Lent It is customary to read the entire Gospel. Also during this period, the Old Testament is read daily in churches.

It would be good to combine a decrease in interest in the contents of other people's plates with an increase in attention to others in general.

Focusing on your own spiritual state should not turn into indifference to others. Fasting should benefit the cultivation of both virtues: love of God and love of neighbors.

He called for spending the money saved on the Lenten meal to help the poor. After having lunch in the canteen for a few days with a side dish without a cutlet, you can buy gloves for a freezing beggar or an educational game of Orphanage.

During fasting, it is not at all necessary to interrupt communication with people who may need it - a pregnant friend, a sick neighbor, a lonely relative. A conversation with them over a cup of tea is not entertainment, but helping your neighbor.

A kind attitude towards our neighbors sometimes turns into the most unpleasant side for us: people-pleasing. In fact, as a rule, there is no good attitude here - there is one’s own weakness of character and dependence on the opinions of others. It is during Great Lent that this passion intensifies.

“Let's meet on Friday after work in a cafe!” - a friend suggests, and now you order a cake with her - you can’t offend!

“Come visit on Saturday evening!” - the neighbors call, and you skip the service, instead of apologizing and rescheduling the meeting for a later time or Sunday.

“Eat a piece of chicken, otherwise I’ll be offended!” - the relative is openly capricious, and here you can even hide behind respect for your elders, only this will be cunning: reluctance to enter into conflict is not always associated with love for your neighbor.

To free ourselves from the sin of man-pleasing, we can recall the advice given: we must hide our personal fasts so as not to fast for show, but church-wide fasting is standing in faith. We must not only respect our neighbors ourselves, but also strive to be respected for ourselves and our faith.

Most often, people understand polite explanations and get into the situation. And even more often it turns out that our sophisticated interpretations are far-fetched. Our friend in the coffee shop is not at all embarrassed by our empty cup of espresso, the neighbors will be glad to see you after the service, and a relative will gladly treat a fasting guest to potatoes and mushrooms.

Finally, the most important rule of Lent is to remember why this period exists.

Lent is a time of concentrated anticipation of the Holy Resurrection of Christ. Active expectations: together with the Lord we will try to go through forty days of fasting, together with the Lord we will approach the tomb of Lazarus, together with the Lord we will enter Jerusalem, we will listen to Him in the Temple, we will take communion together with the Apostles at His Last Supper, we will follow Him on the Way of the Cross, with We will mourn the Mother of God and Christ’s beloved Apostle John on Golgotha...

Finally, together with the myrrh-bearers, we will come to the open Tomb and again and again we will experience the joy: He is not here. Christ is Risen!

Lent, which begins in 2017 on February 27, is not only a refusal of animal food and alcoholic drinks. This is a time devoted to studying the life of Jesus Christ and turning to God in prayer. During Lent, a person becomes deeper, renounces many earthly goods, rethinks his life and his purpose in this world. Lent, which lasts six weeks and Holy Week, ends with the bright Easter of Christ - the resurrection of Jesus as a miraculous proof of the existence of the Lord. Every Christian must come to Christ's resurrection purified not only physically, but also spiritually. Not all believers know how and what prayer to read during Lent. Temple servants often say that you can turn to God in any prayer. However, the prayer after Ephraim the Syrian must be read every day with the exception of Saturday and Resurrection Day. It is also read before Easter, during the cheese-free week. The purpose of reading it is to free the “belly” (life) from bodily and, what is considered the main thing, spiritual ailments. Prayers during fasting before meals are also considered important in Orthodoxy. They help a Christian avoid gluttony, set him up for modest food and long absence entertainment.

Prayer for Lent for every day - How and when to pray during Lent

In Orthodoxy there are prayers for every day of Lent. Believers who visit the temple know that the first day of the first week begins with chants. Priests tell parishioners about John the Baptist and Herod. On Tuesday of the first week, the main, first prayer is dedicated to the life of Andrew of Crete - a saint who dedicated his life to God as a result of a miracle that happened to him (gaining the gift of speech after becoming mute). On Wednesday, the third day of Lent, churchgoers visiting churches will learn the interpretation of the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, etc. If you cannot for any reason good reason go to church for prayer, set aside at least ten to fifteen minutes a day to study the Scriptures - the Old and New Testaments.

Examples of prayers for each day of Lent

Any believer will tell you that fasting without prayer does not exist. Of course, this statement does not mean that you should completely renounce everyday worries and immerse yourself in reading prayers. In the absence of praying often and going to temple, read the Scriptures. When you find free time, devote it to reading one of the prayers of Lent. Now you can download them all on the Internet. We suggest paying attention to the most famous prayers relating to the time of abstinence before Easter.

Prayer of praise to the Lord God
(small doxology)

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

In this prayer we praise God without asking for anything in return. It is usually pronounced at the end of a task as a sign of gratitude to God for His mercy towards us. This prayer is said in short: Glory to God. In this abbreviated form, we say a prayer when we finish some good deed, for example, teaching, work; when we receive any good news, etc.

Publican's Prayer

God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.

Prayer for forgiveness of our sins. It must be said as often as we often sin. As soon as we sin, we must immediately repent of our sin before God and say this prayer.

Prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us (show mercy to us). Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

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 soul.

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, Who is everywhere and fills everything, Receptacle of all goodness and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all impurity, and save, O Merciful One, our souls.

Orthodox prayer during Lent before Easter - What is prayer

Any Orthodox prayer is an appeal to God, a conversation with the Mother of God, the saints. You can pray silently to yourself anywhere and at any time. They turn to God out loud at home, alone or in churches, standing before images. Before fasting, at the end of Cheese Week, they say the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, pray to the Lord God Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Most Holy Ones. Each prayer can be ended with an appeal to the Almighty, praise to God, a request and giving you strength during fasting.

Examples of Orthodox prayers before Easter during Lent

Church-goers have a custom of reading all the Gospels during the time allotted for Lent. Of course, not all believers are able to overcome Scripture. When fasting before Easter, read prayers whenever possible. We suggest memorizing the texts of some of them.

The Creed reads like this:

What is said in the prayer to Ephraim the Syrian for Lent - What the prayer to Ephraim the Syrian calls for

History says that the prayer to Ephraim the Syrian was loved not only by the holy fathers, but also by A.S. Pushkin, the great Russian poet, who translated the words of the prayer into a poetic way. Saint Ephraim the Syrian, living in the Middle Ages, was filled with spiritual wisdom. He also owns “divine reflections” from the Psalter Mother of God. As for the famous prayer, which aims to cleanse the hearts of believers before Easter, it is known for its simplicity and depth. This prayer helps to cleanse the soul from idle talk, lack of chastity, and proud self-affirmation. She teaches meekness, humility, and gratitude.

When the prayer to Ephraim the Syrian is read during Lent

As the church recommends, the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian should be read daily, from late Sunday evening to Friday. There is no need to worry about repetitions of the prayer - each time you say its words, you perceive them in a new way. Prayer cleanses the soul and heart, setting the believer in a gracious mood during Lent.

“Lord and Master of my life, do not give me the spirit of idleness, despondency, covetousness and idle talk.
Grant the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant.
To her, Lord, King, grant me to see my sins and not condemn my brother, for blessed are you forever and ever. Amen".

What prayer should you read during fasting - Prayers that help you fast

Each prayer is an appeal to God, fraught with our thoughts, a request to free us from “filth” - dishonest, impure thoughts and actions. By asking the Lord God in prayer to protect us from temptation, we really become better people. In principle, any pious prayer addressed to God in time helps us to fast, abstaining from passions and temptations.

How prayers help to fast during Lent

Any prayers said during Lent are aimed at cleansing the soul from unfavorable, ungodly thoughts. By praying and reading the Gospel, we come to know God more deeply and understand the meaning of fasting.

I believe, Lord, but You confirm my faith.
I hope, Lord,
but You strengthen my hope.
I loved you, Lord,
but You cleanse my love
and set it on fire.
I'm sorry, Lord, but you do it,
May I increase my repentance.
I honor You, Lord, my Creator,
I sigh for You, I call upon You.
Guide me with Your wisdom,
protect and strengthen.
I commend to You, my God, my thoughts,
let them come from You.
Let my deeds be in Your name,
and let my desires be in Thy will.
Illuminate my mind, strengthen my will,
cleanse the body, sanctify the soul.
Let me see my sins,
let me not be seduced by pride,
help me overcome temptations.
May I praise You all the days of my life,
which You gave to me.
Amen.

What prayer is said before meals during fasting - Orthodox prayer “Our Father”

Christian believers pray before meals, regardless of whether food is eaten on a fast day or not. The most common prayer before meals is also the most famous prayer, known by heart even by children - “Our Father.” Very often during fasting, before meals, praises are said to the Lord, who gave food and drink. At the end of the meal, believers thank God, who gave them food, with prayers.

Lord's Prayer. Our Father

In Church Slavonic:

Our Father, who art in heaven!
Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done as it is in heaven and on earth.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors;
and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

In Russian:

Our Father who art in heaven!
Hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Examples of Orthodox prayers before meals during Lent

By saying an Orthodox prayer before meals during Lent, the believer prepares himself to accept modest food, where there is no animal food. Thus, prayer before meals helps Christians endure some of the restrictions of Lent.

Prayer before meals

The eyes of all trust in You, Lord, and You give them food in good season, You open Your generous hand and fulfill every animal’s good will.

Prayer for the blessing of food and drink for the laity

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, bless us with food and drink through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints, for blessed are You forever. Amen. (And cross food and drink).

Prayer after eating food

We thank Thee, Christ our God, for Thou hast filled us with Thy earthly blessings; Do not deprive us of Your Heavenly Kingdom, but as You came among Your disciples, Savior, give them peace, come to us and save us.

Every prayer in fasting helps to destroy human soul all dishonesty, deceit, sinful thoughts and actions. Home Christian prayer During Lent the Lord's Prayer always remains. It is read both before meals and at other times of turning to God. Great importance during fasting, the repentant prayer of Ephraim the Syrian is attached, asking the Lord to “give” us the spirit of chastity and patience, which is so necessary for us during fasting abstinence.

- a time of renewal, repentance and joy. The joy is not Easter, jubilant, but quiet and imperceptible at first glance, but at the same time somehow deep. Maybe this is because in the post in Once again you want to move away from all the unnecessary, superficial vanity that envelops you every weekday, and find your true self.

Lent prepares us for the celebration of celebrations -. This is a real journey. This is the spring of the spirit. And this spring path should lead to us becoming at least a little better by the end than we were at the beginning.

What can you do to truly experience Lent?

1. Eat simply. Before we say anything about the spiritual component of fasting, we need to pay attention to how we will eat. After all, it is the nutritional differences that are most noticeable during fasting. The meaning of fasting is not to avoid eating animal food (food in itself does not make us closer to God or further from Him). Still, we are creatures of flesh and blood, and the issue of our nutrition is extremely important. General rule: you need to eat so that you feel light. You can burden yourself with lean foods. And don't get hung up on food. It’s hardly worth searching all over the Internet for delicious recipes. Lenten dishes. Spend less time and attention preparing meals. Spend less money on food during fasting. In this regard, let us think about the question of how appropriate it is to purchase during Lent, for example, delicious seafood, which is not prohibited by the charter. By the way, for some categories of people definitions of food indulgence are acceptable: for patients, those engaged in hard work, pregnant and lactating women, etc. But for this it is better to consult with your confessor. If this is not possible for some reason, then take responsibility. It is also known that “it is better to under-fast than to over-fast.” Moderation is the golden rule.

2. Give up any dependence or attachment. Lent is the time of our liberation. Liberation from what enslaves us. At this time, we can accomplish a small feat: give up destructive attachment. Everyone will have their own. During this time, some completely abstain from alcohol, some from smoking, and some from television series. You shouldn’t demand such feats from others, but it’s good to try it yourself.

3. Pray regularly. Fasting without prayer is not fasting at all. It’s convenient for us to attribute our usual “lack of prayer” to the rhythm of city life, family worries, problems, etc. But try to free up at least 10 minutes for prayer in the morning and evening during fasting. You can read the usual morning and evening prayers or something else, for example, the Psalter, but during fasting you need to add one more to these prayers - the short and succinct prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, which sets the “tone” for these weeks.

4. Read Scripture. During Lent, the Church reads three Old Testament books during daily services: Genesis, Isaiah and Proverbs. There is also a pious custom of reading all four Gospels on your own during Lent. It is difficult to be a Christian without knowing the Scriptures. If you have not yet read the entire Old and New Testament- make up for lost time over the next forty days. And if you have already mastered the entire Bible, do not think that this is enough: the property of our memory is such that, unfortunately, we forget a lot. Try to read Scripture regularly, preferably every day, in a quiet environment where you can concentrate. It would be great if, after reading, you took the time to reflect a little on what you read and think about how to relate Scripture to your life.

5. Attend religious services. Lent is a special time in the rhythm of church services. But you can feel this if you only come to the temple during the week. After all, on Saturdays and Sundays, practically the same services are held as always. The special mood of Lent, what Father Alexander Schmemann called “bright sadness,” can only be felt in the quiet beauty of everyday services. Try to come to church at least once or twice to read the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. This canon, the longest existing in Orthodox Church, born from the depths of repentance and permeated with the hope of the fatherly love of God, is read in parts in the evenings from Monday to Thursday in the first week of Lent, and then repeated in its entirety on Wednesday evenings in the fifth week. You just need to come to the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts at least once during the entire Lent (it’s great if you find a church where it is served in the evening) and take communion, experiencing this day as a time of anxious anticipation of meeting Christ. And it is extremely important to be in the temple in holy days, starting on the evening of Maundy Thursday. But this time is still far away, and it is better to talk about it another time.

6. Clear your mind of clutter. Is it worth turning off the TV completely, introducing a moratorium on visiting blogs, forums and social networks– everyone decides for themselves. But what will really be useful is to read at least one good book spiritual content. This could be a book on the history of the Church, on the basics of doctrine, an interpretation on Holy Bible or anything else. Since the Orthodox literature market today is replete with not always “spiritually high-quality” publications, you should approach the choice of literature very carefully. You can also read something from the world classics - this will also be useful for keeping your mind away from the hustle and bustle.

7. Do what you have been planning to do for a long time. Determine for yourself something that you have been thinking about for a long time, but never did. The time of fasting is a time of positivity. All restrictive measures (in food, entertainment, etc.) are important not in themselves, but as a means to free up our time and energy for the main thing: growing in Christ. And growing in Christ means doing good. Love God, neighbor and yourself. It’s worth choosing at least one thing that will be good not only for you, but also for your neighbors. Before fasting, we heard the words of Christ: “What you did to one of these little ones, you did to me.” With a little thought, you will probably discover how much you can accomplish in those 40 days. Packing things for the orphanage, cooking dinner for your parents, doing something useful for the house, making a birdhouse, delving into how your children live, and finally, you will probably find a lot of ideas.

In addition, you can come up with your own “commandments” of fasting. They may be different, but the main thing is to try to take the fast seriously, at the deepest level of your consciousness. After all, the time of fasting is a time that requires us to make decisions and constant efforts.

Lent precedes the Easter holiday - in 2019, Christians celebrate the Holy Resurrection of Christ on April 28.

The meaning of fasting is not just a refusal of meat and dairy foods, it is self-restraint, that is, a voluntary refusal of everything that makes up a noticeable part of our earthly life. But first of all, in deep self-knowledge, repentance and the fight against passions.

Fasting gives you the opportunity to think about a lot and rethink a lot spiritually. This is the time when we can force ourselves to stop, interrupt the endless daily run, look into our own hearts and understand how far we are from God, from the ideal to which He calls us.

But fasting without prayer is not fasting, but simply a diet. During fasting, first of all, you need to take care of cleansing your soul and thoughts, and for this you need to pray daily at home and, if possible, visit church services all seven weeks of Lent.

Prayer for Lent

You should devote more time to prayer during Lent than usual. You can read the usual morning and evening prayers or something else, for example, the Psalter, but during fasting you need to add one more to these prayers - the short and succinct prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian.

The prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian is one of the most often said during Lent.

© Sputnik / STRINGER

“Lord and Master of my life, do not give me the Spirit of idleness, despondency, covetousness and idle talk. Grant me the Spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love, Thy servant. Yes, Lord the King, grant me to see my sins and not to condemn my brother, for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages. Amen."

The short lines of St. Ephraim's prayer capture the message of the path of spiritual improvement of man, in which people ask God for help in the fight against their vices - despondency, laziness, idle talk, condemnation of others. And they ask to crown them with the crown of all virtues - humility, patience and love.

Morning prayers

The publican's prayer: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." (Bow). According to the Gospel of Luke, this is the prayer of repentance that the publican said in the parable of the publican and the Pharisee. In this parable, Christ cited the publican’s prayer as an example of repentance and asking for God’s mercy.

Initial prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother and all the Saints, have mercy on us. Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.”

Trisagion: “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Read three times, with the sign of the cross and bow at the waist). Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.”

Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity: “Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake. Lord, have mercy. (Three times) Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit , now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."

The Lord's Prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy will be done as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen." This prayer can be read at any time, including before meals and in the evening.

Evening prayers

Prayer to God the Father: “Eternal God and King of every creature, who has made me worthy even at this hour to shine, forgive me the sins I have committed this day in deed, word and thought, and cleanse, O Lord, my humble soul from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit And grant me, Lord, to pass through this sleep in peace at night, so that, rising from my humble bed, I will please Your most holy name all the days of my life, and will trample the fleshly and incorporeal enemies that fight me. And deliver me, Lord, from thoughts vain things that defile me, and the lusts of the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages Amen."

Prayer to the Holy Guardian Angel: “O Angel of Christ, my holy guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me all that I have sinned this day, and deliver me from every wickedness of the enemy against me, so that I may not anger my God in any sin; but pray for me, a sinner and unworthy servant, that you may show me worthy of the goodness of the mercy of the All-Holy Trinity and the Mother of my Lord Jesus Christ and all the saints. Amen."

And right before going to bed you should say: “In Your hands, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, I commend my spirit: Bless me, You have mercy on me and grant me eternal life. Amen.”

About repentance

One of the greatest Saints, the Venerable Macarius of Egypt, said, if you look deeper into yourself, then everyone with all your heart will have to say the words of prayer: “God, cleanse me, a sinner, for I have never (that is, never) done anything good before you.”

You can say prayers not only during services or at home - in the morning and evening. Lay people can pray at any time - when negative and sinful thoughts arise. Short prayer will allow you to spiritually cleanse yourself and tune into a positive mood.

© Sputnik / Alexander Imedashvili

God, my God! Give my heart ignorance of passions and lift my eye above the madness of the world, from now on make my life not to please them and grant me pity for those who persecute me. For Your joy in sorrows is known, my God, and a straight soul will receive it, but its fate comes from Your face and there is no diminishment of its bliss. Lord Jesus Christ, my God, make my ways straight on earth.

Priests advise reading all four Gospels on your own during Lent, since it is difficult to be a Christian without knowing the Holy Scriptures. It is recommended that you read Scripture every day, in a quiet environment where you can concentrate, and after reading reflect on what you read and consider how to relate the Scripture to your life.
The time of Lent is given specifically by the Church so that we can gather, concentrate and prepare for the Easter holidays.

The material was prepared based on open sources