Morning prayer for Easter before meals. Orthodox prayer in Great Lent before Easter - What is prayer

Prayers in Great Lent are considered to have greater power. François Mauriac once said, “You don't have to have faith to pray; you have to pray to gain faith.”

Prayer is not simple words with a list of sins and bright feelings. This is not something that can be talked about a lot and in different ways. And not something that can be neglected.

Originally, prayers were created so that every person could talk with God. A special melodious rhythm, syllable and the Old Slavonic language are the key to a certain state when the mortal is forgotten and the spiritual triumphs. This is just the case when you can not have great faith, taking the first steps in prayer, but you will certainly feel the touch of the Divine.

Prayers for Great Lent

Lent is a special time for Christians, and 2019 is no exception. During this period, it is especially commanded to observe the rules of abstinence, goodwill and mutual assistance. This is the time when you need to limit your body in everything in order to free the spirit from its influence. Every day we accumulate a layer of experiences: emotions, desires, anger and routine interests. All this has negligible relation to true spiritual development. And restrictions, reaching asceticism, are called upon to remove everything similar, superficial from our soul. In this matter, prayer becomes an indispensable assistant.

In fasting, the lifestyle changes, for many, these changes are felt to the point of discomfort. And when the body imposes its habitual line of behavior, the Holy Word comes to the rescue. It has a miraculous effect, helping to get rid of the feeling of discontent that often gnaws on the hungry, and from the feeling of irritation that gnaws on the one who has been limited. Prayer helps to understand and feel how fleeting all this is, how little it is in relation to the great Divine Beginning that lives in each of us.

“Prayer must remain unanswered, otherwise it ceases to be prayer and becomes correspondence”

Oscar Wilde

The one who prays, turning his heart to God, must remember, and especially in fasting, that miracles and instantaneous accomplishments cannot be expected. The soul of the righteous is pure and submissive to the will of the Lord, it does not demand, but patiently waits and gives thanks for everything that happens, without grumbling.

Fasting is a time for prayer

The morning of the first day of fasting begins with special words addressed to Jesus Christ, the Holy Trinity. These prayers are called initial. They signify readiness to humbly accept the test of fasting, humility and complicity with the passions of Jesus, which he experienced in the wilderness.

Every morning begins with a prayer to Christ, a psalm of David, a third prayer of St. Macarius the Great, praise and song to the Theotokos. These are the main prayers read in Lent by a lay person.

Throughout the day, thoughts should be turned into a prayer of gratitude for daily bread, prayers before and after eating food.

Before going to bed, a righteous Christian turns his heart to the Guardian Angel through prayer and to God the Father.

These prayers can be called necessary for a Christian to read during fasting. There are many more of them, but if you call on the listed saints with a pure soul, this will be enough.

The church service in Lent is also different from the usual. Be sure to add the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian to the reading. It is considered a truly Lenten prayer, which fully reflects its content.

Priests during the period of fasting are prescribed to spend a lot of time in prayer. For them, prayer is a special and at the same time the main part of life. It should be practiced after waking up, before and after meals, before study, at moments when temptation or evil thoughts overcome, before going to bed.

During Great Lent, they pray for their dead and for the health of living loved ones and relatives. It is believed that a purified soul is closer to God, and He hears all prayers better. Therefore, you can turn to the Almighty in any prayers, and this will certainly respond, inside or outside.

"Work is the best prayer"

Alonso Arjuna

In Great Lent, cleansing is considered not only by oral prayers, but also by deeds. It is said that during this period one should refrain from unnecessary words, actions and desires.

It is customary for us to watch TV - we abstain. Unless it's for business. We are accustomed to chatting with friends on the phone for a long time - for this period we are limited. This is a kind of work on oneself, the hardest work called "changing yourself for the better."

But if a neighbor or acquaintance, and even if a stranger needs help, you need to help. Especially in Lent. Of course, help is within our power and from the heart. It often happens that they turn to us at the wrong time, they come inopportunely. But this period exists precisely in order to overcome one's discontent, to get rid of it, so that this place in the soul is occupied by the awareness of the frailty of being, the height of the spirit and unity. All people are equal among themselves, and everyone is given time. This time belongs to God, which means that no one can take it away from us personally. But if we dedicate this time with an open heart to benefit someone, who will feel bad about it? On the contrary, kindness will only come. This is the purpose of Great Lent.

"God does not hear the words of prayer, God sees your heart"

Evgeny Khankin

There are people who are trying fasting for the first time. They do not know prayers, they have not encountered miracles of faith. But something led them to try. It is never too late to embark on the path of perfecting your spirit. And for these people, mastering a large amount of text is a problem. It may turn out that for them, reading a prayer will become an effort to pronounce the right words correctly, and not a true conversion of the soul to the Lord. In this case, you need to turn to the priest, he can help in the direction of the main prayers of a Christian. At the moment, there are prayers translated into modern language with the preservation of meaning.

It is possible and desirable to attend church services. Prayer in the church takes on a truly wonderful sound and action. Everything is pure: words, voices, thoughts of many dozens of laity, bowing their heads in bow. In this you can find for yourself the first lesson of the miracle taught by the Lord.

But ignorance of prayers does not mean that the striving for purity of spirit will go unnoticed. The main thing is pure thoughts, righteous actions. There is a divine censor in every person, and if we listen to him, our words will always be heard by God.

Great Lent, which comes immediately after the end of the Maslenitsa week, is accompanied not only by strict abstinence from meat and even dairy foods, but also by prayer. Prayer in fasting - this is a personal appeal to God, asking him for forgiveness for committed unseemly acts and humility. Of course, there is no prayer without faith - those who kneel before the icons in front of people, who sin outside the temple after the end of the service - pseudo-believers, hypocrites. Prayer lives in the soul, in the heart - next to God, and not in public, next to window dressing. In the longest of the Orthodox fasts - Great Lent - believers read prayers every day, reread the Old and New Testaments, and attend services. For those who abstain from abundant food for forty days before Easter, there is a prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, which is pronounced not only before meals, but also at other times of the day, from Sunday evening until Friday.

Orthodox prayer for every day in fasting

Saying a prayer, believers turn to God, the saints, the Most Holy Theotokos. On holidays, the Orthodox read joyful prayers, on fasting they ask the Almighty to grant them strength to refrain from sins, glorify the Lord God. The duration of prayers for each day varies depending on the beliefs of the person. For some, it is considered the norm to pray for a long time in the morning, afternoon and evening, for others a few minutes daily are enough for this, still others pray only on significant days before Easter and during Great Lent.

Examples of prayers for each day of fasting

The most important prayer of a Christian - Our Father - is familiar to many by heart. It can be read on the days of fasting, every day. It is also correct to say laudatory prayers to the Lord, to pray to Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit. The Tresvyate prayer, also called the angelic song, is read three times. In it, believers turn to the Holy Trinity. dedication to the Most Holy Trinity and a separate prayer glorifying the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Our Father, Thou art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us our daily bread today; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Or: The eyes of all trust in You, Lord, and You give them food in good time; You open Your generous hand and fulfill every animal of good will (lines from Ps. 144).

For the blessing of food and drink for the laity

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

Prayers after meals

We thank Thee, O Christ our God, for Thou hast satisfied us with Thy earthly blessings; Do not deprive us of Your Heavenly Kingdom, but as if in the midst of Your disciples, Thou hast come, Savior, give them peace, come to us and save us.

Orthodox prayer in fasting before Easter

Many believers admit that the sensations they experience in Lent before Easter are incomparable with anything. At this time, the Orthodox have a bright hope that life was not given to them in vain; they begin to understand the true meaning of the days given to them on earth. Many people kneel, praising the Almighty in prayers and asking him for forgiveness for sins. Fasting gives hope, determines the goal: ahead is Easter and the resurrection of Christ. Fasting also gives a taste for life. A person who limits himself in food and joys begins to feel real joy from the most modest food. If fasting people refrain from marital relations, later this holds the family together, strengthens the love of husband and wife, and gives healthy offspring.

Examples of prayers before Easter during fasting

Great Lent, which begins the day after the end of the Great Maslenitsa, lasts forty days. At this time, daily services are held in the churches, and the Orthodox pray for salvation and forgiveness. During the first week of Lent, the Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is read. The indestructible Psalter is read both for the repose and for the health of loved ones; such prayers can be ordered in temples or read in person. The most famous of all the pre-Easter prayers - Ephraim the Syrian - is read daily, except for Saturday and Sunday. Our Father and prayers to the saints in the fast before Easter are read more often, spoken both to oneself and out loud.

Publican's Prayer

God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.

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, the Son of God, through the prayers of Your Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us (have mercy on us). Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of Truth, Who is everywhere and fills everything, Treasury of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Blessed, our soul.

Trisagion
(angelic song)

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Holy God, Holy Almighty, Holy Immortal, be merciful to us.

Christian prayer of Ephrem the Syrian in Great Lent

Among other prayers of Great Lent, the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian is more famous than others and is said daily, with the exception of Sunday and Saturday. This penitential prayer is read both at divine services and at home. In a few short lines of appeal to God, the believer is asked to eradicate the spirit of idleness and idle talk in them and grant them patience, chastity and love.

When and how is the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian read in fasting

You should start reading the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian on the evening of Forgiveness Sunday before Great Lent. After asking prayers, the churched people bow and read the prayer “God, cleanse me, a sinner” twelve times. In churches, the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian is read on Cheese Week on Wednesday and Friday, on Holy Fortecost and on Passion Week, on the first three days. The last time in Great Lent this prayer is said on Great Wednesday, four days before Easter.

Prayer of Ephrem the Syrian

Lord and Master of my life,

Do not give me the spirit of idleness, despondency, arrogance and idle talk.

Grant the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to me, Thy servant.

Hey, Lord, King!

Grant me to see my sins,

And don't judge my brother

For blessed are you forever and ever.

What prayer to read in fasting

Fasting and prayer give the believer change, give hope of change. A person is given the opportunity to become better if he wants it. Common Orthodox prayer and the realization that the whole Orthodox world is fasting gives the feeling that you are not alone. By fasting and praying, a person purifies not only his body, but also his soul and thoughts. In Great Lent, you need to read the Psalter and Akathist, sowing forgiveness from God and praising him. At home, believers can read any Christian prayers that are close to the soul.

Examples of Orthodox prayers during fasting

Unlike temples, where certain prayers are read for each day of fasting, in ordinary life, believers can turn to God in their own words. There is no need to assume that by saying the words of the prayer incompletely, you exclude the possibility of conveying your thoughts to the Lord. The main thing in prayer is faith, humility and diligence

Praise to the Lord God
(small doxology)

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Doxology to the Holy Trinity

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Praise be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Lord, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name's sake.

Prayer in fasting before eating - Appeal to God

Lent is a time of abstinence from meat and dairy foods, renunciation of earthly pleasures, prayers and purification of the soul. During the forty fast days, prayers are said both before and after meals. The Lord is thanked for the food sent in well-known Orthodox prayers or in their own words.

Examples of fasting prayers before meals

Before eating, in many Christian families during fasting and on other days, it is customary to pray before eating, saying "Our Father" before eating food and thanking the Lord for the sent food. In fasting, prayers are also asked to strengthen faith in God, giving strength for abstinence and renunciation of animal food.

Lord's Prayer

Our Father, Who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us our daily bread today, and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer before eating

The eyes of all in Thee, O Lord, trust, and You give them food in good time, You open Your generous hand and fulfill every kind of animal goodwill.

Prayer after eating

We thank Thee, Christ our God, for Thou hast satisfied us with Thy earthly blessings; do not deprive us of Your heavenly Kingdom, but as if in the midst of Your disciples, Thou hast come, Savior, give them peace, come to us and save us.

(We thank You, Christ our God, that You nourished us with Your earthly blessings; do not deprive us of Your Heavenly Kingdom).

Prayer in the post helps believers understand the strength of the spirit bestowed upon bodily abstinence and cleansing from sinful deeds. Praying during Great Lent, the Orthodox also thank Jesus Christ, the saints and the Mother of God for the gift of life and the opportunity to turn to the Almighty. Since prayer is always a sincere appeal to God, it is possible to pray before Easter and during fasting before meals both in your own words and in Christian prayers memorized. One of the most famous prayers - Ephraim the Syrian - is read both during fasting and on the last day of the Maslenitsa week. During the reading of prayers in fasting, faith is strengthened in a person by the power of the Holy Spirit.

... Great Lent is a period of abstinence and repentance. And repentance is unthinkable without reading a prayer. The most famous and revered prayer of Ephraim the Syrian in Great Lent is read in all churches and in the homes of believing Christians throughout Lent, except for Saturday and Sunday. This prayer is the quintessence of the spiritual requests of the supplicant to God. She teaches him to love, enjoy life and helps to observe the regime of fasting.

The text of the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian.

Lord and Master of my life! Do not give me the spirit of idleness, despondency, arrogance and idle talk. (Earth bow). Grant the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to me, Thy servant. (Earth bow). Yes, Lord the King, grant me to see my sins and not condemn my brother, for you are blessed forever and ever. Amen. (Earth bow).
God, cleanse me a sinner (12 times and the same number of bows).

The repentant prayer of Ephraim the Syrian consists of only three dozen words, but contains all the most important elements of repentance, indicates what the prayer should make the main efforts to. Thanks to this prayer, the believer determines for himself the way to get rid of ailments that prevent him from drawing closer to God. In addition, this prayer is accessible and succinctly expresses the meaning and meaning of Great Lent and reflects the main commandments given by the Lord, helps in an accessible form to comprehend one's attitude towards them.
Behind modest petitions in this prayer is hidden a very deep meaning. It is divided into two types of petitions: in some, the supplicant asks the Lord to "not give" - that is, to free from shortcomings and sins, and in another series of petitions, the supplicant, on the contrary, asks the Lord to "give" him spiritual gifts. Petitions for deliverance sound like this: "Do not give me the spirit of idleness, despondency, arrogance and idle talk." Only through prayer is a person able to perform a feat and get rid of these sins.
Idleness.
It would seem that idleness is not such a great sin compared to envy, murder and theft. However, it is the most sinful negative state of man. The translation of this word from the Church Slavonic language means the emptiness and passivity of the soul. It is idleness that is the cause of man's despondent impotence before spiritual work on himself.
Despondency.
In addition, it invariably gives rise to despondency - the second terrible sin of the human soul. It is said that idleness symbolizes the absence of light in the human soul, and despondency symbolizes the presence of darkness in it. Despondency is the impregnation of the soul with lies about God, the world and people. The devil in the Gospel is called the father of lies, and therefore despondency is a terrible devilish obsession. In a state of despondency, a person distinguishes only the bad and evil around him, he is unable to see goodness and light in people. That is why the state of despondency is tantamount to the beginning of spiritual death and the decay of the human soul.
Curiosity.
The penitential prayer of Ephraim the Syrian also mentions such a state of mind as arrogance, which means a person’s desire for power and domination over other people. This striving is born out of despondency and idleness, because, being in them, a person breaks his relations with other people. Thus, he becomes internally lonely, and those around him become only a means to achieve his goals. The thirst for power is dictated by the desire to humiliate another person, to make him dependent on himself, his freedom is denied. They say that in the world there is nothing more terrible than such power - the disfigured emptiness of the soul and its loneliness and despondency.
Idle talk.
The Lenten prayer of Ephraim the Syrian and such a sin of the human soul as idle talk, that is, idle talk, are mentioned. The gift of speech was given to man by God, and therefore it can only be used with a good intention. The word used to commit evil, deception, expression of hatred, impurity carries a great sin. This is what the Gospel says that at the Great Judgment, for every idle word uttered during life, the soul will answer. Idle talk brings people lies, temptation, hatred and decay. The prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian helps to realize these sins, to repent of them, because only by realizing that one is wrong, a person is able to move on to other petitions - positive ones. Such petitions sound like this in prayer: "The Spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love ... grant me to see my sins and not condemn my brother."
Chastity.
The meaning of this word is wide, and it means two basic concepts - "integrity" and "wisdom". When a supplicant asks the Lord for chastity for himself, this means that he asks for knowledge, experience to see goodness, wisdom for leading a righteous life. The integrity of these petitions is human wisdom, allows a person to resist evil, decay and departure from wisdom. Asking for chastity, a person dreams of restoring life in peace and harmony for the mind, body and soul.
Humility.
Humility and humility are not the same concepts. And if humility can be interpreted as impersonal humility, then humility is humility that has nothing to do with self-humiliation and contempt. A humble man rejoices in the comprehension revealed to him by God, in that depth of life which he discovers in humility.
Patience.
“It remains only to endure” is not Christian patience. True Christian patience is the Lord who believes in each of us, trusts us and loves us. It is based on the belief that good always triumphs over evil, life conquers death in the Christian faith. It is this virtue that the supplicant asks for himself from the Lord when he speaks of patience.
Love.
In fact, all prayer boils down to asking for love. Idleness, despondency, arrogance and idle talk are an obstacle to love, it is they who do not let it into the heart of a person. And chastity, humility and patience are a kind of roots for the germination of love.

Who is Efrem Sirin? Not only the Lenten prayer of Ephraim the Syrian made him a revered saint, this man is known as a church orator, thinker and theologian. He was born in the 4th century in Mesopotamia, in a family of poor peasants. For a long time, Ephraim did not believe in God, but by chance he became one of the best preachers of that time. According to legend, Ephraim was accused of stealing sheep and put in jail. During his stay in prison, he heard the voice of God, calling him to repent and believe in the Lord, after which he was acquitted by the court and released. This event turned the young man's life upside down, forcing him to repent and retire for a life away from people. For a long time he led a hermit's life, later he became a student of the famous ascetic - St. James, who lived in the surrounding mountains. Under his leadership, Ephraim preached sermons, taught children and helped in the services. After the death of Saint James, the young man settled in a monastery near the city of Edessa. Ephraim persistently studied the Word of God, the works of great thinkers, holy elders, scientists. Possessing the gift of teaching, he could easily and convincingly convey this information to people. Soon people began to come to him in need of his guidance. It is known that the pagans who attended Ephraim's sermons converted to Christianity easily and confidently. Veneration of the saint today Today, Ephraim the Syrian is called the father of the church, the teacher of repentance. All his works are imbued with the idea that repentance is the meaning and engine of the life of every Christian. Sincere repentance, combined with tears of repentance, according to the saint, completely destroys and washes away any sin of a person. The spiritual heritage of the saint has thousands of works.
How did Ephraim the Syrian create this prayer? According to legend, one desert hermit saw angels holding a large scroll in their hands, covered with inscriptions on both sides. The angels did not know to whom to give it, stood in indecision, and then God's voice was heard from heaven, "Only Ephraim, my chosen one." The hermit brought Ephraim the Syrian to the angels, they handed him a scroll and ordered him to swallow it. Then a miracle happened: Ephraim spread the words from the scroll like a wondrous vine. So the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian during Great Lent became known to every Orthodox Christian. This prayer stands out among all the other Lenten hymns, it is most often read in the temple, and most often it is during this prayer that the whole church kneels before God.

In the first days of Great Lent, Christians are advised to pay attention to the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete. The Holy Canon is read on the evening before Great Lent and on the first four days.

The famous Saint Theophan the Recluse said that a person is not complete without a body, just as prayer is not complete without a prayer rule. The prayer rule, in turn, is that you should: pray with your soul, delving into every phrase. Pray slowly, slowly, as if in a singsong voice. Pray at the time allotted exclusively for this matter, so that nothing at this time distracts the prayer. Think about prayer during the day, noting in advance to yourself where it is possible to observe it, and where it is not. Read prayers with a break, separating them with prostrations. Observe the time of prayer - they should be held in the morning and evening, before and after meals, on the eve of each new business, before taking prosphora and holy water...

Millions of active Christians live in cities. But noisy megacities willy-nilly impose their stamp on the spiritual state of every person. Tired citizens are immersed in a whirlpool of everyday worries: they study, work, endlessly rush somewhere. The vast majority of believers and believers simply do not find time to participate in all Lenten services. Life and "workdays" are removed from good deeds, bright thoughts and self-improvement. At this time, is it not superfluous to have at least a remote idea of what the life of an ordinary Christian should be like during Great Lent? What prayers to read at home before meals and every day before Easter? How is the prayer in the fast to Ephraim the Syrian different from other liturgical texts?

What prayer to read in Lent

Great Lent is a bright and joyful period of cleansing from sins and getting rid of all heavy thoughts and deeds. During the fasting period, it is necessary to give up heavy food of animal origin, bad habits, stupid pastime. It is important not only to tame your temper and systematize your life, but also to rise spiritually by studying Holy Scripture, reading prayers, communicating with the Lord. Such activities should be given at least two hours a day - an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. We must not forget about reading the prayer before eating in Great Lent. After all, even modest and insipid food is sent to us by the Lord.

Unfortunately, not every speech addressed to the Almighty can be correctly interpreted. When choosing a beautiful prayer, do not forget about its semantic content. To ask for peace and rest for every day, read "Our Father", for the forgiveness of sins - the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, to express gratitude for food in fasting - "We thank Thee, Christ our God."

Short Jesus Prayer for Lent

Entire books have been written about how to pray correctly, with long and detailed explanations. But not every fasting person will find time to study all the wisdom of the Church. It is much easier and faster to learn a short prayer in order to pronounce the correct words daily during the morning and evening chant.

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner"

The main thing is that the prayer appeal to the Lord should correspond to the inner state of a person, and not run counter to emotions and desires.

Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian for Great Lent

The amazing prayer of Ephraim the Syrian is read during Great Lent every day from Sunday evening to Friday. Lenten prayer, which belongs to one of the main teachers of spiritual life, stands out against the background of other church hymns. At the first reading of the prayer text, after each petition, they bow to the ground. Then 12 times in the mind they read “God, cleanse me, a sinner,” accompanied by bows from the waist. And once again the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian in Great Lent with one bow to the ground.

The text of the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian for reading in Great Lent

Why did such a simple and short prayer take such a weighty place in Lenten services? Because it is in her texts that in a special way all the positive and negative elements of repentance and a list of individual human deeds aimed at combating sins are displayed in a special way: negligence, idleness, laziness, arrogance, idle talk, impatience, etc.

Reading the text of Yefim the Sirin's prayer for Great Lent, we convince the Almighty of our intention to live in truth and justice, in love and work.

"Lord and Master of my life,
do not give me the spirit of idleness, despondency, arrogance and idle talk.
(Earth bow).
The spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love, grant me to Your servant.
(Earth bow).
Hey, Lord the King,
grant me to see my sins, and do not judge my brother,
for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages, amen.
(Earth bow).
God, cleanse me a sinner,
(12 times and the same number of waist bows).
Then repeat the whole prayer):
Lord and Master of life……. forever and ever, amen.
(and one prostration)."

A simple fasting prayer for every day

The period of strict Great Lent is complicated in itself: food is limited, habits are put aside, the usual course of a measured life radically changes its direction. A lot of additional items appear in the daily schedule, including the selection of a special menu for the whole family, visiting the temple, giving alms to the poor, etc. In order to at least get rid of the turmoil and feel moral peace, it is recommended to read simple prayers in fasting for every day at any free moment.

The text of the daily prayer to the Lord during Lent

There are dozens of different prayers for daily reading during Lent. Some are suitable for worship on weekdays. Others are worth reading on weekends or exclusively before a meal. Among the abundance of Lenten prayers, it is easy to get lost. We offer you the text of the daily prayer to the Lord, which is optimally suited for all occasions during Great Lent.

God, my God!

Do Thy mercy to me

and teach me to love you more than my own life,

for the eyes of faith will not see this world,

who seized my heart and took my life.

Grant me, Lord, the strength to love my life,

Which is You, my God,

and how pure and straight are thy ways

before my face.

For fearful are thy ways, O God, to my heart,

because the world is not in them;

my heart does not find affirmation in them,

because they neglected their faith.

I'm afraid of the fiery test,

and as a stranger to me I fear him.

But when my time is up

with what will I stand before your righteousness?

Prayer to read before eating during fasting

Oddly enough, but during a period of strict food restriction, we most of all think about food. Indeed, without the question of nutrition, Great Lent cannot be started or completed. This is the first component, which is not inferior in importance to either works of mercy, or fervent prayers, or the precise organization of one's time. Denying ourselves forbidden foods, excessive gluttony and expensive delicacies, we express love and gratitude to the Lord. But even this is not enough for a full-fledged fast. Prayers of thanksgiving should be read before every modest meal. What exactly? Look further. Surely you have long been familiar with these prayers for reading before eating during fasting.

Simple prayers to read before meals and after meals during Lent

Lent is not just food restrictions, but also hard spiritual work on oneself. Do not forget about the frequent reading of prayers. At the same time, there is no need to transfer communication with the Lord to the level of monotonous mumbling of mechanically memorized lines. Sincere prayer before meals during Lent can be expressed in your own words. If only the essence was clear to man and the Almighty.

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, bless our food and drink with the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints, as blessed forever and ever. Amen (to cross drink and food)

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

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen. Lord have mercy (three times). bless.

We thank Thee, Christ our God, for Thou hast satisfied us with Thy earthly blessings; do not deprive us of Your Kingdom of Heaven, but as in the middle of Your disciples, Thou hast come, Savior, give them peace, come to us and save us.

Christian prayer in fasting before Easter

The feast of the bright Resurrection of Christ is the most important day for the entire Christian world. It is not surprising that on the eve of such a grand event, Christians pray with unprecedented inspiration. Anticipating the imminent resurrection of the Savior, both teenagers, adults, and the elderly try to cleanse themselves not only physically (by cleaning the house, yard, etc.), but also morally (asking for forgiveness and apologizing for sinful acts). And Christian prayer is best suited for such purposes in fasting before Easter.

The text of the Christian prayer for reading before Easter in fasting

God, my God!

Give my heart ignorance of passions

and lift up my eye above the folly of the world,

from now on, create my life not to please them

and give me pity on those who persecute me.

For your joy is known in sorrows, my God,

and a straight soul will improve it,

her fate proceeds from your presence

and there is no diminution of her blessedness.

Lord Jesus Christ my God

Make straight my paths on earth.

Prayer during fasting is an important element of the daily Lenten life of Christians, along with dietary restrictions and the rejection of the usual worldly entertainment. You can read the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian and others not only in the morning or before meals, but also at any free minute every day of Great Lent before Easter.

What prayers are read at home during Lent 2018

Everyone knows that Easter fast - from February 19 to April 7, 2018 - is the most strict and longest, and there are many food restrictions throughout this seven-week period.

However, many of us forget that, in addition to refusing certain foods, a person must also cleanse himself spiritually during fasting, thereby, as it were, trying to “get closer” to God.

There are special prayers for every day in Great Lent, which should be read by all people belonging to the number of Orthodox Christians.

What prayers are read in Great Lent is indicated in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, where a whole section is devoted to how to behave throughout the entire seven-week period.

The main one is the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, which contributes to the liberation from the so-called "ailment", which prevents a person from communicating with God. This prayer sounds like this:

Lord and Master of my life,

the spirit of idleness, despondency, arrogance and idle talk

The spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love,

grant me, Thy servant.

Yes, Lord the King, grant me to see my sins,

and do not judge my brother,

for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages, amen.

God, cleanse me a sinner!

Morning prayers for Great Lent remain traditional, but their reading is certainly complemented by the above prayer of Ephraim the Syrian. It can be read not only in the temple, but also at home, and has a purpose - to prepare a person for confession, to repent and be cleansed.

It is important to understand that food restrictions, as well as morning, afternoon and evening prayers during Great Lent, have one common goal - a person must learn to control himself, control his own feelings and emotions.

The seven-week period of the Paschal fast is a time of peace and repentance. Every believing Christian must consciously enter the fast, observe it and correctly exit this state.

As a rule, it is rather difficult for an ignorant person to do this, therefore, having decided for the first time to take such a serious step as observing Great Lent, it is better to enlist the support of church ministers who will certainly help in everything and tell you how to do it right.

Prayers for Great Lent

Prayers in Great Lent are considered to have greater power. François Mauriac once said, “You don't have to have faith to pray; you have to pray to gain faith.”

Prayer is not simple words with a list of sins and bright feelings. This is not something that can be talked about a lot and in different ways. And not something that can be neglected.

Prayers for Great Lent

Lent is a special time for Christians, and 2016 is no exception. During this period, it is especially commanded to observe the rules of abstinence, goodwill and mutual assistance. This is the time when you need to limit your body in everything in order to free the spirit from its influence. Every day we accumulate a layer of experiences: emotions, desires, anger and routine interests. All this has negligible relation to true spiritual development. And restrictions, reaching asceticism, are called upon to remove everything similar, superficial from our soul. In this matter, prayer becomes an indispensable assistant.

“Prayer must remain unanswered, otherwise it ceases to be prayer and becomes correspondence”

Fasting is a time for prayer

Every morning begins with a prayer to Christ, a psalm of David, a third prayer of St. Macarius the Great, praise and song to the Theotokos. These are the main prayers read in Lent by a lay person.

Throughout the day, thoughts should be turned into a prayer of gratitude for daily bread, prayers before and after eating food.

Before going to bed, a righteous Christian turns his heart to the Guardian Angel through prayer and to God the Father.

These prayers can be called necessary for a Christian to read during fasting. There are many more of them, but if you call on the listed saints with a pure soul, this will be enough.

"Work is the best prayer"

In Great Lent, cleansing is considered not only by oral prayers, but also by deeds. It is said that during this period one should refrain from unnecessary words, actions and desires.

"God does not hear the words of prayer, God sees your heart"

Prayers for Great Lent

It is customary to read various prayers during Great Lent, but the most important is the penitential prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian. This holiday is dedicated to a chapter in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. It describes in detail how to behave during fasting and other nuances. On these days, you can perform various rituals, read conspiracies and prayers. People believe that all appeals to God during this period will certainly be heard.

Prayers for Great Lent

As already mentioned, the most important prayer during the days of Great Lent is considered to be an appeal from the holy Sirin. It lists the most important aspects of repentance, and also indicates what exactly needs to be done and what to work on. The main idea of prayer is that a person must be freed from an illness that is an obstacle to communication with God. The prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian sounds like this:

"Lord and Master of my life,

do not give me the spirit of idleness, despondency, arrogance and idle talk.

The spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love, grant me to Your servant.

grant me to see my sins,

and do not judge my brother,

for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages, amen.

God, cleanse me a sinner!”

To make the prayer more understandable, you need to dwell on the most important points that are described in it. First, a request is made to get rid of important sins:

The spirit of idleness. The saint asks God to save him from wasting time. Everyone has certain talents and skills that need to be properly applied for the benefit of all mankind. Idleness is considered the root of all sins.
Spirit of Dejection. If a person is driven by despondency, then he does not have the opportunity to see goodness and happiness in life. He just plunges into darkness and becomes a real pessimist. That is why in order to move in the right direction and be closer to God, you need to get rid of this sin.
The spirit of ambition. Practically in the life of every person there is a desire to control people, for example, power in the family, at work, etc. The love of management can become a serious problem that prevents you from developing and communicating with God.
Spirit of Prophecy. Man is the only creation of God who has received the ability to speak. Often words are used for insults, curses, etc. In prayer, the saint asks God to protect him from vain and evil words.

Fasting without prayers cannot pass. You can read morning, evening prayers or the Psalter. It is important to always add the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian.

Prayer in Great Lent for every day and before Easter, the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian - Examples of prayers before meals in Great Lent

Great Lent, coming in 2017 on February 27, is not only the rejection of animal food and alcoholic beverages. This is a time devoted to the study of the life of Jesus Christ, turning to God in prayers. In Great Lent, a person becomes deeper, renounces many earthly blessings, rethinks his life and his destiny in this world. Lent, lasting six weeks and Holy Week, ends with the bright Pascha 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 bodily, but also spiritually. Not all believers know how and what kind of prayer to read in fasting. Temple ministers often say that God can be addressed in any prayers. However, the prayer in the post to Ephrem the Syrian should be read every day except for Saturday and Sunday. It is also read before Easter, on a cheese week. The purpose of reading it is to free the "belly" (life) from bodily and, what is considered the main, spiritual ailments. Prayers in fasting before meals are also considered important in Orthodoxy. They help the Christian to avoid gluttony, set him up for modest food and a long absence of entertainment.

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

In Orthodoxy, there are prayers for every day of Great Lent. Believers who visit the temple know that the first day of the first week begins with hymns. The priests tell the 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 dumb). On Wednesday, on the third day of Lent, church-going people who visit temples will learn the interpretation of the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, and so on. If for any good reason you cannot go to church to pray, set aside at least ten to fifteen minutes a day to study the Scriptures - the Old and New Testaments.

Examples of prayers for every day of Lent

Any believer will tell you that there is no fasting without prayers. Of course, this statement does not mean that you should completely renounce everyday worries and immerse yourself in the reading of prayers. In the absence of praying often and attending the temple, read the Scriptures. Finding free time, take it to read one of the prayers of Great Lent. Now you can download them all on the Internet. We propose to pay attention to the most famous prayers related to the time of abstinence before Easter.

Praise to the Lord God

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 the case as a token of gratitude to God for His mercy to us. This prayer is pronounced in short: Praise 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.

God, have mercy on 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, the Son of God, through the prayers of Your Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us (have mercy on us). Amen.

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

Orthodox prayer for Great Lent before Easter - What is prayer

Any Orthodox prayer is an appeal to God, a conversation with the Mother of God, saints. You can pray to yourself anywhere and anytime. They turn to God aloud at home, alone or in temples, standing in front of the icons. Before fasting, at the end of Cheesefare Week, they say the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, pray to the Lord God Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the most holy. 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 in fasting

Churched people have a custom to read all the Gospels during the time allotted for Great Lent. Of course, not all believers are able to overcome the Scriptures. Fasting before Easter, read prayers as much as possible. We propose to memorize the texts of some of them.

The creed reads like this:

1. I believe in one God the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible.

2. And in the one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, Who was born from the Father before all ages: Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not created, consubstantial with the Father, Whom all was.

3. For us, man, and for our salvation, descended from Heaven and incarnated from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became human.

4. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried.

5. And he rose again on the third day, according to the scripture.

6. And ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.

7. And the packs of the coming with glory to judge the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end.

8. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets.

9. Into one holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

10. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.

11. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead,

12. And the life of the future age. Amen

 I believe in one God, Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, of everything visible and invisible.

 And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages: Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not created, one being with the Father, by Him all things were created.

 For the sake of us people and for the sake of our salvation, he descended from Heaven, and took flesh from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became a man.

 Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried,

 And resurrected on the third day, according to the Scriptures.

 And ascended into Heaven, and sits on the right side of the Father.

 And coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.

 And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, who gives life, who proceeds from the Father, who is worshiped and glorified with the Father and the Son, who spoke through the prophets.

 Into one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

 I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

 I look forward to the resurrection of the dead,

 And the life of the next century. Amen (that's right).

What is said in the prayer to Ephraim the Syrian for Great Lent - What does the prayer to Ephraim the Syrian call 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 put the words of the prayer in a poetic way. Saint Ephraim the Syrian, living in the Middle Ages, was filled with spiritual wisdom. He also owns "divine thoughts" from the Psalter of the Mother of God. As for the well-known prayer, which aims to purify 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, from proud self-affirmation. It teaches meekness, humility, gratitude.

When the prayer to Ephraim the Syrian is read in Great Lent

As the church recommends, the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian should be read daily, from late Sunday evening to Friday. Do not worry about the repetition of a prayer - each time you pronounce its words, you perceive them in a new way. Prayer purifies the soul and heart, setting the believer in a blessed mood during Great Lent.

“Lord and Master of my life, the spirit of idleness, despondency, arrogance and idle talk, do not give me.

Grant the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to me, Thy servant.

Yes, Lord, King, grant me to see my sins and not condemn my brother, for you are blessed forever and ever. Amen".

What prayer should be read in fasting - Helping prayers to fast

Each prayer is an appeal to God, concealing 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 do get better. In principle, any pious prayer addressed to God at the right time helps us to fast, abstaining from passions and temptations.

How Prayers Help Fasting

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

I believe, Lord, but You confirm my faith.

but You strengthen my hope.

I loved You, Lord

but you cleanse my love

and ignite it.

I lament, Lord, but You do

May I increase my repentance.

I revere, O Lord, Thee, my Creator,

I sigh for You, I call on You.

Guide me with your wisdom,

protect and strengthen.

I commit to You, my God, my thoughts,

let them come from you.

My deeds be in Your name,

and my desires be in Your will.

Illuminate my mind, strengthen my will,

cleanse the body, sanctify the soul.

Let me see my sins

don't be fooled by pride

help me overcome temptation.

May I praise You all the days of my life,

which you have given me.

What prayer is said in fasting before eating - Orthodox prayer "Our Father"

Believing Christians pray before eating, regardless of whether food is eaten on a fast day or not. The most common prayer before meals is at the same time the most famous prayer, known by heart even by children - “Our Father”. Very often in fasting before eating, 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