Traditional Prayer Services and Prayer Forms
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Traditional Prayer Services and Prayer Forms- by Fr. Anthony Hernandez
Jesus promised to be present with us when we join together in prayer. He said: "I say to you further, that if two of you shall agree on earth about anything at all for which they ask, it shall be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together for My sake, there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:19-20. Jesus wants us to pray together for each other's needs. The Church joins in prayer especially during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and in the other Holy Mysteries. But there are also other times when members of the Church gather together to offer prayers to God and receive His blessings.
The Divine Praises: The Offices
The Offices are prayer services which are celebrated at different times of the day, especially in the morning and in the evening. The early-morning service is known as Matins (Orthros) and the evening service is called as Vespers. In addition to Matins and Vespers, there are other services of prayer appointed for different times of the day. These Offices are: Terce (Third Hour, 9 A.M.), Sext (Sixth Hour, around 12 noon), None (Ninth Hour, around 3 P.M.), and Compline (a night office, before going to bed). By means of the Offices, the Church prays for her own needs and those of the world, and offers worship to God from sunrise to sunset. "From tile rising of the sun to its setting, praise be to the name of the Lord." Psalm 113:3
Panachida: Prayer Service for the Dead
The Panachida Service (pronounced Pah-nah-khee-dah) is celebrated on behalf of those who have died. Many people ask the priest to lead Panachida Service for a departed family members or friends, especially on the anniversary of their death. "It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins. " 2 Mace. 12:46 (Septuagint)
Other Offices of Prayer
There are also prayer services in which we celebrate particular Christian themes and express devotion to Saints. The following are some of the traditional holy services:
Akathists
The Akathists are celebrations of praise in honor of Christ, the Mother of God, and of the Saints. Akathists are composed of troparia (hymns) and litanies of praise. These litanies are listings of many of the titles and qualities of the person being celebrated. The most popular Akathists are the Akathist to Our Lord and God Jesus Christ and the Akathist to the Holy Mother of God.
Molebens
A Moleben is a prayer service in honor of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Mother of God, or a Saint. During the Molebens we pray for our needs and the needs of others. The Molebens are based on the pattern of the Matins (morning prayer) service and contain psalms and hymns.
Pilgrimages
Pilgrimages are religious journeys made to holy places honoring our Lord Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, or Saints. A pilgrimage may last several hours or days. During public pilgrimages, the people attending (pilgrims) take part in various liturgical and private prayer services. Some people make a pilgrimage with a group of friends, while others might go as individuals. People make pilgrimages as special acts of thanksgiving, or to ask for special blessings from God.
Processions
A procession is an organized march in honor of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, or Saints. The most important liturgical processions are the Good Friday procession to the tomb (sepulcher) with the Burial Cloth, and the procession at Resurrection Matins on Easter (Pascha). There are also processions on Bright Monday (Monday after Pascha), Pentecost Monday, and sometimes on the feast day of the patron saint of the parish. (Patronal Procession). On the First Sunday of Great Fast some parishes have a procession in honor of the Holy Icons.
Prayers Before and After Meals
''Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of
God.'' 1 Cor. 10:31. Although any words may be used to express our gratitude to the Lord, the following are traditional forms of meal blessings:
The Jesus Prayer
Before meals:
Our Father, who art in heaven...
Christ our God, bless this food and drink of Your servants, for You are holy, always, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
After meals:
We give thanks to You, O Christ our God, for You have satisfied us with Your earthly gifts. Do not deprive us of Your heavenly Kingdom, but just as You came among Your disciples giving them peace, O Savior, come also among us and save us. Blessed is·God, for dealing mercifully with us, for nourishing us with His abundant gifts, by His grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
(Use all or part of the prayers)
One of the simplest and most excellent forms of prayer is the Jesus Prayer. The Jesus Prayer is used by many Christians, primarily by those of the Eastern Christian tradition. The basic fonn of the prayer consists of the words: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. " The prayer is said reverently and with faith. The focus of the prayer is the holy name of Jesus.
When we calf upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, He is present to us in a special way. Reciting the prayer slowly and meditatively helps us to recall that our Lord Jesus is present in our hearts. When saying the Jesus Prayer, many people use a chotki, a cord with knots or beads (a form of rosary). There is no set number of times for saying the prayer.
Special Prayer Times
Especially important times for prayer are morning and evening. In the morning we should offer praise to God and ask His blessing for the day. In the evening we should thank God for the day and ask Christ to be our Light even as the sun begins to set. At night, before going to bed, it would be good to ask pardon for whatever wrongdoing we may have done during the day. We may then ask for help against temptation, and pray for God's blessing and' protection during the night.
Praying Anywhere
Sometimes we find it diffictult to pray because we can't find a quiet place. But as St John Chrysostom said: "It is possible to offer fervent prayer even while walking in public or strolling alone, or seated in your shop, ... while buying or selling ... or even while cooking." Without anyone noticing us, we can lift up our minds and hearts to God at different times of the day, even when we are doing things. Throughout the day we can pray with simple words and phrases, such as: "Jesus" I "Lord, have mercy" I "Glory be to You, 0 Lord!" I "I love You, Lord, my strength!" l "Lord, be with me!" I "My God, help me!" I "O Holy Mother of God, help us!"' I "O God, pardon my sin'' I ''Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us."/ or we may say the Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!" These brief forms of prayers are ways to keep in touch with God.
Prayer Space (Prayer Corner)
Homes should have places set aside for prayer, such as icon corners. Many people have icon comers in their bedrooms for private prayer or in a part of the home where the family can gather for prayer. A prayer comer may consist of Icons or crosses, a small table or shelf for a Bible or prayer book, home-incenser and candles. Blessed branches of palms/pussy-willows and holy water may also be kept in the prayer comer.
Prayer Using Holy Scripture
Many people pray using their Bibles. The Book of Psalms is a collection of one hundred fifty prayer-songs written over two thousand five hundred years ago. Any of these Psalms might be useful in one's prayers. Some people will read a portion of the Holy Gospels and stop to reflect on it. Then they respond to God's word with prayer. ''Prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that a dialogue takes place between God and man. For 'we speak to Him when we pray; and we listen to Him when we read' the words of God].'' (Second Vatican Council, On Divine Revelation, 25).
Prayer With Holy Icons
A special tradition among many Christians, especially Eastern Christians, is to pray before holy icons. Icons are images of Christ, the Mother of God, or the : Saints. These images serve as reminders of Christ our God and other holy persons and help us to reflect upon the mysteries of our faith. Icons are signs of the presence of Christ and His Saints. It is a common practice to light a candle before the icons. Some people also bum incense in front of the icons as they pray. As Christians we do not pray to the image, but to the one depicted in it. As St Basil the Great said: ''The honor given to the icon passes to the one represented by it."
Prayer may take many forms. Some forms are more formal and appropriate especially for groups of people gathered for prayer. Prayer in common helps to_ strengthen the bond of unity in the church. As individuals we may pray using traditional forms and our own personal expressions of prayer. We may pray using words or not. The prayer services of the Church help us to learn how to pray as we pray alone. Since traditional prayer forms can sometimes become routine for us, we have to make effort at being attentive to what we are saying and doing, keeping our minds and hearts focused on the Lord.