Orthodoxy or Death

NOTICE

Though I am a member of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad Provisional Supreme Church Authority (ROCA PSCA), this is my own website, and is not in any way, an official organ of the ROCOR PSCA, and should not be construed as such.

This site is dedicated to the Holy Martyrs of the Eternal Orthodox Christian Church, who have gladly given their lives rather than renounce their faith in the Man Loving Triune God - God the Father, our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit.

In the First Epistle to the Thessalonians the Apostle Paul says: "Pray without ceasing". How, then, is one to pray unceasingly? By often repeating the Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me." If one becomes accustomed to this appeal, great consolation and the need to continually make this petition will be felt within, and it will be carried on, as if of itself, within one.

 Many people, like myself, who pray the Jesus Prayer,  pray this version which adds the words "a sinner" to the end of the prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!
 
 

One of my favorite things about the Great and Holy Lent is the following prayer which I have adopted for my own and use in my daily prayers all year round. Next to the Jesus Prayer it is my favorite. Since Great Lent is here, I thought I would include this prayer for the benefit of those who would like to have a copy for their personal use. I hope you come to love it as much as I have.

O LORD AND MASTER OF MY LIFE, TAKE FROM ME THE SPIRIT OF SLOTH, DESPAIR, LUST OF POWER, AND IDLE TALK. (prostration.)
BUT GIVE, RATHER, THE SPIRIT OF CHASTITY, HUMILITY, PATIENCE, AND LOVE TO THY SERVANT. (prostration).
YEA, O LORD AND KING, GRANT ME TO SEE MINE OWN TRANSGRESSIONS AND NOT TO JUDGE MY BROTHER: FOR BLESSED ART THOU UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN. (prostration)   Then make 12 lesser reverences, saying for each:
O GOD, CLEANSE THOU ME A SINNER. Then the entire prayer is read:
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 MINE OWN TRANSGRESSIONS AND NOT TO JUDGE MY BROTHER: FOR BLESSED ART THOU UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN. (prostration)
 
 

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 Son of God, the Only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father; by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from the heavens, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man; And was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried; And arose again on the third day according to the Scriptures; And ascended into the heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; And shall come again with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life; Who proceedeth from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by the prophets. In One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen.

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