Prayer of the Optina elders for every day. Morning and evening prayers

The glory of Optina Pustyn from the 19th century to today spread far beyond monastery. And all thanks to its inhabitants - the venerable Optina elders.

This quiet monastery is located near the city of Kozelsk, Kaluga region. And there is practically not a single church of the Russian Orthodox Church where an icon of the holy elders with pieces of their incorruptible relics does not lie on the lectern. Anyone can join it.

The feat of the Optina elders

You need to understand that these elders were not ordinary people. Each of them was awarded a certain gift from the Lord. All of them were seers, worked miracles and healed the sick, drew up rules and monastic rules, and also wrote one prayer, which is especially revered by Orthodox believers. This is the prayer of the Optina elders “At the beginning of the working day.”

Such veneration of the people has its own history. In one nineteenth century, this monastery gave the world fourteen monks of holy life, or, as they are called, elders. The concept of “elder” in monasticism has nothing to do with age. It can be either a young or an elderly monk. If we draw a parallel, then in the world this is what great teachers, teachers, godchildren and even parents are called.

But, unlike worldly people, the elders care about the souls of their charges (novices), and if there is a blessing, they help all the pilgrims who turn to them. Fortunately, Orthodox faith and the Russian Orthodox Church are not currently being persecuted, and everyone who is at least a little interested in faith will find literature about Optina Pustyn and about the elders.

Prayer

The prayer “At the Beginning of the Day” by the Optina elders also gained popularity because it was written in understandable Russian. This is rare in Orthodox tradition, usually services (All-Night Vigil, Liturgy, and so on) are conducted in Church Slavonic.

But the prayer written in Russian (“At the beginning of the day”) of the Optina elders, if read daily in the morning, gives a charge of optimism and love not only to every single believer, but also to other people who seek faith and treat the church with reverence .

Creation of Optina Pustyn

The exact time of the founding of the Optina Monastery is unknown. According to one legend, it was built by Prince Vladimir the Brave, and according to another version, the repentant robber Opta built a monastery on this site. Most likely, this place was chosen by hermits who did not want to reveal their names to perform feats. The land there was unsuitable for arable farming, did not belong to anyone and was not needed by anyone.

It is known that in 1625 the abbot of the monastery was Father Sergius, and in 1630 from the Nativity of Christ there was a wooden church there, there were six cells and twelve brethren, the rector of which was Hieromonk Theodore.

The monastery flourished at the beginning of the 19th century under Abbot Moses. And Schemamonk Lev (Leonid) became the founder of the eldership in Optina Hermitage. Father Lev (Nagolkin) arrived in Optina at the age of 61 along with six students. Before that, he had to go through “fire, water and copper pipes.”

The abbot of the monastery, the Monk Moses, seeing the elder, recognized his spiritual leadership and instructed him to care for (help in spiritual matters) the brethren and pilgrims, and he himself began to take care of the monastery’s economy. The prayer, which everyone knows as the prayer “At the beginning of the day” of the Optina elders, was written (for the most part) by the Monk Leo. It is also known that St. Ambrose, revered by the people, became the prototype of Dostoevsky’s hero, Father Zosima.

Elders

There were many monks in Optina, but only fourteen elders acquired the love and veneration of the people. Here are the names of these lamps of faith: Hieroschemamonk Leo, Hieroschemamonk Macarius, Schema-archimandrite Moses, Schema-abbot Anthony, Hieroschemamonk Hilarion, Hieroschemamonk Ambrose, Hieroschemamonk Anatoly, Schema-archimandrite Isaac, Hieroschemamonk Joseph, Schema-archimandrite Varsanofius, Hieroschemamonk Anatoly (Potapov), Roschimonk Nektariy, Hieromonk Nikon, Archimandrite Isaac . Prayer of the Optina elders “At the beginning of the day” ( full version) is considered one of the favorite prayers of believers.

These perspicacious elders, long before the Great October Revolution predicted that terrible destructive force, which will happen in the human mind, and their prediction has come true. The reverend fathers were canonized and canonized for their humble service in the twentieth century.

What does the prayer “At the beginning of the day” of the Optina elders give?

Every believer adheres to a certain charter. Every day in the morning and evening the morning and evening rule. These are prayers collected into a single whole that give the day a certain meaning. The monastic rule is much stricter and longer; monks begin to pray both during the day and at night.

And the prayer of the Optina elders “At the beginning of the day” complements and enriches the morning rule. To read it, a believer must take a blessing from the confessor or priest to whom he is confessing. In addition to the above-mentioned beneficial properties, the prayer is composed in such a way that it helps a person to properly organize his thoughts and face all the troubles of the day with dignity.

Conclusion

The prayer of the Optina elders “At the beginning of the day” outlived its creators for many years, and although it is not included in the collection of prayers, believers know the words of this prayer either by heart, or a piece of paper with its words hangs near the icons in the holy corner.

The last venerable Optina elders Anatoly, Hieromonk Nektary, Hieromonk Nikon, Archimandrite Isaac survived the revolution, the NEP, Stalin's terror, were expelled, were in prison, and the Monk Isaac, having suffered imprisonment four times, was shot by the commissars at an old age.

The prayer of the last Optina elders “At the beginning of the day” has been somewhat shortened, but this does not make it any less powerful. She helps and gives grace to all who read her words with faith.

Optina Pustyn can be called anything you like: a symbol of Orthodoxy, a place of prayer, a holy land - everything will correspond to reality. Its very location: proximity to Kozelsk, a city of Russian glory, which held a 7-week defense against the troops of the Golden Horde until the last inhabitant - suggests the presence of a special spirit on this land.

The emergence of the desert

Fencing the edge of the forest made this corner an ideal place for the followers of John the Baptist, who was also famous for being the first desert dweller, that is, a hermit. Neither the date nor the history of the appearance of Optina Pustyn are known. But its names (the second is Makarinskaya) testify in favor of the version about the dashing man Opta, who traded in robbery in the 14th century. Hiding from his pursuers, he just wanted to sit in a quiet place, but the grace that descended on him turned his whole life of a robber upside down. He became the first hermit Macarius. It can be assumed that the prayer of the Optina elders for every day has its roots precisely at this time.

For a long time, Optina Pustyn was subjected to raids, seizures, and devastation by the forces of external and internal enemies of Russia. And only in 1796, through the efforts of Metropolitan Platon, Father Abraham became the rector of the monastery, under whom the revival of the monastery began and the appearance of the first elders, people who reached certain heights of spiritual perfection.

The heyday of Optina Pustyn

All-Russian glory, as well as the real flourishing of the monastery, began in the 20s of the 19th century, when the post of rector was taken by Archimandrite Moses, a holy man and a wonderful business executive. Under him, Father Lev officially founded the eldership in 1829. The venerable elders settled in a small monastery, which was built in 1821. The associates of the founder of Optina Hermitage were the holy fathers Cleopas and Theodore. The prayer book had not yet been compiled, and the prayer of the Optina elders for every day was a help to them in their labors. The significance of Optina Hermitage in the spiritual life of Russia is very great. Dostoevsky and Solovyov lived in it for a long time, gaining spiritual strength, and Lev and Alexei Tolstoy visited it. “Father Sergius” was written under the impression of Optina Hermitage.

The cathedral is a unique phenomenon, a special form of holiness that has flourished for 100 years in Optina Pustyn. Something similar only happens on Mount Athos.

Cathedral of the Venerable Optina Elders

There were only 6 of the first elders. Hieroschemamonk Leo, who appeared here in 1829, brought the monastery all-Russian fame, which did not fade until 1917. There were 14 venerable elders in total, each of them added to the greatness of the Optina Hermitage. All of them, possessing a special spirit, had the gift of clairvoyance, prophecy and miracles. Much of what they predicted came true.

The legacy of the elders includes books, advice, letters, and prayer services. The daily prayer of the Optina elders is also part of this heritage. Isaac II (there were no more elders after him) and a number of his associates, inhabitants of the Optina Hermitage, were shot in 1937. The abbot of the monastery, Nektary, died in 1928 in his cell, having prevented his arrest by one day.

The most difficult years of Orthodoxy in Rus'

The fate of hundreds of members of the clergy in the 30s of the 20th century was tragic. Therefore, the prayer of the last Optina elders contains only a prayer to the Lord for humility, for a calm and dignified acceptance of the challenges of reality, interpreting them as a manifestation of his will, a prayer for sending down spiritual strength, the absence of doubts and the ability to overcome fatigue at the end of the day. Without such a prayer (it is now included in all Orthodox prayer books), it would probably be difficult to maintain the faith. One specialist described the prayer as non-denominational and psychotherapeutic. Of course, repeating it all the time, like a spell, it was possible to somehow wake up and fall asleep in the conditions of repression in 1937. (We are talking about those people who were doomed to this fate, specifically the clergy).

Unique prayers of the elders

The Optina elders advised, when turning to the Lord, to avoid verbosity, to be laconic and specific, therefore their prayers are understandable and loved by many Orthodox. Thus, an example is the prayer of the Optina elder Leo. It is known as the private prayer for suicides. Short and laconic, it is addressed to the Lord with a single request - to accept and, if possible, forgive the soul of a suicide, and not to punish the person asking for it. After all, church canons prohibited commemorating in the church and burying in the cemetery of suicides, those killed in a duel and robbery, and drowned people. The wise elders understood that unbearable life circumstances can drive a person to suicide. They allowed private prayers, bypassing the official church, to calm the soul of a person who had committed suicide.

like a spell about happiness

Two more prayers deserve special attention, one of them is the morning prayer of the Optina elders. Having become acquainted with them for the first time, it is impossible not to note their dissimilarity with prayers in general. They, both morning and evening, contain so much expression and passion that, indeed, they can play the role of an affirmation (a short phrase, with repeated repetition of which a necessary image or attitude can be strengthened in a person’s subconscious). An attitude toward happiness, joy, and life in harmony with everyone. This prayer is more like a hymn and a spell at the same time. Repeated declaration of love to the Lord sounds like an unshakable faith in reciprocity. The person who makes this prayer sincerely believes that it is difficult not to respond to such a sincere request for help in matters only bright and good, for a declaration of love for everything and everyone. And a flow of warm gratitude, repeated “amen” can lead to a state of joy and a benevolent attitude towards the whole world.

The originality of the prayers of the Optina elders

The Optina Elders can also evoke a feeling of surprise and a desire to read it again and again. The effect is enhanced by repeated, repeated appeals and enthusiasm, emphasized by exclamation marks. There is a feeling that these two prayers imply the Lord’s friendly disposition towards the one praying. Of course, they are appropriate in the mouth of a person who is cheerful, joyful and successful, convinced that tomorrow will be as wonderful as today. In the evening he reports to God about a happily spent day. She joyfully thanks him for his help, forgives everything and everyone (including herself) for the mistakes she has made, and has no doubt that the Lord will do the same.

Good prayers, understandable, close - this is probably the great wisdom of the reverend elders.

Actually, the prayer of the Optina elders for every day is any prayer taken from the prayer book and suitable for a specific occasion. The role of the daily can be performed by both morning and evening, as well as akathist and service to the icon. Mother of God, called “The Spreader of the Loaves.”

PRAYER OF THE OPTINA ELDERS

IN difficult moments and in moments of joy, people remembering the Saints pray to them, expressing gratitude or asking for help. The day of believers begins with reading a series of prayers, and the first is the morning prayer, and at the end of the day and going to bed, people thank the Almighty by reading the evening prayer. Today we will present the texts of the prayers of the Optina Elders.

Morning prayer of the Optina Elders

Text of the prayer of the Optina Elders at the beginning of the day:

Lord, let me face everything with peace of mind,
What the coming day will bring me.
Let me completely surrender to Your holy will.
For every hour of this day, instruct and support me in everything.
Whatever news I receive during the day,
Teach me to accept them with a calm soul and firm conviction,
That everything is Your holy will.
In all my words and deeds, guide my thoughts and feelings.
Teach me to act directly and wisely with each member of my family,
Without embarrassing or upsetting anyone.

Amen.

Prayers to St. Ambrose of Optina

People read the text of the prayer to St. Ambrose of Optina to get rid of smoking, as well as prayers for their children. The memory of St. Ambrose of Optina is celebrated Orthodox Church June 27/July 10, October 10/23, on the day of the Council of the Optina Elders (October 11/24), on the day of the Tambov Saints Council (July 28/August 10)

Prayer to St. Ambrose of Optina text first

O great elder and servant of God, reverend Ambrose,
Optina praise and all Rus' to the teacher of piety!
We glorify your humble life in Christ,
Because God has exalted your name while you still exist on earth,
above all, crowning you with heavenly honor upon your departure to the palace of eternal glory.
Accept now the prayer of us, your unworthy children,
who honor you and call on your holy name,
deliver us by your intercession before the throne of God from all sorrowful circumstances,
mental and physical illnesses, evil misfortunes, pernicious and evil temptations,
send peace to our Fatherland from the great-gifted God,
peace and prosperity, be the immutable patron of this holy monastery,
In this you yourself strived in prosperity and you pleased our glorious God with everyone in the Trinity,
To Him belongs all glory, honor and worship,
To the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Amen.

Second prayer to St. Ambrose of Optina

O venerable and God-bearing Father Ambrose!
You wanted to work for the Lord, you settled here and worked tirelessly,
In vigils, in prayers and fasting you labored,
And you were a mentor to monastics, but a zealous teacher to all people.
Now, after your departure from the earthly, standing before the Heavenly King, pray to His goodness,
Give generously to the place of your settlement, this holy monastery,
Where you abid in the spirit of your love, and to all your people,
With faith in the race of your relics who fall, fulfill their requests for good.
Ask our merciful Lord to grant us an abundance of earthly blessings,
Moreover, may He grant us the benefit of our souls,
and may he be worthy to end this temporary life in repentance,
On the day of judgment, may He be worthy of standing and enjoying His Kingdom forever and ever.
Amen.

Third prayer to St. Ambrose of Optina

O all-honorable elder of the glorious and wondrous Optina Hermitage,
Reverend and God-bearing Father Ambrose!
Our Church is a good adornment and a gracious lamp,
Illuminate everyone with heavenly light, red and spiritual fruit of Russia and all the sunflowers,
Abundantly delight and amuse the souls of the faithful!
Now with faith and trembling we fall before the celibate reliquary of your holy relics,
You have mercifully given them to console and help the suffering,
We humbly pray to you with our hearts and lips, Holy Father,
As an all-Russian mentor and teacher of piety,
Shepherd and doctor of our mental and physical ailments:
Look at your children, who sin greatly in words and deeds,
And visit us with your much and holy love,
You have succeeded gloriously even in the days of earth.
And especially after your righteous death,
Instructing the saints and God-enlightened fathers in the rules,
Teaching us the commandments of Christ,
You were jealous of their goodness until the last hour of your difficult monastic life;
Ask us, weak in soul and in distress in sorrow,
Favorable and saving time for repentance,
True correction and renewal of our life,
In it we, sinners, become restless in mind and heart,
I gave myself over to obscene and fierce passion, vice and lawlessness,
They are countless; Accept, keep and cover us with the shelter of your many mercies,
Grant us a blessing from the Lord,
May we bear the good yoke of Christ with long-suffering until the end of our days,
Longing for the future life and the Kingdom, where there is no sorrow,
Not sighing, but life and endless joy,
Flowing abundantly from the one, all-holy and blessed source of immortality,
In the Trinity we worship God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayers of St. Anthony of Optina

This prayer should be read about the beginning of any business.

God, come to my help, Lord, strive for my help.
Rule, Lord, everything I do, read and write, everything I think,
I say and mean, for the glory of Your Holy Name,
May I accept the beginning from You and in You all my work will end.
Grant me, O God, that I may anger Thee neither by word, nor by deed, nor by thought,
My Creator, but all the works are mine,
Let your advice and thoughts be for the glory of Your Most Holy Name.
God, come to my help, Lord, strive for my help.

Prayer for family

In the hand of great mercy, O my God, I present:
My soul and my painful body, my husband,
This is given to me from You, and to all beloved children.
You be our Helper and Patron throughout our lives,
In our exodus and at our death, in joy and sorrow,
In happiness and misfortune, in sickness and health, in life and death,
In everything, may Your holy will be done with us, as in heaven and on earth.
Amen.

Prayer of St. Anatoly of Optina from the Antichrist

Deliver me, Lord, from the deception of the god-hideous, evil, and cunning Antichrist who is coming,
And hide me from his snares in the hidden wilderness of Your salvation.
Grant me, Lord, the strength and courage to firmly confess Your Holy Name,
May I not retreat from fear for the sake of the devil, may I not renounce You,
My Savior and Redeemer, from Your holy Church. But let me
Lord, day and night weep and cry for my sins and have mercy on me, Lord, at the hour of Your Last Judgment.
Amen.

Prayer of St. Nektarios of Optina from the Antichrist

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, who is coming to judge the living and the dead, have mercy on us sinners, forgive the fall of our entire lives and through their destinies hide us from the face of the Antichrist in the hidden desert of Your salvation. Amen.

Prayer of the last Optina Elders

Lord, let me meet with peace of mind everything that the coming day will bring me.
Let me completely surrender to Your Holy will.
At every hour of this day, instruct and support me in everything.
Whatever news I receive during the day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul and the firm conviction that everything is Your Holy will.
In all my words and deeds, guide my thoughts and feelings.
In all unforeseen cases, do not let me forget that everything was sent down by You.
Teach me to act directly and wisely with each member of my family, without confusing or upsetting anyone.
Lord, give me strength to endure the fatigue of the coming day and all the events during the day.
Guide my will and teach me to pray, believe, hope, endure, forgive and love.
Amen.

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History of appearance

The Optina elders were residents of the Optina Monastery, in the Kaluga region of Russia. These monks served the people with the gift that God gave them, believed in the Savior and deeply studied the Scriptures, bringing petitions to God for all those who suffered. The elders had a prophetic gift. They spoke what God revealed to them regarding future events, and also knew what happened in the past.

God gave them the gift of healing with which they ministered to the people. Many pilgrims came to the monastery. The prayers worked miracles. Many people received healing for their souls and bodies.

Three monks gained the greatest fame:

Lev Danilovich was a man of unshakable faith and extraordinary courage. His whole life was service to God and his neighbor. In humility and unceasing prayer, he turned to God. Crowds of the destitute flocked to him. He had the gift of healing people with oil from a lamp in which the fire was constantly maintained;
The Venerable Seraphim is a righteous man who preached the Good News. Believers from all over the country came to him to listen to the Word of God;
Makar was a student and colleague of Lev Danilovich. He believed that the main virtue and foundation of Christian life is humility. It was her that the reverend brought up in people. The monk had a prophetic gift and predicted the future.

The Optina elders are servants of God with unshakable faith, holiness and a pure heart. The prayer of the Optina elders is said at the very beginning of the day, immediately after waking up.

Prayer is a sacrament, and it should be said with understanding, turning to the Lord, believing that He will reward. True prayer brings joy, for the Lord rewards those who seek Him.

You should pray as soon as you open your eyes and while your mind is not clouded and your heart is not burdened with worldly worries.

If the text is difficult to remember, then when addressing the Lord you are allowed to use your own words. The main thing is that the prayer is full of faith and confidence in the love of God.

Before you ask the Lord for anything, thank Him for everything that He has already given you, and do not doubt that He will turn every situation for your good. He will protect and help to surrender to His holy will and to be guided by His feelings in all thoughts and reasoning.

This prayer will help you gain wisdom from the Lord in resolving all everyday situations, heal your soul and achieve inner harmony.

The main thing is that reading the prayer is not done in order to “check a box,” but in order to turn to the Lord with all your soul and all your being, believing in Him and loving Him.

Video “Prayer of the Optina Elders for every day”

In the video you can listen to the full text of the prayer.

At the beginning of the day

Lord, let me meet with peace of mind everything that the coming day will bring me. Let me completely surrender to Your holy will. For every hour of this day, instruct and support me in everything. Whatever news I receive during the day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul and a firm conviction that everything is Your holy will. In all my words and deeds, guide my thoughts and feelings. In all unforeseen cases, do not let me forget that everything was sent down by You. Teach me to act directly and wisely with each member of my family, without confusing or upsetting anyone. Lord, give me strength to endure the fatigue of the coming day and all the events during the day. Guide my will and teach me to pray, believe, hope, endure, forgive and love. Amen.

Other prayers

About the beginning of every business

God, come to my help, Lord, strive for my help. Rule, Lord, everything I do, read and write, everything I think, speak and understand, to the glory of Your Holy Name, so that all my work may begin from You and end in You. Grant to me, O God, that I may anger Thee, my Creator, neither by word, nor by deed, nor by thought, but may all my deeds, advice and thoughts be for the glory of Thy Most Holy Name. God, come to my help, Lord, strive for my help.

About the family

In the hands of great mercy, O my God, I entrust: my soul and much-painful body, the husband given to me from You, and all my beloved children. Thou shalt be our Helper and Patron throughout our life, at our departure and at our death, in joy and sorrow, in happiness and misfortune, in sickness and health, in life and death, in everything may Thy holy will be with us, as on heaven and earth. Amen.

For the enemies

Those who hate and offend us, Your servants (names), forgive, Lord, Lover of mankind: they don’t know what they are doing, and warm their hearts to love us, unworthy.

In carnal warfare

O Mother of my Lord Creator, You are the root of virginity and unfading color cleanliness. Oh, Mother of God! Help me, the one who is weak with carnal passion and painful, for one is Thine and with Thee is the intercession of Thy Son and God. Amen.

When thoughts invade

Lord Jesus Christ, drive away from me all inappropriate thoughts! Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am weak... For You are my God, support my mind, so that unclean thoughts do not overcome it, but in You, my Creator, (he) delights, for He is great Your name loving Ty.

In grief

Glory to Thee, my God, for the sorrow sent to me, I now accept what is worthy of my deeds. Remember me when you come into Your Kingdom, and may all Your will be one, good and perfect.

From the Antichrist

Deliver me, O Lord, from the seduction of the god-hating, evil, cunning Antichrist of the coming, and hide me from his snares in the hidden desert of Your salvation. Grant me, Lord, the strength and courage to firmly confess Your Holy Name, so that I will not retreat from fear for the sake of the devil, and may not deny You, my Savior and Redeemer, from Your holy Church. But grant me, Lord, day and night weeping and tears for my sins and have mercy on me, Lord, at the hour of Your Last Judgment. Amen.

From the Antichrist

About the unbaptized, those who died without repentance and suicides

Seek, O Lord, the lost soul of Your servant (name): if it is possible, have mercy. Your destinies are unsearchable. Do not make this my prayer a sin, but Thy holy will be done.

At the beginning of the day

Option 1

Lord, let me meet with peace of mind everything that this day will give me. Lord, let me completely surrender to Your Holy will. Lord, at every hour of this day, instruct and support me in everything. Lord, reveal to me Your will for me and those around me. Lord, whatever news I receive during the day, let me accept it with a calm soul and the firm conviction that everything is Your Holy will. Lord, Great, Merciful, guide my thoughts and feelings in all my deeds and words; in all unforeseen circumstances, do not let me forget that everything was sent down by You. Lord, let me act wisely with each of my neighbors, without upsetting anyone or embarrassing anyone. Lord, give me strength to endure the weariness of this day and all the events during it. Guide my will and teach me to pray and love everyone unfeignedly. Amen.

Option 2

Prayers of St. Anthony of Optina

About the beginning of every business

For the enemies

Forgive those who hate and offend us, Thy servants (names), O Lord, Lover of Mankind: for they do not know what they are doing, and warm their hearts to love us, the unworthy.

Prayer of St. Macarius of Optina

In carnal warfare

O Mother of the Lord my Creator, You are the root of virginity and the unfading color of purity. Oh, Mother of God! Help me, the one who is weak with carnal passion and painful, for one is Thine and with Thee is the intercession of Thy Son and God. Amen.

Prayer of St. Joseph of Optina

When thoughts invade

Prayer of St. Nikon of Optina Confessor

In grief

Glory to Thee, my God, for the sorrow sent to me, I now accept what is worthy of my deeds. Remember me when you come into Your Kingdom, and may all Your will be one, good and perfect.

Prayer of St. Anatoly of Optina (Potapov)

From the Antichrist

Prayer of St. Nektarios of Optina

From the Antichrist

Prayer of St. Leo of Optina

About the unbaptized, those who died without repentance and suicides

Seek, O Lord, the lost soul of Your servant (name): if it is possible, have mercy. Your destinies are unsearchable. Do not make this my prayer a sin, but Thy holy will be done.