The Orthodox Church can be compared to a living complex organism. Every day, divine services and rituals are held in it, prayers and psalms are read. Meanwhile, church rules and canons have been developed over many centuries, and their language can be difficult to understand for people who are just beginning their communion with the sacraments of the Faith. For example, a church prayer service - what is it? For those who are not strong in this matter, we suggest that you read this article to the end in order to fill the gap in your knowledge.
When and why prayers are read in the church
Every morning in an Orthodox church begins with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, followed by the time of the petition of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints about the daily needs of the parishioners. Such pleading prayer chants can be performed on a variety of occasions.
Prayer for he alth is ordered when we want to receive God's help in overcoming illness, a blessing on some importantbusiness. It could be a request for help with your studies or a special prayer service to a saint on his name day.
In addition to such "private" petitions, in Orthodox churches it is customary to offer to the Lord also general, on behalf of all the parishioners, prayer-chants. They are: water consecrated and New Year's; read during some natural disaster (severe drought, flood, etc.) to get rid of it; about those suffering from drunkenness and from unclean spirits; solemn rites on the Nativity of Christ and on the first Sunday of Great Lent, etc.
Prayer requests for he alth
Prayer for he alth is read in churches daily. Any Christian can submit a note before the start of the service, in which the names of the people for whose he alth he asks the priests of the temple and all parishioners present to pray will be entered. Church employees submit notes to the priest, and no matter how many names they contain, they will all be mentioned in the petition for he alth.
It is believed that such a common church prayer has tremendous healing power and through it a person can receive real help from heavenly forces. Moreover, a prayer for he alth is not necessarily ordered for a sick person, usually all close relatives and friends who want to wish he alth and well-being are mentioned in the notes.
Prayers for repose
They often ask: "A funeral service - what is it?" There are also prayers for the repose of the dead. In separate notes, which are also transferred to the priest conducting the church service,the names of the dead people are given. In this case, the church and all parishioners earnestly pray for the repose of souls and the granting of the Kingdom of Heaven to them.
During the prayers for he alth and repose, the serving priest, when pronouncing each name, takes out a small piece from the holy prosphora and puts it on the paten. At the end of the prayers, all the removed particles are immersed in a special vessel with "holy gifts", from which believers will partake of the "blood and body of Christ".
Sorokoust
A special prayer for he alth or repose, read for 40 days, is called Sorokoust. This is an intensified prayer for the he alth of a seriously ill person or the repose of a deceased child of the Church of Christ. It is believed that if Sorokoust is read in three churches at the same time, then the effect of the prayer service is even more enhanced.
Sometimes this prayer service is called "church magic". Orthodox believe that this type of prayer is the best way to cope with various misfortunes. Including Sorokoust helps from the evil eye and damage. If there is any person who wishes you harm, then if you order a 40-day prayer service for his he alth, then the evil will definitely return back to him without harming you at all. Only priests warn that this person must be forgiven.
Prayer to the Mother of God
In all sorrows and sorrows, you can turn to the great intercessor of all Orthodox Christians - the Blessed Virgin Mary. Prayer to the Mother of Godperformed in front of different icons. In some churches, special prayers are performed in front of the "Inexhaustible Chalice" icon, which depicts the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. It is believed that prayer in front of this icon for a person suffering from the vice of drunkenness can cure him of this misfortune.
Women expecting the birth of a child can pray in front of the "Fedorovskaya" Icon of the Mother of God. Such a prayer, uttered with faith and hope, helps to endure pregnancy and easily give birth to a he althy baby. It is best to order holy water prayers, after which you can take holy water home.
Water Blessing Prayer - what is it
Every believer can always come to any Orthodox church and take some amount of holy water for their needs. They say that her power is so great that if you add only one drop of it to a vessel with plain water, then it will instantly acquire healing properties. In order to always have enough holy water in the churches, priests regularly hold special small water-blessing prayers. A large prayer service for water is read once a year, on the feast of Epiphany.
In temples, schedules of services are usually posted, so you can find out in advance when the next rite of small blessing of water will be held and submit a note with names in advance. The priest during the prayer service will pray for those who are indicated in it. It is possible to order the so-called nominal prayers (in honor of your saint inname day or guardian angel on your birthday) with water blessing.
Prayer addressed to the saint
The Church teaches that in certain life circumstances it is best to pray to different saints. For example, a prayer service to the holy prophet Zechariah and Elizabeth must be ordered if a child does not appear in the family for a long time. With the same request for the gift of a child, you can turn to the holy righteous Joachim and Anna.
St. Blessed Xenia of Petersburg helps in many everyday troubles: from troubles at work to arranging your personal life and getting rid of illness and poverty. This saint, revered in Russia, helps girls find a groom, arrange the lives of their children and loved ones, etc.
Prayer service to St. Alexander Svirsky helps the spouses conceive an heir - a male child. But to the Holy Great Martyr Nikita, the patron saint of babies, it is recommended to order a prayer service if a small child is sick. Saint Panteleimon helps to heal from the most severe and protracted illnesses.
The most revered saint is Nicholas the Pleasant. Those who go on a long journey resort to his help, especially by water or people who are desperate and have lost all hope for any other help. It is customary for the saints to order prayers for the blessing of water, after which holy prayerful water is brought home, you can sprinkle the house with it, add it to food and give a little to drink to all your household.
Prayers of Thanksgiving
The thanksgiving service is always addressed to the Lord JesusChrist. The Church gives everyone the opportunity to thank God for their help on their own behalf, as well as on behalf of other people, for example, their children and other relatives and loved ones.
The gospel tells how once Jesus Christ healed 10 lepers and of those ten only one returned to thank him. And only he was justified before God, and all the rest were condemned. Here, in order not to become like those ungrateful evangelicals, people are given the opportunity to raise words of thanksgiving to the Lord.
In addition to personal thanksgiving prayers, large general thanksgiving chants are also performed in the church every year. So, every year on May 9, a prayer service is performed for sending Russia victory in the Great Patriotic War.
How to order a prayer service
At every Orthodox church there is a candle shop. Usually orders for prayers are taken by a candlestick - a woman serving in this shop. If you already know exactly what kind of prayer you want to order, then you can write a note in advance at home or ask for a ready-made form in the shop. There, in the candle shop, you can get detailed advice on how and what to do, but you should not ask the employee such an extensive question: "Prayer - what is it?", This will distract her from work and create a queue. Better ask the same shop to sell you a book or pamphlet on the subject.
It is impossible to enter in notes the names of people who are not baptized, as well as those who have committed the grave sin of suicide. Also, you can not enter non-Orthodox names. For example, such a common name now as Alice,is not Orthodox, and when a child with that name is baptized, he is given another - Orthodox, so it must be indicated in the submitted note.
How to behave in church during a prayer service
If a person ordered a prayer service, this does not mean at all that he can stand indifferently during the church service and wait for the priest to complete the mission assigned to him. His ardent prayerful words are needed, uttered with all my heart and with faith. Such a prayer is always pleasing to God.
No need to be late for the service, talk loudly, push around, interfere with other parishioners. In general, you need to behave in the temple as politely and humbly as possible. You need to be baptized and bow after the priest, try to delve into the prayer service. The text may be incomprehensible and unaccustomed to hearing, but gradually understanding will come.
