Orthodox Prayers
Morning prayers, evening prayers, and the prayer of the heart.
Orthodox prayer is less about spontaneous feeling than about a rule — a small, sustainable pattern kept every day. The texts below are the common core of that rule across almost every Orthodox jurisdiction.
The beginning of every prayer rule
Prayers begin with the invocation "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen," followed by the prayer to the Holy Spirit ("O Heavenly King"), the Trisagion ("Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us"), the Lord's Prayer, and Psalm 50/51 during penitential seasons.
Morning prayers
Orthodox morning prayers typically include the prayer of the Optina Elders, the prayer of St Basil the Great, a commendation of the day to God, and intercessions for family, the living and the departed. They are said before the icon corner, standing, with the lampada lit.
Evening prayers
Evening prayers add the examination of conscience, the prayer of St John Chrysostom for each hour of the day and night, and the prayer to one's guardian angel. Many households end with "Into thy hands, O Lord."
The Jesus Prayer
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Repeated slowly, often with a prayer rope (komboskini / chotki), the Jesus Prayer is the heart of the hesychast tradition and can be carried into any part of the day.
Prayer during the fasts
During Great Lent the Prayer of St Ephrem the Syrian is added with prostrations: "O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despondency, lust of power, and idle talk."
Frequently asked
- What are the basic Orthodox morning prayers?
- The Trisagion prayers, the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, the prayer of the Optina Elders and a commendation of the day to God, said before the icons on rising.
- Do Orthodox pray the rosary?
- No. Orthodox Christians use a prayer rope for the Jesus Prayer rather than the Latin rosary, though some traditions know an akathist or a rule to the Theotokos.