The meaning of fasting is repentance and spiritual renewal, and abstinence in food only contributes to this. And, as clergy say, fasting without prayer is not fasting. In 2019, Lent falls between March 11 and April 27. What prayers should be read during Lent 2019?
If you have not yet read the entire Old and New Testaments, catch up over the next forty days. Try to read Scripture every day, in a quiet environment, and then reflect on what you read.
Prayers to be read during Lent
Talking about how to pray correctly during Lent 2019, I must say that in addition to morning and evening prayers, you can read the psalms of King David.
As for Lenten prayers, there are two of them. Firstly, this is the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, who lived at the end of the 7th - first half of the 8th century and was one of the brightest church speakers and literary figures.
His canon can be described as a repentant cry, revealing the abyss of sin and shaking the human soul. The meaning of the Great Canon is to lead us to repentance.
Another Lenten prayer, which is read only during this period, every day throughout Lent, is the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian. Here is the text of this prayer.
“Lord and Master of my life,
Do not give me the spirit of idleness, despondency, covetousness and idle talk. (Bow to the ground).
Grant the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant. (Bow to the ground).
To her, Lord the King, grant me to see my sins and not condemn my brother,
for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages, amen. (Bow to the ground).
God, cleanse me, a sinner!
(Read 12 times with bows from the waist. And once again the entire prayer with one bow to the ground at the end).
The prayer of St. Efim the Syrian is read in churches even before the start of Lent, during Cheese Week. During Lent, it is read from Monday to Friday, since Saturday and Sunday are not considered fast days.
To pray correctly during Lent, try to cleanse your soul by forgiving people who have offended you in some way. Read the prayer:
“Lord, I forgive (person’s name) for his actions and words. I have no desire to take revenge on him. Give me the strength to let go of anger and resentment. In the name of Jesus. Amen".
This year, from Monday until April 3, Orthodox Christians will observe Lent, the longest and strictest of the four fasts. At this time, believers refuse fast food: meat, fish, eggs, milk. The nutritionist notes that fasting is not only a restriction on the consumption of certain foods or a diet, but also overcoming oneself, a spiritual feat, and this must be remembered first of all.
Don't forget about vitamins
The diet of a fasting person consists of cereals, legumes, fruits, vegetables, vegetable oil, sugar, honey, and nuts, the expert said.
“Modern medicine sees a number of shortcomings in the diet of strict vegetarians. This is an insufficient supply of the body with calcium salts, iron, zinc and other minerals, a lack of amino acids, a lack of vitamins B2, B9, C, D and iodine,” Nemenova said.
On the other hand, she noted, the advantage of plant foods is their high content of vitamins and plant fibers, “providing a feeling of fullness and removing harmful substances from the intestines.”
“Animal proteins can be replaced with soy products. Today, various drinks, foods, and dietary supplements are made from it,” said the nutritionist. According to her, soy products are especially beneficial for people with high blood cholesterol.
Mode and creativity
“It is important to follow a diet so that a person gets breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and something else before bed,” Nemenova said.
She noted that the post gives scope for culinary imagination. Carrots, onions, cabbage, beets, canned green peas, beans, peas, beans, apples, oranges, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, in particular sesame - you can prepare a variety of dishes from this set, says the nutritionist.
“Lenten soup turns out wonderful from sauerkraut with carrots. You need to boil the potatoes separately, boil the sauerkraut a little, season with onions fried in vegetable oil. This vegetarian soup can be consumed both hot and cold,” said the agency’s interlocutor. She also noted that you can prepare noodle soups, pickle soups, vegetable, mushroom, semolina, carrot, bean and pea soups.
According to her, there must be three dishes in the morning (for example, porridge, salad and tea), four dishes at lunch, two or three dishes for dinner and juice before bed. The specialist advised not to drink packaged juices in their pure form, but to dilute them with water in a one-to-one ratio to avoid an increased feeling of thirst.
This post is not useful for everyone
“Fasting is not recommended for everyone. For example, fasting is contraindicated for the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and sick people,” the expert said.
She offered her version of a one-day menu for fasting people. For breakfast you can eat beets or grated carrots with vegetable oil, buckwheat porridge with onions in vegetable oil and tea with lemon, which amounts to 320 kilocalories.
For lunch you can prepare potato soup or sour cabbage soup, millet porridge with pumpkin, jelly - this is 600-700 kilocalories. For an afternoon snack, diluted juice with crackers is offered, and for dinner - a salad of beets or carrots with apples, fruit pilaf, tea with jam. And at night you can drink diluted vegetable or fruit juice.
For a day, taking into account 200 grams of wheat and 200 grams of rye bread and 25 grams of sugar, you get about 3 thousand kilocalories. This will ensure the body’s daily need for energy, Nemenova believes.
Number of entries: 275
Thank you very much for your answer! If possible, please advise me where I should start. Maybe go to confession, or try to fast?..
Hello Julia. We must start, of course, from the beginning. There is no need to set impossible tasks. But do what you can. Don't let yourself eat too much. Refrain from words that you can do without. Instead of a press or fiction book, read a chapter from Abba Dorotheus, or Ignatius Brianchaninov. Instead of watching TV, read a little from the Gospel or the Acts of the Apostles to the children. Always strive to compare yourself with the commandments of Christ. Refrain from condemnation, despondency, idleness. Repent immediately as soon as your conscience indicates the sin that has manifested itself in you. Now the Great Lent begins. Take advantage of this time. No need to try. You just need to determine the boundaries of fasting for yourself. Decide what you can give up without harming your health. You can stay away from meat, and that’s good; you can limit yourself to sweets and delicacies, and that’s good. Take on as much as you can bear. If it seems easy, increase the load, but not vice versa. Don’t immediately grab hold of those statutes that are printed in calendars. Accustom yourself to prayer. Also gradually, but persistently. Prayer is a work that does not happen on its own. And you need to know its basic laws. The already mentioned Saint Ignatius explains them best for us. At the end of the first week of Lent, there is usually confession in all churches. Prepare for it, it is powerful therapy for the soul. God help you.
Priest Alexander Beloslyudov
Mom died on February 16, the burning took place on February 19, at the same time I ordered the sorokoust, when can I order the next one if the previous one ends during Lent?
Elena
Elena, of course, we do not welcome cremation. According to Orthodox tradition, we should bury the dead, not burn them. “You were taken from the earth and you will return to the earth.” It is necessary to always pray for the departed throughout their lives, since they cannot pray for themselves, but rely on the prayer of the church, if they are baptized, and our home prayer. Usually, after the fortieth day, we do not order a repeated fortieth day for the deceased. Sorokoust is needed only in the first forty days after death. After the fortieth birthday, we order a commemoration for a year, for two, or there is an eternal commemoration in the church, but it is better after the fortieth birthday to order for a year, and after the year expires again for a year, and so on ad infinitum, for the rest of your life. In some churches and monasteries, special notes about health and repose are written only during Lent - this is such a good tradition when the deceased are intensively remembered and they pray intensively for the living.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Good evening, father! Maybe I’ll ask a funny question, but I’m somehow confused. We are going to consecrate the house, but somehow it doesn’t work out. It's really strange. You go to Sunday service, return home in a warm mood, and there it is somehow harsh and uncomfortable. Now we seem to have gathered, but then we remembered that next week is Lent. I remember that they don’t do weddings at this time, but is it possible to consecrate a home at this time?
Galina
Galina, we must always, before moving into a new apartment or house, be sure to consecrate it. You can consecrate your home at any time, even during Lent, and you should not delay this.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello, father! If you can, tell me the answer to this question: how to fast among unchurched neighbors? The family is quite large, unfortunately, no one deeply believes yet, there are atheists, no one goes to church and, accordingly, does not fast. How to observe fasts, and most importantly, Great Lent, in such circumstances? Reading about ascetics, I more than once came across that during the days of fasting, when they found themselves at the table or at a party with those who were not fasting, they allowed themselves to eat modest foods, just so as not to embarrass others. What to do based on this? There is no common feast in the family, but one person will know exactly how I eat, and others may notice. To fast or not to fast? After all, you can cause condemnation and grumbling, all sorts of thoughts among loved ones. God bless you!
Alexei
Alexey, we must be afraid that God will not judge us for being ashamed of our faith, our views. People are designed in such a way that they get used to everything. Prepare for yourself separately and do not be embarrassed, and do not particularly hide your beliefs. If they find out that you are fasting, don’t hide it, say: yes, I am fasting, I am a believer, I am Orthodox. Yes, there will be indignation and condemnation, but this will pass, and they will get used to you that you are so Orthodox, and then they will not pay much attention to you. As for the saints who ate fast food, their situation was different, and they could eat fast food without harming their soul. It is necessary for you to start fasting now. Consider this a test sent to you from God - can you resist the temptations of this world?
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Love
Love, you yourself observe fasting, but you are not responsible for others. If your family asks you to cook fast food for them, then cook it, for you it will not be considered a sin, they do not fast. It will be worse if you don’t cook for them, and this will cause discord and scandal in the family.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Good afternoon, Holy Father! I have a question, Lent is coming soon, I am a military officer, I serve in the mountains of Dagestan, March 20th is my birthday. I’m in Kislovodsk now and talked to the priest, he said that you can celebrate his birthday, but I didn’t understand what could be done? Eat, drink or just invite friends? And yet, my wife and I have problems conceiving a child, we try every month, but it doesn’t work. I am married for the second time, I have a daughter from my first marriage, and now my wife is very upset about this. I wanted to know if we can try to conceive a child during Lent? Thank you in advance!
Sergey
Sergey, you can celebrate the way you usually celebrated - by inviting friends and having a meal. Since you talked with the priest, I think that you are a Christian, and you will not forget that while celebrating Great Lent, we remember about moderation (in the sense of eating and drinking). Marital fasting depends on how you and your wife agree to fast. If you usually do not enter into this communication during fasting, then there is no need to make an exception to conceive a child; and if you do not observe marital fasting so strictly, then surrender to the will of God, asking to be given a child. God help your family.
Priest Sergius Osipov
Good afternoon, we want to register a marriage, but out of ignorance we chose the date for April! During Great Lent. Can this be done without fun and celebration? We live at a great distance from each other, it’s just very difficult, she still has 4 months to study. Tell me what to do? I ask you to!
Denis
Hello, Denis! If you can’t wait until the end of your studies, you can sign without celebrations. And time the celebration to coincide with the wedding day.
Priest Vladimir Shlykov
Hello, father! What to do with fasting if relatives are far from church, they usually prepare. As a beginner, I can’t cook on my own all the time; there’s a shared kitchen at work, and there’s also no question of fasting. I work 24 hours a day.
Oleg
Oleg, if the circumstances are such, then fast to the best of your ability, and you can also simply limit yourself in the amount of food or refuse breakfast or dinner (as your heart dictates). This will also be a post.
Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)
Good afternoon. This is my first time going to fast. But I heard that you can’t fast if you don’t follow the rules. My husband is an atheist. I most likely will not be able to provide myself with abstinence from sexual life. Please tell me what to do in this case?
In order to maintain peace in the family, you will have to sacrifice your peace of mind. Your body belongs not only to you, but also to your husband. Since you have agreed to live with an unbelieving husband, you must accept the fact that you will not be able to fully benefit from fasting. Although you may well agree on a number of reasonable restrictions for this time. The main thing for you is to abstain from everything unnecessary, both in food and in all external impressions. Try not to judge anyone, not to discuss, not to chat in vain, not to sit idle, but to use every free minute to read the Gospel, the Holy Fathers and prayer. Try to confess and take communion at least a couple of times during your fast. God help you.
Priest Alexander Beloslyudov
Hello, father! In the first two days of Lent, as far as I know, you should absolutely not eat food. I'm afraid I won't be able to make it through these days. Tell me what should I do? God bless you!
Pauline
Polina, what you say is true, but such a strict charter is intended more for monks who live in a monastery. You don't have to follow such a strict statute. It will be enough for you if you eat less than usual these days: say, once or twice a day, and, of course, everything lean and without vegetable oil (that means, don’t fry anything). Usually these days they eat boiled food. But there is a charter that says that you cannot eat food cooked on fire. But, in any case, you can eat. I think if you follow this, it will be very good for you.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Good evening. Father, please tell me: our aunt died on 02/13/13. 40 days fall on March 24th. Is it possible to do them?
Larisa
Larisa, March 24 is Lent. You can always pray for the dead. Celebrating 40 days means, first of all, praying for the soul of the deceased. It is necessary to submit a registered note of repose at the Liturgy on this day and pray at the Liturgy on this day; it is also necessary to serve a memorial service in the church after the service. You can do anything on this day, but the meal must be strictly fast. You cannot eat meat, dairy and fish products, eggs. You can make pancakes, but also lean ones.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello, father! Grandmother died on March 4th. And 40 days fall on April 12th. Maybe we need to reschedule for some other day? Please tell me. Thank you in advance.
Oksana
Hello, Oksana! April 12 falls on a Friday, and the peculiarities of the Lenten service do not allow us to remember the deceased at it. Therefore, you will be able to remember your grandmother the next day, Saturday, when the church just established the commemoration of the dead at the liturgy. I think it will also be more convenient for you to gather for the funeral on Saturday.
Priest Vladimir Shlykov
Good afternoon I have this question. We've been planning a baby for several months now, and it still doesn't work out. Great Lent is coming, and my husband and I decided to keep it this year, but it turns out that my days favorable for conception fall on the first days of Lent. I hoped that this cycle would begin earlier, and we would have time to devote time to the issue of conception before fasting, but there was a delay, and the cycle got lost, and now falls right in the first days of fasting. What should I do? To abstain, or is it still possible not to abstain from marital intimacy for the sake of conception? I just take special strong pills to increase the chance of conception, prescribed by the doctor. I would ask the priest personally, but at the moment I am on a long business trip, and when I get home and go to my church, I don’t know... Thank you in advance.
Natalia
Natalia, it’s better to put it off until the end of the post. And use this time to teach prayer and humility. Do not beg for a child at any cost, pray something like this: “Lord, it is revealed to You how we want to have a child, and You alone know what is good for us, Thy will be done.” After Easter everything will work out by the grace of God.
Priest Alexander Beloslyudov
Good day. Please tell me. I want to start fasting. How to receive a blessing, on what day it should be done, how to prepare, I don’t know anything about it. Thank you in advance.
Alevtina
Alevtina, we have all already received a blessing for fasting from the Holy Apostles. We need to observe all the fasts that exist in the church throughout the year. This fast is strict or Great; during this fast you cannot eat meat, dairy and fish products. Orthodox Christians receive communion in the first week of Lent, and before that they need to confess and, of course, fast. On March 17, Forgiveness Sunday, come to church, and after the service the priest will bless everyone for Lent. In the church store, find a small brochure “To help the penitent”; it tells you how to prepare for confession and Communion and how to fast.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello, fathers. On the eve of Great Lent, everyone - TV, the Internet - will say that the Orthodox are beginning to fast. Questions will begin from non-church people: are you fasting? How do you fast? Wouldn't you like some meat? The question is this: won’t it be considered deception if I answer: no, I’m not fasting, I don’t have enough strength to fast. I simply don’t want to answer such idle questions.
Andrey
Andrey, why should you be ashamed, actually? Why do you want to hide the fact that you are fasting? There is no need to hide it, but there is no need to tell everyone about it. If you are asked, you answer as it is - yes, I am fasting. If they ask how, answer how. Looking at you, maybe others will want to follow your example. To deceive intentionally is bad and sinful. Now is not the time or the occasion for us to hide our faith. You answer these questions, they can benefit others, but if you know that they will make fun of you, then you don’t have to answer.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello! On March 23, my husband will be 40 days old, he is not baptized, I am reading a prayer at home, I received a blessing from the priest, but tell me, please, I can go to the cemetery on the 40th day, because it will be fasting? Since it will be Saturday and my children are not in kindergarten or school, when can they hand out candy (after or before the 40th day)? Thank you very much, sorry if I composed my letter a little incorrectly.
Veronica
Veronica, as you already know, the church does not pray for unbaptized people. Those who are not baptized are not members of the church. No one forbids you to pray for them at home, and of course, you can go to the cemetery whenever you want. It is not customary to go to the cemetery on Sundays, major church holidays and Easter. The most suitable day is Saturday. All parental memorials take place on Saturday. You can always give alms for the deceased, but most of all this must be done before 40 days.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello! I fasted during Lent 2 years ago, but I did not follow all the rules for preparing for Lent; as a result, at confession before Easter, the priest reprimanded me, saying that it was pointless for me to fast if I did not follow all the rules for preparing for Lent ... Please tell me how to properly prepare yourself for Great Lent, when exactly do you need to confess and take communion before fasting (and is it necessary to do this), when to ask for a blessing from the priest, and what other procedures need to be followed? I really want to do everything correctly, as it should be, so that fasting does not turn into a formal diet. Thank you!
What prayers are read at home during Lent 2018
Everyone knows that the Easter fast - from February 19 to April 7, 2018 - is the strictest and longest, and there are many food restrictions during this seven-week period.
However, many of us forget that, in addition to giving up certain foods, during fasting a person must also cleanse himself spiritually, thereby, as it were, trying to “get closer” to God.
There are special prayers for every day during Lent, which should be read by all people who are Orthodox Christians.
What prayers are read during Lent are indicated in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, where an entire section is devoted to how one should behave throughout the entire seven-week period.
The main prayer is considered to be the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, which promotes liberation from the so-called “illness” that prevents a person from communicating with God. This prayer sounds like this:
Lord and Master of my life,
spirit of idleness, despondency, greed and idle talk
The spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love,
grant to me, Thy servant.
To her, Lord the King, grant me to see my sins,
and do not condemn my brother,
for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages, amen.
God, cleanse me, a sinner!
Morning prayers during Lent remain traditional, but their reading is certainly supplemented by the above prayer of Ephraim the Syrian. It can be read not only in church, but also at home, and its purpose is to prepare a person for confession, repentance and purification.
It is important to understand that food restrictions, as well as morning, afternoon and evening prayers during Lent have one common goal - a person must learn to manage himself, control his own feelings and emotions.
The seven-week period of Easter Lent is a time of peace and repentance. Every Christian believer must consciously enter into fasting, observe it, and correctly exit this state.
As a rule, it is quite difficult for an ignorant person to do this, therefore, having decided for the first time to take such a serious step as observing Lent, it is better to enlist the support of church ministers, who will definitely help in everything and tell you how to act correctly.
Prayers for Lent
Prayers during Lent are considered to have greater power. François Mauriac once said: “You don’t need to have faith to pray; you need to pray to gain faith.”
Prayer is not simple words listing sins and bright feelings. This is not something that you can talk about a lot and in different ways. And not something to be neglected.Prayers were originally created so that every person could talk to God. A special melodious rhythm, syllable and Old Church Slavonic language are the key to a certain state when the mortal is forgotten and the spiritual triumphs. This is exactly the case when you may not have much faith when taking your first steps in prayer, but you will certainly feel the touch of the Divine.
Prayers for Lent
Lent is a special time for Christians and 2016 is no exception. During this period, it is commanded to especially observe the rules of abstinence, good morals and mutual assistance. This is the time when you need to limit your body in everything in order to free your spirit from its influence. Every day a layer of experience accumulates on us: emotions, desires, anger and routine interests. All this has negligible relation to true spiritual development. And restrictions, reaching the point of asceticism, are designed to remove everything similar, superficial, from our soul. In this matter, prayer becomes an integral assistant.
During Lent, the lifestyle changes; for many, these changes are noticeable to the point of discomfort. And when the body imposes its usual line of behavior, the Holy Word comes to the rescue. It has a wonderful effect, helping to renounce the feeling of dissatisfaction that often gnaws at the hungry, and the feeling of irritation that gnaws at the one who is limited. Prayer helps to understand and feel how fleeting all this is, how small in relation to the great Divine Principle that lives in each of us.“Prayer must remain unanswered, otherwise it ceases to be prayer and becomes correspondence.”
A person praying who turns his heart to God must remember, especially during Lent, that one cannot expect miracles and instant accomplishments. The soul of the righteous is pure and submissive to the will of the Lord; it does not demand, but patiently waits and gives thanks for everything that happens, without complaining.
Lent is a time of prayer
The morning of the first day of Lent begins with special words addressed to Jesus Christ, the Most Holy Trinity. These prayers are called initial prayers. They mean a willingness to humbly accept the test of fasting, humility and participation in the passions of Jesus that he experienced in the desert.
Every morning begins with a prayer to Christ, a psalm of David, the third prayer of St. Macarius the Great, praise and song to the Mother of God. These are the main prayers read during Lent by a layman.
Throughout the day, thoughts should be turned to a prayer of gratitude for our daily bread, prayers before and after eating food.
Before going to bed, a righteous Christian turns his heart to the Guardian Angel through prayer and to God the Father.
These prayers can be called necessary to be read by a Christian during Lent. There are many more of them, but if you call on the listed saints with a pure soul, this will be enough.
The church service during Lent is also different from the usual one. Be sure to add the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian to the reading. It is considered a truly Lenten prayer, which fully reflects its content.During the period of fasting, clergy are required to spend a lot of time in prayer. For them, prayer is a special and at the same time fundamental part of life. It should be practiced after waking up, before and after meals, before studying, at moments when temptation or bad thoughts overcome, before going to bed.
During Lent, they pray for their deceased and for the health of living loved ones and relatives. It is believed that a purified soul is closer to God, and He hears all prayers better. Therefore, you can turn to the Almighty in any prayers, and it will certainly respond, inside or outside.
“Work is the best prayer”
During Lent, purification is considered not only by verbal prayers, but also by deeds. It is said that during this period you need to refrain from unnecessary words, actions and desires.
We are accustomed to watching TV - we abstain. Unless it's for business. We are used to spending a lot of time chatting with friends on the phone – we limit ourselves to this period. This is a kind of work on yourself, the hardest work called “changing yourself for the better.”
But if a neighbor or acquaintance, and even if a stranger needs help, you need to help. Especially during Lent. Of course, help is possible and from the heart. It often happens that people contact us at the wrong time, they come at the wrong time. But this period exists precisely in order to overcome one’s dissatisfaction, to free oneself from it, so that this place in the soul is occupied by the awareness of the frailty of existence, the heights of spirit and unity. All people are equal, and everyone is given time. This time belongs to God, which means no one can take it away from us personally. But if we devote this time with an open heart to benefit someone, who will feel bad from it? On the contrary, kindness will only come. This is the purpose of Lent.“God does not hear the words of prayer, God sees your heart”
There are people who are trying fasting for the first time. They do not know prayers, have not encountered miracles of faith. But something led them to try. It's never too late to take the path of improving your spirit. And for these people it is a bit of a problem to master a large amount of text. It may happen that for them, reading a prayer will become an effort to pronounce the right words correctly, and not a true turning of the soul to the Lord. In this case, you need to turn to the priest, he can help in directing you to the main prayers of a Christian. At the moment there are prayers translated into modern language while maintaining the meaning.
It is possible and advisable to attend church services. Prayer in church takes on a truly wonderful sound and effect. Everything is pure: the words, voices, thoughts of many dozens of lay people bowing their heads in bow. In this you can find for yourself the first lesson of a miracle taught by the Lord.But ignorance of prayers does not mean that the desire for purity of spirit will go unnoticed. The main thing is pure thoughts and righteous actions. There is a divine censor in every person, and if you listen to him, our words will always be heard by God.
Prayers for Lent
During Lent, it is customary to read various prayers, but the most important is considered to be the repentant prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian. A chapter in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah is dedicated to this holiday. It describes in detail how to behave during fasting and other nuances. On these days, you can perform various rituals, read conspiracies and prayers. People believe that all appeals to God during this period will certainly be heard.
Prayers read during Lent
As already mentioned, the most important prayer during the days of Lent is considered to be an appeal from Holy Sirin. It lists the most important aspects of repentance, and also indicates what exactly needs to be done and what to work on. The main idea of prayer is that a person must free himself from illness, which is an obstacle to communication with God. The prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian sounds like this:
“Lord and Master of my life,
Do not give me the spirit of idleness, despondency, covetousness and idle talk.
Grant me the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Your servant.
grant me to see my sins,
and do not condemn my brother,
for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages, amen.
God, cleanse me, a sinner!”
To make the prayer more understandable, you need to dwell on the most important points that are described in it. First, a request is made to get rid of important sins:
- Spirit of Idleness. The saint asks God to protect him from wasting his time. Everyone has certain talents and skills that need to be used correctly for the benefit of all humanity. Idleness is considered the root of all sins.
- Spirit of despondency. If a person is controlled by despondency, then he does not have the opportunity to see goodness and happiness in life. He simply plunges into darkness and becomes a real pessimist. That is why, in order to move in the right direction and be closer to God, you need to get rid of this sin.
- Spirit of greed. In almost every person’s life there is a desire to control people, for example, power in the family, at work, etc. The love of control can become a serious problem that prevents you from developing and communicating with God.
- Spirit of pride. Man is the only creation of God who has received the ability to speak. Often words are used for insults, curses, etc. In prayer, the saint asks God to protect him from vain and evil words.
Fasting cannot take place without prayers. You can read morning, evening prayers or the Psalter. It is important to always add the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian.
Other prayers read during Lent:
Of great importance are kneeling prayers, read not during Lent, but on the Great Trinity, which is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Easter. The priest reads them, kneeling and facing the novices. The prayers contain an appeal to the mercy of God; they speak of the sending of the Holy Spirit, as well as the repose of the dead.
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Prayer during Lent for every day and before Easter, prayer by Ephraim the Syrian - Examples of prayers before meals during Lent
Lent, which begins in 2017 on February 27, is not only a refusal of animal food and alcoholic beverages. This is a time devoted to studying the life of Jesus Christ and turning to God in prayer. During Lent, a person becomes deeper, renounces many earthly goods, rethinks his life and his purpose in this world. Lent, which lasts six weeks and Holy Week, ends with the bright Easter of Christ - the resurrection of Jesus as a miraculous proof of the existence of the Lord. Every Christian must come to Christ's resurrection purified not only physically, but also spiritually. Not all believers know how and what prayer to read during Lent. Temple servants often say that you can turn to God in any prayer. However, the prayer after Ephraim the Syrian must be read every day with the exception of Saturday and Resurrection Day. It is also read before Easter, during the cheese-free week. The purpose of reading it is to free the “belly” (life) from bodily and, what is considered the main thing, spiritual ailments. Prayers during fasting before meals are also considered important in Orthodoxy. They help a Christian avoid gluttony, set him up for modest food and a long absence of entertainment.
Prayer for Lent for every day - How and when to pray during Lent
In Orthodoxy there are prayers for every day of Lent. Believers who visit the temple know that the first day of the first week begins with chants. Priests tell parishioners about John the Baptist and Herod. On Tuesday of the first week, the main, first prayer is dedicated to the life of Andrew of Crete, a saint who dedicated his life to God as a result of a miracle that happened to him (gaining the gift of speech after becoming mute). On Wednesday, the third day of Lent, churchgoers visiting churches will learn the interpretation of the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, etc. If you cannot, for any good reason, go to church for prayer, set aside at least ten to fifteen minutes a day to study the Scriptures - the Old and New Testaments.
Examples of prayers for each day of Lent
Any believer will tell you that fasting without prayer does not exist. Of course, this statement does not mean that you should completely renounce everyday worries and immerse yourself in reading prayers. In the absence of praying often and going to temple, read the Scriptures. When you find free time, devote it to reading one of the prayers of Lent. Now you can download them all on the Internet. We suggest paying attention to the most famous prayers relating to the time of abstinence before Easter.
Prayer of praise to the Lord God
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
In this prayer we praise God without asking for anything in return. It is usually pronounced at the end of a task as a sign of gratitude to God for His mercy towards us. This prayer is said in short: Glory to God. In this abbreviated form, we say a prayer when we finish some good deed, for example, teaching, work; when we receive any good news, etc.
God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.
Prayer for forgiveness of our sins. It must be said as often as we often sin. As soon as we sin, we must immediately repent of our sin before God and say this prayer.
Prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us (show mercy to us). Amen.
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 soul.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, Who is everywhere and fills everything, Receptacle of all goodness and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all impurity, and save, O Merciful One, our souls.
Orthodox prayer during Lent before Easter - What is prayer
Any Orthodox prayer is an appeal to God, a conversation with the Mother of God, the saints. You can pray silently to yourself anywhere and at any time. They turn to God out loud at home, alone or in churches, standing before images. Before fasting, at the end of Cheese Week, they say the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, pray to the Lord God Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Most Holy Ones. Each prayer can be ended with an appeal to the Almighty, praise to God, a request and giving you strength during fasting.
Examples of Orthodox prayers before Easter during Lent
Church-goers have a custom of reading all the Gospels during the time allotted for Lent. Of course, not all believers are able to overcome Scripture. When fasting before Easter, read prayers whenever possible. We suggest memorizing the texts of some of them.
The Creed reads like this:
1. I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible.
2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages: Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not created, consubstantial with the Father, by whom all things were.
3. For our sake, man and our salvation came down from Heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human.
4. She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried.
5. And he rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures.
6. And ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.
7. And again the coming one will be judged with glory by the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end.
8. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the life-giving, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets.
9. Into one holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
10. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.
11. I hope for the resurrection of the dead,
12. And the life of the next century. Amen
I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, of everything visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages: Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one being with the Father, by Him all things were created.
For the sake of us people and for the sake of our salvation, he came down from Heaven, and took flesh from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became a man.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried,
And rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures.
And ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; His kingdom will have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, worshiped and glorified with the Father and the Son, who spoke through the prophets.
Into one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.
I look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
And the life of the next century. Amen (truly so).
What is said in the prayer to Ephraim the Syrian for Lent - What the prayer to Ephraim the Syrian calls for
History says that the prayer to Ephraim the Syrian was loved not only by the holy fathers, but also by A.S. Pushkin, the great Russian poet, who translated the words of the prayer into a poetic way. Saint Ephraim the Syrian, living in the Middle Ages, was filled with spiritual wisdom. He also owns “divine reflections” from the Psalter of the Mother of God. As for the famous prayer, which aims to cleanse the hearts of believers before Easter, it is known for its simplicity and depth. This prayer helps to cleanse the soul from idle talk, lack of chastity, and proud self-affirmation. She teaches meekness, humility, and gratitude.
When the prayer to Ephraim the Syrian is read during Lent
As the church recommends, the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian should be read daily, from late Sunday evening to Friday. There is no need to worry about repetitions of the prayer - each time you say its words, you perceive them in a new way. Prayer cleanses the soul and heart, setting the believer in a gracious mood during Lent.
“Lord and Master of my life, do not give me the spirit of idleness, despondency, covetousness and idle talk.
Grant the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant.
To her, Lord, King, grant me to see my sins and not condemn my brother, for blessed are you forever and ever. Amen".
What prayer should you read during fasting - Prayers that help you fast
Each prayer is an appeal to God, containing our thoughts, a request to free us from “filth” - dishonest, unclean thoughts and actions. By asking the Lord God in prayer to protect us from temptation, we really become better people. In principle, any pious prayer addressed to God in time helps us to fast, abstaining from passions and temptations.
How prayers help to fast during Lent
Any prayers said during Lent are aimed at cleansing the soul from unfavorable, ungodly thoughts. By praying and reading the Gospel, we come to know God more deeply and understand the meaning of fasting.
I believe, Lord, but You confirm my faith.
but You strengthen my hope.
I loved you, Lord,
but You cleanse my love
and set it on fire.
I'm sorry, Lord, but you do it,
May I increase my repentance.
I honor You, Lord, my Creator,
I sigh for You, I call upon You.
Guide me with Your wisdom,
protect and strengthen.
I commend to You, my God, my thoughts,
let them come from You.
Let my deeds be in Your name,
and let my desires be in Thy will.
Illuminate my mind, strengthen my will,
cleanse the body, sanctify the soul.
Let me see my sins,
let me not be seduced by pride,
help me overcome temptations.
May I praise You all the days of my life,
which You gave to me.
What prayer is said before meals during fasting - Orthodox prayer “Our Father”
Christian believers pray before meals, regardless of whether food is eaten on a fast day or not. The most common prayer before meals is also the most famous prayer, known by heart even by children - “Our Father.” Very often during fasting, before meals, praises are said to the Lord, who gave food and drink. At the end of the meal, believers thank God, who gave them food, with prayers.
Lord's Prayer. Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven!
Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,
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 do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors;
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Examples of Orthodox prayers before meals during Lent
By saying an Orthodox prayer before meals during Lent, the believer prepares himself to accept modest food, where there is no animal food. Thus, prayer before meals helps Christians endure some of the restrictions of Lent.
The eyes of all trust in You, Lord, and You give them food in good season, You open Your generous hand and fulfill every animal’s good will.
Prayer for the blessing of food and drink for the laity
Lord Jesus Christ, our God, bless us with food and drink through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints, for blessed are You forever. Amen. (And cross food and drink).
Prayer after eating food
We thank Thee, Christ our God, for Thou hast filled us with Thy earthly blessings; Do not deprive us of Your Heavenly Kingdom, but as You came among Your disciples, Savior, give them peace, come to us and save us.
Every prayer in post helps to destroy from the human soul all dishonesty, deceit, sinful thoughts and actions. The main Christian prayer during Lent always remains the “Our Father.” It is read both before meals and at other times of turning to God. During fasting, great importance is attached to the repentant prayer of Ephraim the Syrian, asking the Lord to “give” us the spirit of chastity and patience, which we so need during fasting abstinence.
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Lent is a time of spiritual cleansing. But it is unthinkable without cleansing the body. How to eat while fasting? What recipes should you include on the menu? And how can we help the body overcome this test without harmful consequences?
Food taboos
Dietary rules during Lent require one to abstain from fast food, that is, products of animal origin. We are talking about any meat, eggs, milk, as well as products based on it: butter, sour cream, cottage cheese, and various cheeses. Church canons allow eating fish on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (April 7) and on Palm Sunday (April 9). And on Lazarus Saturday (April 8) you can indulge in some caviar.
Meals by day
How to eat during Lent 2017 by day? The first and final weeks are considered the most strict. These days they eat only vegetables, fruits and bread. On Good Friday you should refuse any food - this is a kind of cleansing of the body by fasting. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, cold food without oil is allowed, on Tuesdays and Thursdays - hot food, also without oil. And on Saturdays and Sundays you can add it to your dishes.
Food for good
To follow the nutritional rules of Lent and not harm your health, try to include as much vegetable protein in your menu as possible. First of all, these are legumes: beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas, soybeans. A lot of protein is found in rice, oats, barley and buckwheat - prepare porridges and soups from them. Mushrooms, broccoli and garlic can boast protein reserves. Don't forget about nuts in all their variety, as well as sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
Vitamins to help
What foods can you eat during fasting to get vitamins? All available vegetables, fruits and berries. For example, white cabbage can be put in salads and soups, stewed with other vegetables and expressly pickled. Seasonal apples, citrus fruits, grapes, bananas and frozen berries can also be included in the diet, like any dried fruit. And so that the benefits of fasting for the body do not turn into harm, take a suitable vitamin and mineral complex.
Life-giving drinks
Along with food, drinks play an important role during fasting. Give preference to black and green tea, fruit and berry juices, and homemade lemonades. On dry eating days, it is recommended not to drink coffee, compotes and juices. According to the method of preparation, they are considered decoctions, which contradicts the principles of dry eating. But on weekends, drinking Cahors church wine is allowed, of course, in moderation.
Let's hit the salads
Now let's talk in more detail about what they eat on dry eating days. Mainly dry food, cooked without heat or oil. This is where fresh ones come to the rescue. Shred 400 g of white cabbage, add salt, knead with your hands and press with a plate for 15 minutes. When the cabbage gives juice, add a handful of crushed nuts, green onions and parsley to taste. Beat half of the avocado into a liquid puree and pour over the salad. This clever dressing will make it richer and tastier. A delicious salad can also be prepared from broccoli and cauliflower inflorescences: boil 150 g of each type of inflorescence in boiling water for 3 minutes, separate, and place in a salad bowl. Add your favorite spices, chunks of avocado, and the familiar avocado dressing. Pumpkin seeds will also work well in a salad. Bon appetit!
Mushrooms in gold
Delicious and simple food during Lent can be baked in the oven. Cut 4 potatoes and 200 g of champignons (or any other mushrooms of your choice) into slices, add salt and sprinkle with olive oil. Place them on foil in two layers, sprinkle with green onions, cover with foil and place in the oven for 30 minutes at 200°C. For lovers of dressings, we suggest preparing an interesting sauce. Beat 2 peeled tomatoes with 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper to taste. Pour the sauce over the baked goodies - a hearty lean snack is ready.
Pea joy
How to eat properly during? Prepare different soups from vegetables, grains and beans. Soak ½ cup of peas in water overnight, then drain and boil until tender. Separately, sauté the onion with carrots and 300 g of fresh cabbage in vegetable oil. Place the roast with 2-3 diced potatoes into a pan with peas. At the very end, add salt, spices and a bunch of herbs. Rye toast toasted in a dry frying pan is the perfect complement to this soup.
Potato find
Recipes for hot food without oil are irreplaceable during Lent. Like, for example, lean cutlets. We pass 4 potatoes, 2 cups of walnuts through a meat grinder and mix with 180 g of oatmeal. Add a bunch of parsley and salt with spices to the minced meat. We make cutlets and, after rolling them in flour, bake for 15 minutes at 180°C. You can prepare a sauce for these cutlets. Simmer the onion with 3 cloves of garlic in 50 ml of water, pour in a glass of tomato juice and simmer for 5 minutes. Add sauce to the cutlets as desired and enjoy an unusual lunch.
Vegetable messages
Vegetable cabbage rolls will fit organically into the Lenten menu. Take 10-12 cabbage leaves, boil them in salted water and beat off the roots. Sauté 2 carrots into strips and an onion into cubes in oil. Mix them with 200 g of boiled rice, 4 chopped cloves of garlic and fill the cabbage leaves with the filling. We fold them into envelopes, pour a glass of boiling water with 1 tbsp. l. tomato paste and simmer until done. You can cook cabbage rolls in vegetable broth and add tomato sauce only at the end. Add your favorite ones to the filling, and the cabbage rolls will become even tastier.
