Prayer & the Spiritual Life
Orthodox Prayers: Morning, Evening & the Jesus Prayer
The prayers Orthodox Christians say every day — morning and evening prayers, the Jesus Prayer, and the hymns of the Church, with full texts and how to build a daily rule you can actually keep.
Building a daily prayer rule
Orthodox prayer is not improvised from scratch each day. The faithful keep a rule — a fixed, modest set of prayers said morning and evening, given by one's priest or spiritual father. A rule that is short and unbroken is worth more than a long one abandoned in a week. Stand before your icons, light a candle or lamp, make the sign of the Cross, and begin.
Orthodox Morning Prayers
The full morning rule in order — O Heavenly King, the Trisagion prayers, the Optina morning prayer, and intercessions — with a five-minute rule for beginners.
Orthodox Evening Prayers
The night rule in order — St. Macarius' evening prayer, an examination of conscience, and the prayer said before sleep.
The Jesus Prayer
Throughout the day, and on the prayer rope (komboskini)
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
The heart of Orthodox personal prayer. Said slowly and repeatedly — often in sets of 33, 50, or 100 on a knotted prayer rope — it gathers the mind into the heart. Shorter forms ("Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me") are equally acceptable.
The Trisagion Prayers
The opening of nearly every Orthodox prayer rule and service
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (three times) 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 transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake. Lord, have mercy. (three times)
O Heavenly King
Beginning of the prayer rule, except between Pascha and Pentecost
O Heavenly King, Comforter, 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.
The Lord's Prayer
Every morning and evening, and before meals
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.
Morning Prayer of the Elders of Optina
On rising
O Lord, grant that I may meet all that this coming day brings to me with spiritual tranquility. Grant that I may fully surrender myself to Thy holy will. At every hour of this day, direct and support me in all things. Whatsoever news may reach me this day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul and the firm conviction that all is subject to Thy holy will.
Evening Prayer of St. Macarius
Before sleep
Eternal God and King of all creation, who hast granted me to arrive at this hour: forgive me the sins that I have committed this day in thought, word, and deed, and cleanse, O Lord, my humble soul from every defilement of flesh and spirit. Grant me, O Lord, to pass through the sleep of this night in peace.
Prayer to the Theotokos
Daily, and in every need
It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim; who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian
Great Lent, with prostrations
O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.
Before and After Meals
At table
Before: O Christ God, bless the food and drink of Thy servants, for Thou art holy, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. After: We thank Thee, O Christ our God, that Thou hast satisfied us with Thy earthly gifts. Deprive us not of Thy heavenly kingdom.
The Nicene Creed
Daily, and at every Divine Liturgy
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not created, of one essence with the Father, through whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man… And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father, who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified…
Orthodox Christians confess the Creed without the Filioque — the Spirit proceeds from the Father, as the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople gave it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Jesus Prayer?
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." It is the central prayer of Orthodox spiritual life, rooted in the desert fathers and the hesychast tradition. Repeated slowly and attentively, often on a knotted prayer rope, it is a way of obeying St. Paul's command to pray without ceasing.
How do Orthodox Christians pray daily?
Through a prayer rule: a fixed set of prayers said morning and evening, agreed with one's priest or spiritual father. A beginner's rule may be only the Trisagion prayers, the Lord's Prayer, and a few minutes of the Jesus Prayer. Consistency matters far more than length.
Do Orthodox Christians pray the Rosary?
No. The Rosary is a Western devotion. The Orthodox equivalent is the prayer rope (komboskini or chotki), used for repetitions of the Jesus Prayer rather than for meditating on a sequence of mysteries.
Do Orthodox Christians pray to saints?
Orthodox Christians ask the saints to pray for them, just as one asks a friend on earth for prayers. Worship (latreia) is offered to God alone; the saints are honored and asked to intercede.
What is a prayer rope?
A loop of knotted wool — typically 33, 50, or 100 knots — used to count repetitions of the Jesus Prayer. It keeps the body engaged and the attention anchored. Traditionally it is held in the left hand while the right makes the sign of the Cross.
How should a beginner start an Orthodox prayer rule?
Start small and keep it. Five minutes morning and evening: the sign of the Cross, "O Heavenly King," the Trisagion prayers, the Lord's Prayer, and a short intercession for family and the departed. Add the Jesus Prayer on a rope. Then speak with your parish priest, who will set a rule suited to you.
Pray with the Church
Join today's readings and the saint commemorated today.