Daily Prayer
Prayer is our path toward freedom, for it connects each of us with divine strength to overcome our passions and become who God designed us to be. Without prayer there is only madness.
You can use a daily Prayer Rule from any standard Orthodox Prayer Book, or you can use either of these suggestions:
SHORTER Rule
Glory to Thee who hast shown us the Light.
Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, and good will among men.
We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks unto Thee for Thy great glory.
O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty;
O Lord, the Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Spirit.
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takest away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us,
Thou who takest away the sins of the world.
Receive our prayer, Thou who sittest at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us. For Thou only art holy, Thou only art the Lord, O Jesus Christ,
to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Every day will I bless Thee, and I will praise Thy name forever - yea forever and ever. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers,
and praised and glorified be Thy Name forever. Amen.
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we do put our hope in Thee.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.
Lord, Thou hast been our refuge in all generations.
I said: be merciful unto me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.
Lord, I have fled unto Thee: teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God.
For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.
O continue Thy lovingkindness unto them that know Thee.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Holy Immortal: have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us.
2) Next, read the Epistle and Gospel for the day:
The Epistle and Gospel passages for today can be found here: https://www.antiochian.org/liturgicday
3) Finally, offer ten minutes of the Jesus Prayer:
Sit comfortably, and in a spirit of relaxed surrender, recite “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”. Thoughts and feelings will come and go, but always return to a mindful offering of the Prayer. This simple prayer succinctly joins Christ’s divinity to our broken humanity, gradually ordering our inner life. For more on the Jesus Prayer, see the article available at St Elizabeth’s.
LONGER Rule
1) Upon waking, take a moment to quiet the senses,
then begin with the Great Doxology (above):
2) Then, offer the Trisagion Prayers:
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth,
who art everywhere present and fillest all things;
Treasury of good things and Giver of life,
come and abide in us and cleanse us from every impurity,
and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (thrice).
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins.
Master, pardon our iniquities.
Holy God, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name's sake.
Lord, have mercy (thrice).
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name:
Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:
now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Having arisen from sleep, we fall down before Thee, O Blessed One,
and sing to Thee, O Mighty One, the Angelic Hymn:
Holy, holy, holy art Thou, O God. Through the Theotokos have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
From my bed and sleep Thou hast raised me; O Lord, enlighten my mind and my heart, and open my lips that I may praise Thee, O Holy Trinity: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, O God. Through the Theotokos have mercy on us.
Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Suddenly the Judge shall come, and the deeds of each shall be revealed, but with fear we cry out in the middle of the night: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, O God. Through the Theotokos have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy (twelve times).
We bless Thee, O God most high and Lord of mercies, who ever workest great and mysterious deeds for us, glorious, wonderful and numberless: Who providest us with sleep as a rest from our infirmities and as a repose for our bodies tired by labor. We thank Thee that Thou hast not destroyed us in our transgressions, but in Thy love toward mankind Thou hast raised us up as we lay in despair that we may glorify Thy majesty. We entreat Thine infinite goodness: enlighten the eyes of our understanding and raise up our minds from the heavy sleep of indolence; open our mouths and fill them with Thy praise that we may unceasingly sing and confess Thee, who art God glorified in all and by all, the eternal Father, the Only-begotten Son, and the all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit: now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Here may be added your own private devotions and intercessions, using your own words or other Orthodox prayers. Then, conclude the Trisagion Prayers with, “Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen”.
3) Next, read the Epistle and Gospel for the day:
The Epistle and Gospel passages for today can be found here: https://www.antiochian.org/liturgicday
4) Finally, offer ten minutes of the Jesus Prayer:
Sit comfortably, and in a spirit of relaxed surrender, recite “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”. Thoughts and feelings will come and go, but always return to a mindful offering of the Prayer. This simple prayer succinctly joins Christ’s divinity to our broken humanity, gradually ordering our inner life.
For more on the Jesus Prayer, see the article available at St Elizabeth’s.
You can use a daily Prayer Rule from any standard Orthodox Prayer Book, or you can use either of these suggestions:
SHORTER Rule
- Upon waking, take a moment to quiet the senses,
then begin with the Great Doxology:
Glory to Thee who hast shown us the Light.
Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, and good will among men.
We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks unto Thee for Thy great glory.
O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty;
O Lord, the Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Spirit.
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takest away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us,
Thou who takest away the sins of the world.
Receive our prayer, Thou who sittest at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us. For Thou only art holy, Thou only art the Lord, O Jesus Christ,
to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Every day will I bless Thee, and I will praise Thy name forever - yea forever and ever. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers,
and praised and glorified be Thy Name forever. Amen.
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we do put our hope in Thee.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.
Lord, Thou hast been our refuge in all generations.
I said: be merciful unto me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.
Lord, I have fled unto Thee: teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God.
For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.
O continue Thy lovingkindness unto them that know Thee.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Holy Immortal: have mercy on us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us.
2) Next, read the Epistle and Gospel for the day:
The Epistle and Gospel passages for today can be found here: https://www.antiochian.org/liturgicday
3) Finally, offer ten minutes of the Jesus Prayer:
Sit comfortably, and in a spirit of relaxed surrender, recite “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”. Thoughts and feelings will come and go, but always return to a mindful offering of the Prayer. This simple prayer succinctly joins Christ’s divinity to our broken humanity, gradually ordering our inner life. For more on the Jesus Prayer, see the article available at St Elizabeth’s.
LONGER Rule
1) Upon waking, take a moment to quiet the senses,
then begin with the Great Doxology (above):
2) Then, offer the Trisagion Prayers:
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth,
who art everywhere present and fillest all things;
Treasury of good things and Giver of life,
come and abide in us and cleanse us from every impurity,
and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (thrice).
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins.
Master, pardon our iniquities.
Holy God, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name's sake.
Lord, have mercy (thrice).
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name:
Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:
now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Having arisen from sleep, we fall down before Thee, O Blessed One,
and sing to Thee, O Mighty One, the Angelic Hymn:
Holy, holy, holy art Thou, O God. Through the Theotokos have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
From my bed and sleep Thou hast raised me; O Lord, enlighten my mind and my heart, and open my lips that I may praise Thee, O Holy Trinity: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, O God. Through the Theotokos have mercy on us.
Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Suddenly the Judge shall come, and the deeds of each shall be revealed, but with fear we cry out in the middle of the night: Holy, holy, holy art Thou, O God. Through the Theotokos have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy (twelve times).
We bless Thee, O God most high and Lord of mercies, who ever workest great and mysterious deeds for us, glorious, wonderful and numberless: Who providest us with sleep as a rest from our infirmities and as a repose for our bodies tired by labor. We thank Thee that Thou hast not destroyed us in our transgressions, but in Thy love toward mankind Thou hast raised us up as we lay in despair that we may glorify Thy majesty. We entreat Thine infinite goodness: enlighten the eyes of our understanding and raise up our minds from the heavy sleep of indolence; open our mouths and fill them with Thy praise that we may unceasingly sing and confess Thee, who art God glorified in all and by all, the eternal Father, the Only-begotten Son, and the all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit: now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Here may be added your own private devotions and intercessions, using your own words or other Orthodox prayers. Then, conclude the Trisagion Prayers with, “Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen”.
3) Next, read the Epistle and Gospel for the day:
The Epistle and Gospel passages for today can be found here: https://www.antiochian.org/liturgicday
4) Finally, offer ten minutes of the Jesus Prayer:
Sit comfortably, and in a spirit of relaxed surrender, recite “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”. Thoughts and feelings will come and go, but always return to a mindful offering of the Prayer. This simple prayer succinctly joins Christ’s divinity to our broken humanity, gradually ordering our inner life.
For more on the Jesus Prayer, see the article available at St Elizabeth’s.