Pimonakhos Vol 3 Issue 3

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Vol: 3 Issue: 3

Amsher 1725 / March 2009

The Exercise of the Arrow Prayer The Concept Behind this Exercise: These prayers are called "arrow-like prayers" by the Church for they are, in a manner of speaking, spiritual arrows that penetrate the thick veil that can exist between man and God, rises to the pinnacle of heaven and enters the sanctuary of the Lord and is most effective. Practical Application: 1. You should choose an appropriate time to carry out this exercise. You can, for example, repeat this prayer several tens of times in a few minutes before the morning prayers (Prime), before the evening prayers (Vespers), or when you go to bed at night. On all these occasions, you either get ready for prayer or you protect your heart and mind from being immersed in thoughts or images of evil. 2. You will initially feel somewhat bored and that it is a monotonous routine. This feeling, however, will disappear if you concentrate on what you are saying. 3. At the beginning, the words will be uttered by your mouth; then your mind will pay attention to them and you will feel that you are engaged in a humble dialogue with the Lord because of your sins. Next, your feelings are stirred and the prayer is entrenched in your heart in joy and the awareness of the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. What is joyful is that this "storing up" in your heart will be very important for your daily life. You will discover that this prayer will leap from your heart to your lips unintentionally and you will find yourself saying: "My Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon me.....". This will alert you to the presence of the Lord and to the possibility of repeating it several times. If you are in a sinful situation, you will correct it quickly, and if you are upset for any reason, you will quickly be comforted by the Lord. The Purpose of the Exercise: The validity of the objective, therefore, is basic and the guidance of your spiritual father guarantees the clarity of the purpose and the soundness of the way. This exercise has its roots in the gospel because it is taken from the prayer of the tax collector who stood afar off and would not do much as lift his eyes to heaven,


but smote his chest saying: "God be merciful to me a sinner" (Lk. 18: 13), and who went down to his house justified. Its roots are also in the Old Testament, for David, the prophet, said: "O, how I love Your Name; it is my meditation all the day" (Ps.119:97), and "I remember Your Name in the night, O Lord" (Ps. 119: 55). Has not St. Peter said: "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk....... Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 3: 6, 4: 12) Did not Isaiah the prophet say: "The desire of our soul is for Your Name" (Isa. 26: 8)? It is the name of salvation: "and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Mt. 1: 21). It was an exercise which St. Augustine advised his disciples to do asking them to repeat always: " My Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me; my Lord Jesus Christ, help me; I praise You, My Lord Jesus Christ." The Psalmody gives us the same feeling when we repeat continuously: "My Lord Jesus Christ, my good Savior." What is important is that the call to the Lord Jesus Christ be repeated, if only in various short requests as the need arises, and any number of times in a flexibility that aims at bringing us into the presence of God. The idea is not to follow fixed way or repeat it an exact number of times, but to say it in spiritual freedom. When we feel we want to speak differently with the Lord, we leave this prayer and talk to Him about what we want. It is only a "key" that enables us to enter to the Lord. A State of Tranquility; The fathers say that this exercise puts you in a state of "tranquility of the heart", or spiritual, intellectual, psychological, and nervous peace which we need urgently in our era which is full of causes for worry. What is most wonderful about this exercise is that it goes with you everywhere: when you are among people, on the bus or waiting for the bus, before going to bed and on getting up. It is an exercise for every time and every place. Let us repeat together, my dear brother: "My Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me; my Lord Jesus Christ, help me; I praise you my Lord Jesus Christ."

The Monastery’s Bell Tower Page 2


A Group from St Dymiana Church Spending the day at the monastery

Abba Epiphanius teaching on continual prayer On one occasion a Bishop was sent secretly to Abba Epiphanius by the head of a certain monastery in Palestine, saying, “We have not treated lightly your services of prayer since your departure from us, but we perform most carefully the services for the third, and sixth, and ninth hours, and also vespers.” Then Abba Epiphanius blamed those who sent him, and wrote a message, which he sent to them, saying, “You must know that you are indeed neglectful of the services and prayers which belong to the other eight hours which are in the day, for it is right for the monk who has made himself to be remote from the world to be occupied with prayers to God unceasingly, and he should pray either in his heart, or in a carefully defined service, or in that service which he performs with his will and with understanding. For the devil adds greatly to any small failing which he may find in a monk, and by being with him continually he enlarges greatly the breach of prayers which he has made, and by his (the devil) habit of persistence he acquires his natural power, and more particularly is this so in the case of those who are careless and lazy.” Page 3


TIPS ON PRAYER Youth Article “The brethren asked Abba Agathon: “Amongst all of our different activities, father, which is the virtue that requires the greatest effort?” He answered: “Forgive me, but I think there is no labour greater than praying to God. For every time a man wants to pray, his enemies the demons try to prevent him; for they know that nothing obstructs them so much as prayer to God. In everything else that a man undertakes, if he perseveres, he will attain rest. But in order to pray a man must struggle to his last breath.” The Sayings of the Desert Fathers The modern day Christian hears a sermon about prayer at least once a week. A sermon about its beauty, and magnificence, but why is it that so often we do not feel what the speaker feels, how often do we benefit from these sermons, and how do we draw meaning from prayer in a way that we may see, hear and draw near to God. The following contains five points are answers to common attitudes, questions and misconceptions about prayer. A common attitude stopping us from drawing near to God through prayer is that prayer is dry and boring, and that there is no way that this is the best way to speak to God, and often people give up on the heavenly activity all together. But that is because they don’t see deep below the surface, where boredom and all other unpleasant emotions are all cunning works of evil. For every time a believer stands to pray, the forces of evil arise with them, doing all in their power to distract and retract the believer from drawing nearer to God. For prayer is the devil's greatest obstacle, and there is nothing more powerful than when a believer falls into a deep and passionate prayer, and as St Basil’s liturgy says, “Lift up your hearts to the Lord” giving it to Him to keep in His majestic treasure box which He holds closer to His heart than the praises of the angels. Therefore, “The Kingdom of Heaven Suffers Much Violence” as the angels of God and the demons of the devil contest for the attention of the person in prayer. However, more often than not the struggle to pray happens within us, between body and spirit. This battle amid body and spirit brings upon the need for a “change of mind/attitude”, also known as a “metanoia”. In the orthodox monastic orders monks and nuns have committed the rest of their lives to achieving this metanoia, to fight the good fight, to running the good race and to triumph over the forces of evil, in order to lift up their hearts to the Lord. They tire their bodies and minds in order to exhort their spirits from a celibate order to an angelic rank. With prostrations, fasts and tireless repentance they aim to leave behind a life of vanity, and lead a life of vigil prayer, to enrich their overall spirit so that it may reign in majesty. Another common misconception is that; “I don’t need to pray at church or with other people, I am better off going at it alone.” Communal prayer is arguably one of the most beneficial spiritual activities that a believer can undergo, it is vital for the growth of the spirit, both yours and that of others. As the body of Christ, how can legs move Page 4


forward leaving the torso behind, likewise how can a believer progress spiritually leaving their brothers or sisters behind. If we look at the Lord’s prayer (which we are told to recite every time we come to pray), and the orthodox expression of faith in the Nicean creed, it says; “Our Father...”, “...Give Us this day...”,“We believe in One God...”, “...We believe in One Lord..”, etc, we see there is a clear use of plurals, as our Lord Jesus Christ and our Nicean fathers intended, that we, as one body of Christ, in prayer and unity, as one body and one spirit, may “Let our light so shine before men” in order to illuminate the Truth of God upon the world as He intended, which He will accept as a sacrifice of prayer and praise to His Holy name. We are told as children, that God speaks to us through the bible, but what is its relation to prayer? Offcourse there are the obvious answers to that question, but perhaps the most beautiful aspect of this relation is the fact that, not only can the bible answer our prayers, but that it provides inspiration for prayer. The power of God, through His holy words, may fill the heart of a believer and overflow to the mouth, such that the words that come out of their mouth are no longer controlled by the body, but by the spirit, whereby a true and precious prayer is offered up to God. Various other complains that they have no inspiration for prayer, but what more inspiration do you need than to look outside a window and admire God’s creation. Inspiration to prayer is very often found in nature, as the creation of nature leads us to God and God sends us back to his creation, enabling us to look at nature with purity, as if we were there in paradise in the beginning, when all was created. For by loving the creation, it will help us to better love the creator. I was driving home today and on my way back I saw a sign that said, “Nature is God at work, If you love Nature, You Love God.” How true and beautiful this fact is. If you can’t, having an open heart, draw inspiration from that, then you’re just not human.

A tree in the monastery land taking the shape of Christ crucified

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FROM THE WAY OF THE PILGRIM "By the grace of God I am a Christian man, by my actions a great sinner, and by calling a homeless wanderer of the humblest birth who roams from place to place. My worldly goods are a knapsack with some dried bread in it on my back, and in my breast-pocket a Bible. And that is all. On the 24th Sunday after Pentecost I went to church to say my prayers there during the Liturgy. The first Epistle of St. Paul to the Thessalonians 5:17 was being read, and among other words I heard these--" Pray without ceasing." It was this text, more than any other, which forced itself upon my mind, and I began to think how it was possible to pray without ceasing, since a man has to concern himself with other things also in order to make a living. I looked at my Bible, and with my own eyes read the words which I had heard, i.e., that we ought always, at all times and in all places, to pray with uplifted hands. I thought and thought, but knew not what to make of it. “What ought I to do!" I thought. “Where shall I find someone to explain it to me? I will go to the churches where famous preachers are to be heard; perhaps there I shall hear something which will throw light on it for me." I did so. I heard a number of very fine sermons on prayer; what prayer is, how much we need it, and what its fruits are; but no one said how one could succeed in prayer. I heard a sermon on spiritual prayer, and unceasing prayer, but how it was to be done was not pointed out. Thus listening to sermons failed to give me what I wanted, and having had my fill of them without gaining understanding, I gave up going to hear public sermons. I settled on another plan--by God's help to look for some experienced and skilled person who would give me in conversation that teaching about unceasing prayer which drew me so urgently. For a long time I wandered through many places. I read my Bible always, and everywhere I asked whether there was not in the neighbourhood a spiritual teacher, a devout and experienced guide, to be found... At last towards evening [one day] I was overtaken by an old man who looked like a cleric of some sort. In answer to my question he told me that he was a monk belonging to a monastery some six miles off the main road. He asked me to go there with him. " We take in pilgrims," said he, "and give them rest and food with devout persons in the guest house." I did not feel like going. So in reply I said that my peace of mind is in no way depended upon my finding a resting-place, but upon finding spiritual teaching. Neither was I running after food, for I had plenty of dried bread in my knapsack. " What sort of spiritual teaching are you wanting to get" he asked me. " What is it puzzling you?" ... Page 6


He took my request kindly and asked me into his cell. “Come in," said he; we went into his cell and he began to speak as follows. " The continuous interior Prayer of Jesus is a constant uninterrupted calling upon the divine Name of Jesus with the lips, in the spirit, in the heart; while forming a mental picture of His constant presence, and imploring His grace, during every occupation, at all times, in all places, even during sleep. The appeal is couched in these terms, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me. One who accustoms himself to this appeal experiences as a result so deep a consolation and so great a need to offer the prayer always, that he can no longer live without it, and it will continue to voice itself within him of its own accord. Now do you understand what prayer without ceasing is?" "Yes indeed, Father, and in God's name teach me how to gain the habit of it," I cried, filled with joy. He opened the book [The Philokalia], found the instruction by St. Simeon the New Theologian, and read: “Sit down alone and in silence. Lower your head, shut your eyes, breathe out gently and imagine yourself looking into your own heart. Carry your mind, i.e, your thoughts, from your head to your heart. As you breathe out, say Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.' Say it moving your lips gently, or simply say it in your mind. Try to put all other thoughts aside. Be calm, be patient, and repeat the process very frequently." I listened closely and with great delight, fixed it in my memory, and tried as far as possible to remember every detail. The Pilgrim found a place to stay in a village nearby. As he tried to practice this new way of prayer he found himself "tired, lazy, bored and overwhelmingly sleepy, and a cloud of all sorts of other thoughts closed round me." His friend and spiritual director, the monk, said: "My dear brother, it is the attack of the world of darkness upon you. To that world, nothing is worse than heartfelt prayer on our part. And it is trying by every means to hinder you and to turn you aside from learning the Prayer. But all the same the enemy only does what God see fit to allow, and no more than is necessary for us... "There you have the teaching of the holy Fathers on such cases," said my teacher, " and therefore you ought from today onwards to carry out my directions with confidence, and repeat the Prayer of Jesus as often as possible. Here is a prayer rope (rosary). Take it, and to start with saying the Prayer three thousand times a day. Whether you are standing or sitting, walking or lying down, continually repeat 'Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me'. Say it quietly and without hurry, but without fail exactly three thousand times a day without deliberately increasing or diminishing the number. God will help you... From: The Way of the Pilgrim and a pilgrim continues his way

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QUESTION & ANSWER How can man pray continually, as the body becomes ill through constant prayer? What limit ought there be to prayer? And suppose I am talking with someone, how can I fulfill the command? The standing up of a man in his prayer [once] is not said to be prayer, but he must do so continually. Whether you are eating, or drinking, or even traveling on the road, or if you are doing some piece of work, you shall not let prayer be remote from your heart. No measure has been laid down to prayer; because He said, ‘Pray at all times, and continually.’ He did not lay down any measure to prayer. For if you only really pray when you stands up in prayer, then you do not pray with the heart but with the mouth only. Now concerning this, the Apostle spoke, in all your prayers, and in all your supplications, pray at all times in the spirit; and when it would be inappropriate for you to pray, because you are speaking with another man, then pray through supplication.

FURTHER READINGS Olga Savin, “The Way of the Pilgrim and a pilgrim continues his way” The Way of a Pilgrim is a spiritual classic, but its origins are shrouded in mystery. Whether it is literal, fictitious, metaphorical, or pedagogical is unknown. The story follows an itinerant spiritual wanderer, all the time practicing Saint Paul's exhortation to "pray without ceasing." Specifically, the pilgrim repeats one prayer unceasingly, the Jesus prayer, until it becomes a sort of chant. Through repetition of the prayer and encounters with his fellow inhabitants of 19th-century Russia and Siberia, the wanderer finds a spiritual enlightenment. Lev Gillet, “The Jesus Prayer” This unique study provides the reader with both a historical and spiritual understanding of the prayer which simply invokes the name of Jesus. To pronounce the name of Jesus in a holy way is an all-sufficient and surpassing aim for any human life... We are to call to mind Jesus Christ until the name of the Lord penetrates our heart, descends to its very depths... The Name of Jesus, once it has become the centre of our life, it brings everything together. Page 8


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