Prayer for the coming day: a morning rule in the Orthodox tradition

Morning prayer is an important part of the spiritual practice of Orthodox Christians, with which they begin the day. Morning prayer helps you set yourself up for the upcoming tasks, start the day with faith and hope. The composition and meaning of the morning prayer rule, its history and practical application are described in the material of Izvestia.

The story of prayer for the coming Day

Morning prayer has deep roots in the Christian tradition. Even in the early church, there was a practice of morning prayers, which developed over several centuries and became more structured. The text was finalized in the XVIII century, after the reform of the Synodal Printing House, it includes prayers, canons and psalms.

Today morning prayer is the most important part of the daily spiritual rule of an Orthodox Christian. It serves as the beginning of the day, preparation for work and daily activities in general.

The structure of the Morning Prayer rule

The morning prayer rule includes several main parts: the opening prayers, the prayer to the Holy Spirit, the prayer to the Holy Trinity, the Lord's prayer, the troparia, the prayer of thanksgiving and the closing prayer.

Upon waking up from sleep, the worshipper should "stand reverently, presenting himself before the All-seeing God" and make the sign of the cross, after saying: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen to that." The opening prayer reads as follows: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen. Glory to You, our God, glory to You."

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The next one in order is a prayer to the Holy Spirit.: "To the Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Soul of truth, Who art everywhere and fills everything, the Treasure of goodness and the Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all defilement, and save our souls, O Blessed One." This text is traditionally included in morning prayers, but it can also be found in evening prayers, and there are differences in when exactly it should be read, however, prayer to the Holy Spirit can still be part of both the morning and evening prayer rule.

The Trisagion is read three times, with the sign of the cross and a bow from the waist: "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us" — followed by a prayer to the Most Holy Trinity: "Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name's sake."

The Lord's Prayer is read after three times, "Lord, have mercy. Glory, and now": "Our Lord, 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, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

The strongest bedtime prayer is the main evening prayer before going to bed

How to read text and why it is needed

Troparia of the Trinity is one of the possible elements added to the morning rule by tradition, but not always mandatory. It may be added to the morning prayer rule in some traditions and depends on local practices.

The troparia reads as follows: "Having risen from sleep, we fall down, O Blessed One, and cry out the angelic hymn to Thee, Most powerfully: Holy, Holy, Holy art thou, O God, have mercy on us through the Mother of God. Glory: You have raised me from my bed and sleep, O Lord, enlighten my mind and my heart, and open my mouth, in order to pet You, O Holy Trinity: Holy, Holy, Holy art you, O God, have mercy on us through the Mother of God. And now: Suddenly the Judge will come, and our deeds will be revealed, but with fear we call at midnight: Holy, Holy, Holy art thou, O God, have mercy on us through the Mother of God. Lord have mercy." At the same time, "Lord have mercy" is read 12 times.

The morning prayer of thanksgiving may include the words from "Our Father" (Matthew 6:9-13), as well as gratitude for the gift of life, faith, the help of saints and a guardian angel, as, for example, in the text "I thank You, Lord my God, for giving me being ...". The choice of a specific prayer it depends on personal preferences and traditions, as well as on the specific prayer book.

The concluding prayer reads as follows: "It is worthy to truly bless You, Theotokos, Ever-blessed and Immaculate, and Mother of our God. The most honorable Cherubim and the most glorious Seraphim without comparison, who gave birth to the Word of God without corruption, we magnify You, the true Theotokos. Glory, and now: Lord have mercy. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother, our venerable and God-bearing fathers, and of all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen to that."

Practical recommendations

In order for the morning prayer to be effective, it is recommended to follow the following rules: read the text with attention and reverence, in the prescribed manner, without missing a single one. In order not to forget the order of prayers, a prayer book is needed.

It is worth praying in silence, without distractions and in a certain place, for example, in front of an icon. If it is not possible to read the entire morning rule, you can read at least the basic prayers: the preface, the Holy Spirit, the Lord and the troparion. After the prayer, it is recommended to spend a few minutes in silence, reflecting on what you have read and setting yourself up for the day ahead.