Prayer for peace of mind of the Optina elders. The meaning and texts of the prayers of the Optina elders for every day

For every believer, the morning should begin with an appeal to God, so that the day turns out well and does not overtake unexpected misfortune. Learn how to pray at the beginning of the day.

Short prayer in the morning

Before anything else, just opening your eyes, Orthodox man must thank Heaven for having the opportunity to live another day and ask for their intercession. But in the morning it can be difficult to allocate much time for prayer and read a long church text in front of the icons of saints. For this, there is a short prayer text that can be said while still lying in bed. With him you will definitely be heard and feel during the day peace of mind, and your thoughts will be pure and righteous.

“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.”

Also suitable for reading after sleep is the most important Christian prayer - “Our Father”. Every person who has faith in the Lord in his soul must know her words.

Prayer of the Optina Elders

Optina elders, canonized by the Russians Orthodox Church, are an example of true service to God. Living in Optina Pustyn, they turned away from all human blessings for the sake of cleansing the soul and lived with the desire to help everyone who was in trouble. They guided believers on the true path and confessed those who wish to cleanse their souls from sins and their thoughts from evil. Their prayers are used for various troubles and illnesses, but their prayer at the beginning of the day is called the most powerful.

"Lord, give me peace of mind to meet everything that the coming day will bring me. Let me completely surrender to Your holy will. For every hour of this day, instruct and support me in everything. Whatever news I receive during the day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul and a firm conviction that everything is Your holy will. In all my words and deeds, guide my thoughts and feelings. In all unforeseen cases, do not let me forget that everything was sent down by You. Teach me to act directly and wisely with each member of my family, without confusing or upsetting anyone. Lord, give me strength to endure the fatigue of the coming day and all the events during the day. Guide my will and teach me to pray, believe, hope, endure, forgive and love. Amen."

Read sacred text necessary, standing in front of the icon of the Savior and the Virgin Mary. Sincere faith will contribute to the fulfillment of your deepest desires throughout the day. By reading such a prayer regularly, you will help improve the life of yourself and your loved ones and dear people.

Every new day brings change and various events, which greatly influence the future. Start your morning with prayer, and you will feel how easy it is to get down to business and enjoy the most ordinary things. We wish you good luck, and don't forget to press the buttons and

31.08.2015 02:00

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Surrounded by picturesque nature, Optina Pustyn is located, which has known periods of darkness and lush flowering. Unfortunately, information about the real date and history of the emergence of the desert has been lost. But its name allows us to assume that the founder was Opta, a dashing man living in the 14th century. He carried out robberies and was famous for his cruelty and callousness. Somehow he was pursued by people who wanted him dead. He decided to hide in a quiet, secluded place and then continue his fishing. But something happened that contributed to the creation of the well-known monastery. God's grace descended on the robber. After which he began to be called Macarius and was known as a hermit.

For a long time, Optina Pustyn was subjected to predatory seizures, attacks, defeats and devastation. But with the arrival of Father Abraham, the situation changed. The monastery blossomed, accepting the elders into its arms.

Centuries have passed, but the elders who have reached the highest degree of spiritual perfection are remembered today, following their advice, instructions and predictions.

Their lives were spent turning to the Lord and healing wounded human souls.

The highly respected elders advised observing the rule consisting of morning and evening prayers.

In the morning, when people are running along important matters, it is extremely difficult to find time to read prayers. But in the evening, every person is obliged to thank the Lord for the blessings given, ask for forgiveness for sinful thoughts and actions, and also repent.

The evening prayers of the wise elders of Optina Pustyn, sounding like a life-giving song in the monastery, should be read daily; if this is problematic, you can turn on the audio recording and listen to each word, delving into its meaning.
Prayer for the coming sleep

“In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Thy Most Pure Mother, our reverend and God-bearing fathers and all saints, have mercy on us. Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. 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 souls. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.” (Three times).

“Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. 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. Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be thy name, let him come Your kingdom, 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 lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Tropari

“Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us; Perplexed by any answer, we offer this prayer to You as the Master of sin: have mercy on us. Glory: Lord, have mercy on us, for we trust in You; Do not be angry with us, do not remember our iniquities, but look upon us now as if you are gracious, and deliver us from our enemies; For Thou art our God, and we are Thy people; all works are done by Thy hand, and we call on Thy name. And now: Open the doors of mercy for us, blessed Mother of God, who trust in You, may we not perish, but may we be delivered from troubles by You: for You are the salvation of the Christian race. Lord, have mercy (12 times).”

Prayer 1, St. Macarius the Great, to God the Father

“Eternal God and King of every creature, who has made me worthy even at this hour, 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 dream 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 vain thoughts that defile me, and from evil lusts. 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 2, Saint Antiochus, to our Lord Jesus Christ

“To the Almighty, the Word of the Father, who is perfect himself, Jesus Christ, for the sake of Thy mercy, never leave me, Thy servant, but always rest in me. Jesus, good Shepherd of Your sheep, do not betray me to the sedition of the serpent, and do not leave me to the desires of Satan, for the seed of aphids is in me. Thou, O Lord God worshiped, the Holy King, Jesus Christ, preserve me as I sleep with an unflickering light, Thy Holy Spirit, with whom Thou didst sanctify Thy disciples. Grant, O Lord, to me, Thy unworthy servant, Thy salvation on my bed: enlighten my mind with the light of reason of Thy Holy Gospel, my soul with the love of Thy Cross, my heart with the purity of Thy word, my body with Thy passionless passion, preserve my thought with Thy humility, and uplift I am in time like Your praise. For Thou art glorified with Thy Beginningless Father and with Holy Spirit forever. Amen"

Prayer 3, to the Holy Spirit

“Lord, Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, have mercy and have mercy on me, Thy sinful servant, and forgive me the unworthy, and forgive all that You have sinned today as a man, and moreover, not as a man, but also worse than cattle, my free sins and involuntary, known and unknown: those who are evil from youth and science, and those who are evil from insolence and despondency. If I swear by Your name, or blaspheme in my thoughts; or whom I will reproach; or slandered someone with my anger, or saddened someone, or became angry about something; either he lied, or he slept in vain, or he came to me as a beggar and despised him; or made my brother sad, or married, or whom I condemned; or became proud, or became proud, or became angry; or standing in prayer, my mind is moved by the wickedness of this world, or I think about corruption; either overeated, or drunk, or laughing madly; either I thought evil, or saw someone else’s kindness, and my heart was wounded by it; or dissimilar verbs, or laughed at my brother’s sin, but mine are countless sins; Either I didn’t pray for the sake of it, or I didn’t remember what other evil things I did, because I did more and more of these things. Have mercy on me, my Creator Master, Thy sad and unworthy servant, and leave me, and let me go, and forgive me, for I am Good and Lover of Mankind, so that I may lie down in peace, sleep and rest, the prodigal, sinful and damned one, and I will bow and sing , and I will glorify Your most honorable name, with the Father and His Only Begotten Son, now and ever and forever. Amen".

Prayer 4, Saint Macarius the Great

“What will I bring to You, or what will I repay to You, O most gifted Immortal King, generous and humane-loving Lord, since you were lazy in pleasing me, and did nothing good, you brought to the end of this past day the conversion and salvation of my soul? Be merciful to me, a sinner and naked of every good deed, raise up my fallen soul, defiled in immeasurable sins, and take away from me all the evil thoughts of this visible life. Forgive my sins, the only Sinless One, even those who have sinned this day, in knowledge and ignorance, in word, and deed, and thought, and with all my feelings. You Yourself, covering me, save me from every opposing situation with Your Divine power, and ineffable love for mankind, and strength. Cleanse, O God, cleanse the multitude of my sins. Deign, Lord, to deliver me from the snare of the evil one, and save my passionate soul, and overshadow me with the light of Your face, when You come in glory, and now make me sleep without condemnation, and keep the thoughts of Your servant without dreaming, and untroubled, and all the work of Satan take me away from me, and enlighten the intelligent eyes of my heart, so that I may not sleep into death. And send me an Angel of peace, guardian and mentor of my soul and body, that he may deliver me from my enemies; Yes, rising from my bed, I will bring you prayers of gratitude. Yes, Lord, hear me, your sinful and wretched servant, with your will and conscience; grant that I have risen to learn from Thy words, and the despondency of demons is driven away from me, to be made by Thy Angels; may I bless Your holy name, and glorify, and glorify the Most Pure Mother of God Mary, Who hast given us sinners intercession, and accept this one praying for us; We see that He imitates Your love for mankind, and never ceases to pray. By that intercession, and the sign of the Honest Cross, and for the sake of all Thy saints, keep my poor soul, Jesus Christ our God, for Thou art holy and glorified forever. Amen"

Prayer 5

“Lord our God, who have sinned in these days in word, deed and thought, as He is Good and Lover of Mankind, forgive me. Grant me a peaceful and serene sleep. Send Your guardian angel, covering and keeping me from all evil, for You are the guardian of our souls and bodies, and we send glory to You, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen".

Prayer 6

“Lord our God, in the worthlessness of faith, and we call upon His name above every name, grant us, who are going to sleep, a weakening of soul and body, and keep us from all dreams and dark pleasures except; restrain the desire of passions, extinguish the kindling of bodily rebellion. Grant us to live chastely in deeds and words; Yes, virtuous living is receptive, we will not fall away from your promised good things, for blessed are you forever. Amen".

Prayer 7, St. John Chrysostom. 24 prayers, according to the hours of the day and night

Prayer 8, to our Lord Jesus Christ

“Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for the sake of Thy most honorable Mother, and Thy disembodied Angels, Thy Prophet and Forerunner and Baptist, the God-speaking Apostles, the bright and good-victorious martyrs, the reverend and God-bearing fathers, and all the saints through the prayers, deliver me from the present situation of the demonic . To her, my Lord and Creator, do not want the death of a sinner, but as if he were converted and live, grant me conversion, the accursed and unworthy; take me away from the mouth of the destructive serpent, who yawns to devour me and bring me to hell alive. To her, my Lord, is my consolation, Who for the sake of the accursed one has clothed himself in corruptible flesh, pluck me from accursedness, and grant consolation to my more accursed soul. Plant in my heart to do Thy commandments, and forsake evil deeds, and receive Thy blessedness: for in Thee, O Lord, have I trusted, save me.”

Prayer 9, to the Most Holy Theotokos, Peter of Studium

“To Thee, O Most Pure Mother of God, I fall down and pray: Consider, O Queen, how I continually sin and anger Thy Son and my God, and many times when I repent, I find myself lying before God, and I repent in trembling: will the Lord strike me down, and again every hour I create;
I pray to this leader, my Lady, Lady Theotokos, to have mercy, strengthen me, and give me good works. Behold, my Lady Theotokos, for the Imam is by no means in hatred of my evil deeds, and with all my thoughts I love the law of my God; But we do not know, Most Pure Lady, from where I hate, I love, but I transgress what is good. Do not allow, O Most Pure One, my will to be fulfilled, for it is not pleasing, but let the will of Thy Son and my God be done: may He save me, and enlighten me, and give me the grace of the Holy Spirit, so that I may cease from here from filthiness, and so on may I live as commanded Thy Son, to Him belongs all glory, honor and power, with His Originless Father, and His Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen"

Prayer 10, to the Most Holy Theotokos

“Good Mother of the King, Most Pure and Blessed Mother of God Mary, pour out the mercy of Thy Son and our God on my passionate soul and with Thy prayers instruct me in good deeds, so that I may pass through the rest of my life without blemish and through Thee I will find heaven, the Virgin Mary Pure and Blessed"

Prayer 11, to the Holy Guardian Angel

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

Kontakion to the Mother of God

“To the chosen Voivode, victorious, as having been delivered from the evil, let us write thanks to Thy servants, the Mother of God, but as having an invincible power, free us from all troubles, let us call Ti; Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.
Glorious Ever-Virgin, Mother of Christ God, bring our prayer to Your Son and our God, may You save our souls. I place all my trust in You, Mother of God, keep me under Your roof. Virgin Mary, do not despise me, a sinner, who requires Your help and Your intercession, for my soul trusts in You, and have mercy on me.”

Prayer of Saint Ioannikios

“My hope is the Father, my refuge is the Son, my protection is the Holy Spirit: Holy Trinity, glory to Thee. It is worthy to eat as you truly bless Thee, the Mother of God, the Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and the Mother of our God. We magnify Thee, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison, the Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Three times). Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Thy Most Pure Mother, our reverend and God-bearing fathers and all saints, have mercy on us. Amen"

Prayer of Saint John of Damascus

“Vladyka, O Lover of Mankind, will this coffin really be my bed, or will you still enlighten my damned soul during the day? For seven the grave lies ahead, for seven the death awaits. I fear Your judgment, O Lord, and endless torment, but I do not stop doing evil: I always anger You, the Lord my God, and Your Most Pure Mother, and all the Heavenly powers, and my holy Guardian Angel. We know, Lord, that I am unworthy of Your love for mankind, but I am worthy of all condemnation and torment. But, Lord, whether I want it or not, save me. Even if you save a righteous man, nothing great; and even if you have mercy on a pure person, nothing is marvelous: you are worthy of the essence of Your mercy. But surprise me, a sinner, with Your mercy: for this, show Your love for mankind, so that my malice will not overcome Your unspeakable goodness and mercy: and as you wish, arrange a thing for me. Enlighten my eyes, O Christ God, so that not when I fall asleep into death, and not when my enemy says: “Let us be strong against him.” Glory: Be the protector of my soul, O God, as I walk in the midst of many snares; deliver me from them and save me, O Blessed One, as a Lover of Mankind.
And now: Let us incessantly sing with our hearts and lips the Glorious Mother of God and the Most Holy Angel of Saints, confessing this Mother of God as having truly given birth to God incarnate for us, and praying unceasingly for our souls.”

Mark yourself with a cross and say a prayer to the Honest Cross:

“May God rise again, and may His enemies be scattered, and may those who hate Him flee from His presence. As smoke disappears, let them disappear; as wax melts in the face of fire, so let demons perish in the face lovers of God and signifying sign of the cross, and in joy saying: Rejoice, Most Honest and Life-giving Cross Lord, drive away the demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who descended into hell and trampled upon the power of the devil, and gave us His Honest Cross to drive away every adversary. O Most Honest and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord! Help me with the Holy Virgin Mary and with all the saints forever. Amen"

Or briefly:

“Protect me, Lord, by the power of Your Honest and Life-giving Cross, and save me from all evil”

Everyday confession of sins

“I confess to You, the Lord my God and Creator, in Holy Trinity To the One, glorified and worshiped, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, all my sins, which I have committed all the days of my life, and for every hour, and at the present time, and in days and nights that have passed, by deed, word, thought, food, drunkenness, secret eating, idle talk, despondency, laziness, bickering, disobedience, slander, condemnation, negligence, pride, avarice, theft, unspeaking, foulness, money-grubbing, jealousy, envy, anger, memory malice, hatred, covetousness and all my feelings: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch and my other sins, both mental and physical, in the image of my God and Creator, I have angered You, and my neighbor is untruthful:
I feel sorry for these things, I present my guilt to You to my God, and I have the will to repent: then, Lord my God, help me, with tears I humbly pray to You: you have passed over my sins with Your mercy, forgive me, and forgive me from all these things that are said before You , as Good and Lover of Humanity"

Optina's evening prayers have miraculous power. Listening to them, the soul trembles in reverent anticipation of something beautiful. The heart is filled with love for the Lord and faith in his power. And healing and cleansing tears sparkle in the eyes.

People reading evening prayers The Optina elders soon notice how their worldview, and subsequently their whole life, is radically changing. Finding the meaning of existence, a person grows wings, with the confident flap of which he worthily overcomes difficulties on the path of life.

Before pronouncing centuries-old words, you need to visit the temple, ask the clergyman for absolution and blessing. You should buy candles, icons, and collect holy water.

When you get home, you don’t need to turn on music, TV or arrange entertainment. The rest of the day should be spent quietly and calmly.

When you go to bed after a tiring day, you can start reading your evening prayers.

The evening pronunciation of the sacred words of the Optina elders can surprise and evoke a desire to read without stopping.

Forbidden:

Expect thrills and euphoria;
Show wild imagination and violent emotions;
Be verbose;
Be in a bad mood;
Watch TV, listen to music, read books and magazines after saying the evening prayer:
Say prayers when preparing to leave for the night;
Get distracted.

Allowed:

Pray tirelessly sincerely, heartily and spiritually;
Pronounce words with meaning and understanding;
Thank the Lord and ask for the gift of a worthy life every evening, without missing a single day.

Prayer is a sacrament, so it is advisable to read it alone. If this is not possible, you need to retire to a separate room or turn on the audio recording and listen with headphones. During the prayer period, you should either wait until the household members go to bed, or ask for half an hour of silence.

Evening prayers are like a treasury filled with priceless spiritual gifts of the Optina elders.

What do evening prayers give a person?

Evening prayers at Optina Pustyn:

Gives self-confidence;
They guide you on the right path;
Heal mental and physical illnesses;
They provide an opportunity to resist sinful temptations;
Charge with positive energy;
They are instructed to perform Godly deeds;
Repel evil spirits, evil eyes and damage;
They reward with the benefits that people ask for.

By reading the morning and evening prayers of the Optina elders, a person resists the devil’s intrigues and demonic tricks. No matter how the evil one laughs, trying to exploit the human soul, laying out intricately woven nets, a diligently read prayer protects and protects.

The evening prayers heard within the walls of Optina Pustyn are an example of insight and wisdom!

Icon Image of the Optina Elders

The Monk Ambrose said that one must pray immediately upon awakening from sleep. Such prayer will be fruitful. It will bear good fruits. Ambrose also said that one should not pray eagerly, from morning to evening. It is enough to read two different prayers of the elders, and this will be enough to get a boost of energy on a psychological level. There is no need to force yourself to pray, you need to want and desire to pray. You need to pray with with a pure heart, not for the sake of a “tick”, but for the sake of tuning into the desired waves. If you force yourself to pray, then the prayers will soon become boring, the person will stop praying, because he will be unbearably bored. This would be a sin before God. Also, so that the prayer of the elders does not become boring with its monotony, it must be interspersed with other prayers, such as “Our Father.” You can also read the psalms, or pray in your own words, if you have enough knowledge Orthodox prayers small.

Prayer of the Optina elders at the beginning of the day

Lord, let me meet with peace of mind everything that the coming day will bring me. Let me completely surrender to Your holy will. For every hour of this day, instruct and support me in everything. Whatever news I receive during the day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul and a firm conviction that everything is Your holy will. In all my words and deeds, guide my thoughts and feelings. In all unforeseen cases, do not let me forget that everything was sent down by You. Teach me to act directly and wisely with each member of my family, without confusing or upsetting anyone. Lord, give me strength to endure the fatigue of the coming day and all the events during the day. Guide my will and teach me to pray, believe, hope, endure, forgive and love. Amen.

Other prayers of the Optina elders.

Prayers of St. Anthony of Optina

About the beginning of any business:
God, come to my help, Lord, strive for my help. Rule, Lord, everything I do, read and write, everything I think, speak and understand, to the glory of Your Holy Name, so that all my work may begin from You and end in You. Grant to me, O God, that I may anger Thee, my Creator, neither by word, nor by deed, nor by thought, but may all my deeds, advice and thoughts be for the glory of Thy Most Holy Name. God, come to my help, Lord, strive for my help.

About the family:
In the hands of great mercy, O my God, I entrust: my soul and much-painful body, the husband given to me from You, and all my beloved children. Thou shalt be our Helper and Patron throughout our life, at our departure and at our death, in joy and sorrow, in happiness and misfortune, in sickness and health, in life and death, in everything may Thy holy will be with us, as on heaven and earth. Amen.

For enemies:
Forgive those who hate and offend us, Thy servants (names), O Lord, Lover of Mankind: for they do not know what they are doing, and warm their hearts to love us, the unworthy.

Prayer of St. Macarius of Optina

In carnal warfare:
O Mother of the Lord my Creator, You are the root of virginity and the unfading color of purity. Oh, Mother of God! Help me, the one who is weak with carnal passion and painful, for one is Thine and with Thee is the intercession of Thy Son and God. Amen.

Prayer of St. Joseph of Optina

When thoughts invade:
Lord Jesus Christ, drive away from me all inappropriate thoughts! Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am weak... For You are my God, support my mind, so that unclean thoughts do not overcome it, but in You, my Creator, (he) delights, for great is the Name Yours to those who love Cha.

Prayer of St. Nikon of Optina Confessor

When grieving:
Glory to Thee, my God, for the sorrow sent to me, I now accept what is worthy of my deeds. Remember me when you come into Your Kingdom, and may all Your will be one, good and perfect.

Prayer of St. Anatoly of Optina (Potapov)

From Antichrist:
Deliver me, O Lord, from the seduction of the god-hating, evil, cunning Antichrist of the coming, and hide me from his snares in the hidden desert of Your salvation. Grant me, Lord, the strength and courage to firmly confess Your Holy Name, so that I will not retreat from fear for the sake of the devil, and may not renounce You, my Savior and Redeemer, from Your holy Church. But grant me, Lord, day and night weeping and tears for my sins and have mercy on me, Lord, at the hour of Your Last Judgment. Amen.

Prayer of St. Nektarios of Optina

To expel evil spirits:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, who comes to judge the living and the dead, have mercy on us sinners, forgive the sins of our entire lives, and through our destinies hide us from the face of the Antichrist in the hidden desert of Your salvation.”

“Lord, grant me Your grace,” the venerable elder Nektarios taught me to pray and said: “And now a cloud is coming towards you, and you pray: Give me grace, and the Lord will carry the cloud past.”

From Antichrist:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, who is coming to judge the living and the dead, have mercy on us sinners, forgive the fall of our entire lives and through their destinies hide us from the face of the Antichrist in the hidden desert of Your salvation. Amen.

Prayer of St. Leo of Optina

About the unbaptized, those who died without repentance and suicides:
Seek, O Lord, the lost soul of Your servant (name): if it is possible, have mercy. Your destinies are unsearchable. Do not make this my prayer a sin, but Thy holy will be done.

Prayers of the elders different cases life

When abused by loved ones:
“Have mercy, Lord, on those who hate me and envy me! Have mercy, Lord, on those who slander me and cause me offense! Do not do anything evil to them for Your unworthy servant; but according to Their ineffable mercy and according to Their immeasurable goodness, neither in this life nor in the next century, may they not tolerate evil for me, a sinner! Sanctify them with Your mercy and cover them with Your grace, O All-Merciful One, because before all, blessed are You forever and ever. Amen".

Prayer to the Council of Fathers and Elders, who shone in Optina Pustyn

About Reverence and God-Bearing Our Fathers, Elders of Optinas, God-wisdom teachers of faith and piety, pillars and lamps for all who seek salvation and eternal life: Ambrose, Moses, Anthony, Leo, Macarius, Hilarion, Anatoly, Isaac, Joseph, Barsanuphius, Anatoly, Nektarios, Confessor Nikon and Hieromartyr Isaac, we pray to you ever since, unworthy, that Christ God, through your intercession, will preserve His Holy Church, the Russian country, the Optina monastery and every city and country where His Divine name is glorified and Orthodox confessed.
O Reverence, pray to the Mother of Light, the Queen of Heaven, the Most Pure Theotokos, that He may open the doors of mercy of His Son and our God, that we may see our iniquity and bring tearful repentance before Him, that He may cleanse our many sins and grant us times of peace and prosperous salvation, may the vanity of this age be tamed under the strong hand of God, so that we may acquire the spirit of peace, meekness, brotherly love and mercy for the suffering.
O Reverence and return to the saints of God, Elders of Optinstia, and above all, pray to Christ the Lord to grant us a good answer at His Last Judgment, eternal torment May He deliver and together with you be worthy to glorify and sing the most honorable and magnificent name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit in the Kingdom of Heaven forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion, tone 6:
The lamps of the Orthodox faith, the unshakable pillars of monasticism, the consolation of the Russian land, the venerable Elders of Optinstia, having acquired the love of Christ and laid down your souls for your children, pray to the Lord that your earthly fatherland may establish your earthly fatherland in Orthodoxy and piety and save our souls.

Kontakion, tone 4:
Truly marvelous is God in His saints, the wilderness of Optina, like the helipad of eldership, revealed, where the enlightenment of the fathers, the secret of the human heart, leading, the sorrowful people of God appeared to the goodness: these are the ones who instructed those burdened with sin on the path of repentance, enlightened those wavering in faith with the light of Christ’s teaching and taught God’s wisdom, to the suffering and the weak he gave suffering and healing. Now, abiding in the glory of God, we pray unceasingly for our souls.

Prayer to St. Ambrose of Optina

O great elder and servant of God, reverend our father Ambrose, praise to the Optina and all Rus' teacher of piety! We glorify your humble life in Christ, whose name God has exalted yours still existing on earth for you, and especially crowning you with heavenly honor upon your departure to the palace of eternal glory. Accept now the prayer of us, your unworthy children, who honor you and call your name holy, deliver us by your intercession before the throne of God from all sorrowful circumstances, mental and physical ailments, evil misfortunes, pernicious and evil temptations, send down to our Fatherland from the great-gifted God peace, silence and prosperity, be the immutable patron of this holy monastery, in it prosperity You yourself labored and pleased our glorious God with all in the Trinity, and to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Second prayer to Ambrose of Optina

O venerable and God-bearing Father Ambrose! You, desiring to work for the Lord, lived here and labored tirelessly, in vigils, in prayers and fasts, and you were a mentor to monastics, and a zealous teacher to all people. Now, after your departure from earthly presence before the Heavenly King, pray to His goodness to be generous to the place of your settlement, this holy monastery, where you continually abide in the spirit of your love, and to all your people, who with faith fall to the race of your relics, for the good of their petitions fulfill. Ask our merciful Lord to grant us an abundance of earthly blessings, even more so for the benefit of our souls, and may he grant us the opportunity to end this temporary life in repentance, and on the day of judgment may he be worthy of standing and enjoying His Kingdom forever and ever. . Amen.

Third prayer to Ambrose of Optina

O all-honorable elder of the glorious and wondrous Optina Hermitage, venerable and God-bearing Father Ambrose! Our Church is a good decoration and a gracious lamp, illuminating everyone with heavenly light, the red and spiritual fruit of Russia and all the sunflowers, abundantly delighting and cheering the souls of the faithful! Now, with faith and trembling, we fall before the celibate reliquary of your holy relics, which you have mercifully granted for comfort and help to the suffering, we humbly pray to you with our hearts and lips, holy father, as an all-Russian mentor and teacher of piety, a shepherd and a doctor of our mental and physical ailments: look for your children, who greatly sin in words and deeds, and visit us with your abundant and holy love, with which you gloriously succeeded even in the days of earth. And especially after your righteous death, instructing the saints and God-enlightened fathers in the rules, admonishing us in the commandments of Christ, you were jealous of them until the last hour of your difficult monastic life; ask us, weak in soul and distressed in sorrow, a favorable and saving time for repentance, true correction and renewal of our life, in which we, sinners, have become vain in mind and heart, having given ourselves over to indecent and cruel passion, vice and lawlessness, of which there is no number ; accept therefore, protect and cover us with the shelter of your many mercies, grant us blessings from the Lord, so that we may bear the good yoke of Christ in long-suffering until the end of our days, looking forward to the future life and the Kingdom, where there is no sorrow or sighing, but life and endless joy, abundantly flowing from the one, all-holy and blessed source of immortality, in the Trinity worshiped God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Troparion, tone 5:
Like a healing source, we flow to you, Ambrose, our father, for you faithfully instruct us on the path of salvation, protect us from troubles and misfortunes with prayers, comfort us in bodily and mental sorrows, and, moreover, teach us humility, patience and love, pray to the Lover of Mankind and Christ Zealous Intercessor for the salvation of our souls.

Kontakion, voice 2:
Having fulfilled the covenant of the Chief Shepherd, you inherited the grace of eldership, sick at heart for all those who flow to you with faith, and we, your children, cry out to you with love: Holy Father Ambrose, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.

Optina Pustyn can be called anything you like: a symbol of Orthodoxy, a place of prayer, a holy land - everything will correspond to reality. Its very location: proximity to Kozelsk, a city of Russian glory, which held a 7-week defense against the troops of the Golden Horde until the last inhabitant - suggests the presence of a special spirit on this land.

The emergence of the desert

Fencing the edge of the forest made this corner an ideal place for the followers of John the Baptist, who was also famous for being the first desert dweller, that is, a hermit. Neither the date nor the history of the appearance of Optina Pustyn are known. But its names (the second is Makarinskaya) testify in favor of the version about the dashing man Opta, who traded in robbery in the 14th century. Hiding from his pursuers, he just wanted to sit out in a quiet place, but the grace that descended on him turned his entire robber life upside down. He became the first hermit Macarius. It can be assumed that the prayer of the Optina elders for every day has its roots precisely at this time.

For a long time, Optina Pustyn was subjected to raids, seizures, and devastation by the forces of external and internal enemies of Russia. And only in 1796, through the efforts of Metropolitan Platon, Father Abraham became the rector of the monastery, under whom the revival of the monastery began and the appearance of the first elders, people who reached certain heights of spiritual perfection.

The heyday of Optina Pustyn

All-Russian glory, as well as the real flourishing of the monastery, began in the 20s of the 19th century, when the post of rector was taken by Archimandrite Moses, a holy man and a wonderful business executive. Under him, Father Lev officially founded the eldership in 1829. The venerable elders settled in a small monastery, which was built in 1821. The associates of the founder of Optina Hermitage were the holy fathers Cleopas and Theodore. The prayer book had not yet been compiled, and the prayer of the Optina elders for every day was a help to them in their labors. The significance of Optina Hermitage in the spiritual life of Russia is very great. Dostoevsky and Solovyov lived in it for a long time, gaining spiritual strength, and Lev and Alexei Tolstoy visited it. “Father Sergius” was written under the impression of Optina Hermitage.

The cathedral is a unique phenomenon, a special form of holiness that has flourished for 100 years in Optina Pustyn. Something similar only happens on Mount Athos.

Cathedral of the Venerable Optina Elders

The first elders were only 6; Hieroschemamonk (the title of a monk-schemamonk with church rank) Lev, who appeared here in 1829, brought all-Russian fame to the monastery, which did not fade until 1917. There were 14 venerable elders in total, each of them added to the greatness of the Optina Hermitage. All of them, possessing a special spirit, had the gift of clairvoyance, prophecy and miracles. Much of what they predicted came true.

The legacy of the elders includes books, advice, letters, and prayer services. The daily prayer of the Optina elders is also part of this heritage. Isaac II (there were no more elders after him) and a number of his associates, inhabitants of the Optina Hermitage, were shot in 1937. The abbot of the monastery, Nektary, died in 1928 in his cell, having prevented his arrest by one day.

The most difficult years of Orthodoxy in Rus'

The fate of hundreds of members of the clergy in the 30s of the 20th century was tragic. Therefore, the prayer of the last Optina elders contains only a prayer to the Lord for humility, for a calm and dignified acceptance of the challenges of reality, interpreting them as a manifestation of his will, a prayer for sending down spiritual strength, the absence of doubts and the ability to overcome fatigue at the end of the day. Without such a prayer (it is now included in all Orthodox prayer books), it would probably be difficult to maintain the faith. One specialist described the prayer as non-denominational and psychotherapeutic. Of course, repeating it all the time, like a spell, it was possible to somehow wake up and fall asleep in the conditions of repression in 1937. ( It's about about those people who were doomed to this fate, specifically about the clergy).

Unique prayers of the elders

The Optina elders advised, when turning to the Lord, to avoid verbosity, to be laconic and specific, so their prayers are understandable and loved by many Orthodox. Thus, an example is the prayer of the Optina elder Leo. It is known as the private prayer for suicides. Short and laconic, it is addressed to the Lord with a single request - to accept and, if possible, forgive the soul of a suicide, and not to punish the person asking for it. After all, church canons prohibited commemorating in the church and burying in the cemetery of suicides, those killed in a duel and robbery, and drowned people. The wise elders understood that unbearable life circumstances can drive a person to suicide. They allowed it privately, bypassing official church, pray for the reassurance of the soul of a person who committed suicide.

like a spell about happiness

Two more prayers deserve special attention, one of them is the morning prayer of the Optina elders. Having become acquainted with them for the first time, it is impossible not to note their dissimilarity with prayers in general. They, both morning and evening, contain so much expression and passion that, indeed, they can play the role of an affirmation (a short phrase, with repeated repetition of which a necessary image or attitude can be strengthened in a person’s subconscious). An attitude toward happiness, joy, and life in harmony with everyone. This prayer is more like a hymn and a spell at the same time. Repeated declaration of love to the Lord sounds like an unshakable faith in reciprocity. The person who makes this prayer sincerely believes that it is difficult not to respond to such a sincere request for help in matters only bright and good, for a declaration of love for everything and everyone. And a flow of warm gratitude, repeated “Amen” can lead to a state of joy and a benevolent attitude towards the whole world.

The originality of the prayers of the Optina elders

The Optina Elders is also capable of causing a feeling of surprise and a desire to read it again and again. The effect is enhanced by repeated, repeated appeals and enthusiasm, emphasized exclamation marks. There is a feeling that these two prayers imply the Lord’s friendly disposition towards the one praying. Of course, they are appropriate in the mouth of a person who is cheerful, joyful and successful, convinced that tomorrow will be as wonderful as today. In the evening he reports to God about a happily spent day. She joyfully thanks him for his help, forgives everything and everyone (including herself) for the mistakes she has made, and has no doubt that the Lord will do the same.

Good prayers, understandable, close - this is probably the great wisdom of the reverend elders.

Actually, the prayer of the Optina elders for every day is any prayer taken from the prayer book and suitable for a specific occasion. The role of the daily can be performed by both morning and evening, as well as akathist and service to the icon. Mother of God, called “The Spreader of the Loaves.”

Dear Anonymous, breathing righteous anger, The Prayer of the Optina Elders is an amazing prayer, written in a simple and in clear language, IS NOT included in any prayer rule- this is NOT a CANONICAL TEXT, this is a voice coming from the heart.
And everyone is free to pronounce it the way they feel. Therefore, having used instead of Your Holy Will - the Bright Will, I did not “blaspheme the Holy Spirit” in any way - I washed away the prayers not in exact accordance with the set of words written, but in the feeling of sincere faith that you put into these words.

The Monk Macarius believed:
“...Prayer is concentrating the best part of oneself and offering it for union with By higher powers. Prayer, to be real, true, must be a cry from the heart...
...Prayer is an involuntary cry of the soul to YOUR God...
...True prayer is the voice of the soul, ready to communicate with God."

Next...
The Optina elders advised leaving worldly vanity and idle talk when praying, as this disrupts the prayerful mood and drives away grace.
Before praying, you should wait until thoughts and feelings calm down - that’s why it’s so necessary to “relax and throw out the negativity.”
Body, soul and mind are tuned into communication with God. What is this if not morning meditation? PERSONALLY I think so.

Reverend Nikon wrote:
“Especially during prayer, leave ALL THOUGHTS ABOUT EVERYTHING. After prayer, at home or in church, in order to maintain a prayerful, tender mood, silence is necessary. Sometimes even a simple insignificant word can disrupt and frighten away tenderness from our soul.
Silence prepares the soul for prayer. Silence, how beneficial it is for the soul!”

Strength morning prayer the Optina elders in her wisdom. It gives a person a state of tranquility, peace, organizes thoughts and feelings, prepares for any surprises of the new day, teaches to always remember God, calls for his protection.
And it’s purely my business how to present the material in personal diary. Moreover, I do not take on the burden of “teaching”, but simply offer this wonderful spiritual wisdom to the attention of my readers.

By the way, the Venerable Elder Ambrose wrote:
“Do you want to read different akathists with diligence? You can read, but so as not to imagine anything about yourself and not to judge others. But when there is exaltation and condemnation of others, then do not read.”
And more advice from St. Joseph:
“If you see a mistake in your neighbor that you would like to correct, if it disturbs your peace of mind and irritates you, then you also sin and, therefore, you will not correct the mistake with an error - it is corrected with meekness.”
And the Monk Nikon said:
“Always remember the law of spiritual life: if you are embarrassed by any shortcoming of another person and condemn him, you will subsequently suffer the same fate and you will suffer from the same shortcoming.”