ΠΩΣ ΠΡΕΠΕΙ ΝΑ ΠΡΟΣΕΥΧΟΜΑΣΤΕ
1. Να λέμε την προσευχή μας αργά και καθαρά. Όχι με βιασύνη, αλλά με αγάπη προς το Θεό.
2. Πριν προσευχηθούμε να έχουμε συγχωρήσει όλους όσους μας έχουν αδικήσει η μας έχουν στενοχωρήσει στη ζωή μας.
3. Να μάθουμε να αγαπούμε την προσευχή μας με τρόπο ταπεινό.
4. Για να καρποφορήσει μία προσευχή χρειάζεται βαθειά ταπείνωση καρδιάς και μυστηριακή ζωή.
5. Η προσευχή αποδίδει περισσότερο όταν έχουμε εξομολογηθεί καθαρά και έχουμε κοινωνήσει το Πανάγιον Σώμα και Αίμα του Κυρίου ημών Ιησού Χριστού.6. Να προσευχόμαστε χωρίς εικόνες στο νου μας, αλλά να προσέχουμε τα λόγια της προσευχής με κατάνυξη και ευλάβεια.
7. Όσο περισσότερο προσευχόμεθα, τόσο περισσότερο αισθανόμαστε την παρουσία του Θεού.
ΠΩΣ ΓΙΝΕΤΑΙ Η ΠΡΟΣΕΥΧΗ ΜΕ ΚΟΜΠΟΣΧΟΙΝΙ
«Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ, Υιέ του Θεού, ελέησόν με»
της Ιεράς Μονής Αγίου Διονυσίου Αγίου Όρους
Αγαπητοί μας αδελφοί,
Σαλπίζουμε εγερτήριο σάλπισμα.
Οι εχθροί μας δαίμονες δεν κοιμούνται και εργάζονται ακατάπαυστα να μας ρίξουν στις αμαρτίες και εξαιτίας αυτών και των παθών μας στα βάθη της κόλασης. Με άλλο τρόπο δεν μπορούμε να τους αντιμετωπίσουμε παρά μόνο με την προσευχή. Η ανάγνωση πνευματικών βιβλίων είναι καλή και ωφέλιμη η ανάγνωση η παρακολούθηση των ακολουθιών της Εκκλησίας μας βοηθούν όσους έχουν τη δυνατότητα να τα κάνουν.
Για τους πολλούς όμως ένας τρόπος που μπορεί να αντικαταστήσει τους άλλους τρόπους προσευχής είναι με το κομποσχοίνι. Σε κάθε κόμπο επικαλείσαι το όνομα του Κυρίου Ιησού λέγοντας τη σύντομη ευχή «Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ, Υιέ του Θεού, ελέησόν με» η απλώς « Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ, ελέησόν με». Θα αρχίσεις με το: Δι εὐχῶν των αγίων πατέρων ημών, Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ, ο Θεός ημών, ελέησον ημάς. Αμήν. Δόξα σοι ο Θεός, Βασιλεύ ουράνιε, Τρισάγιον, Παναγία Τριας, Πάτερ ημών. Τον Ν´ ψαλμόν. Μια σύντομη αυτοσχέδια προσευχή μία φορά την ημέρα με σύντομη δοξολογία, ευχαριστία, εξομολόγηση, αίτηση αφέσεως των αμαρτιών σου, ενισχύσεώς σου και των εν Χριστώ αδελφών σου στον αγώνα τον καλό, και προσευχή με κομποσχοίνι όπως παρακάτω:
Α. Ο Εσπερινός με κομποσχοίνι η με το ρολόι χωρίς κομποσχοίνι (κομποσχοίνι των 300 κόμπων = τριακοσάρι, κομποσχοίνι των 100 κόμπων = εκαστοστάρι).
Τρία τριακοσάρια του Χριστού η 15 λεπτά με το ρολόι.
Ένα τριακοσάρικο της Παναγίας η 5 λεπτά με το ρολόι.
Ένα εκατοστάρι του Αγίου της ημέρας η 5 λεπτά με το ρολόι.
Ένα εκατοστάρι του Αγίου της Ενορίας η 2 λεπτά με το ρολόι.
Ένα εκατοστάρι του Αγίου της εβδομάδος η 2 λεπτά με το ρολόι.
Β. Το Απόδειπνον, το ίδιο ως ο Εσπερινός με επιπλέον 2 τρακοσάρικα της Παναγίας η 10 λεπτά με το ρολόι.
Γ. Μεσονυκτικόν, τέσσερα τρακοσάρικα του Χριστού σε 15 λεπτά με το ρολόι και ένα τρακοσάρι της Παναγίας η 5 λεπτά με το ρολόι.
Δ. Όρθρος, εννέα τριακοσάρικα του Χριστού η μία ώρα με το ρολόι, τρία τρακοσάρικα της Παναγίας η 15 λεπτά με το ρολόι. Από ένα εκατοστάρι του αγίου της ημέρας, της ενορίας και της εβδομάδος ως στον εσπερινό, η από δυό λεπτά, και επιπλέον ένα τρακοσάρι των Αγίων Πάντων η 5 λεπτά με το ρολόι.
Ε. Θεία Μετάληψις, τέσσερα τριακοσάρικα του Χριστού η 15 λεπτά. Ένα τρακοσάρικο της Παναγίας η 5 λεπτά.
Στ. Παράκλησις στον Χριστό, την Παναγία η σε Άγιο. Δυό τρακοσάρικα η δέκα λεπτά.
Ζ. Ώραι 1η, 3η, 6η και 9η, έξι τριακοσάρικα του Χριστού η ½ ώρα, δυό τρακοσάρικα της Παναγίας η 10 λεπτά.
Αν έχεις πολλή ελεύθερη ώρα ταξιδεύοντας στο λεωφορείο, η οπουδήποτε βρίσκεσαι, αντί να πιάσεις κουβέντα με τον ένα η τον άλλο, κοίταξε το ρολόι σου, κλείσου στον εαυτό σου και λέγε την ευχή όπως είπαμε πιο πάνω.
Με την συνήθεια, την ασταμάτητη προσοχή και την αδιάλειπτη προσευχή γίνεσαι δύσκολος στόχος του πονηρού. Μαζί με αυτά, η καλλιέργεια της αγάπης, της ευσπλαχνίας, της πίστης, της συμπόνοιας, της κατάνυξης, της αυτοκατηγορίας, της ελπίδας στον Θεό, της τακτικής εξομολόγησης και Θείας Κοινωνίας, αποκτάς ένα γερό οπλοστάσιο και καθιστάς τον εαυτό σου θωρακισμένο με την χάρη του Θεού και σχεδόν απρόσβλητον από τα θανατηφόρα βέλη του διαβόλου. Ο Κύριος είπε: «Άνευ εμού ου δύνασθε ποιείν ουδέν». Γι αὐτὸ γνωρίζοντας την ασθένειά σου ταπεινώσου, και έχε εις τον Θεό την ελπίδα σου ίνα μη καταισχυνθής και δόξαζε κατά πάντα τω Πατρί και τω Υιώ και τω Αγίω Πνεύματι νυν και αεί και εις τους αιώνας. Αμήν.
Στα κομποσχοίνια:
Του Χριστού λέμε: Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ, ελέησόν με.
Της Παναγίας λέμε: Υπεραγία Θεοτόκε, σώσόν με.
Του Αγίου της ημέρας: Άγιε… πρέσβευε υπέρ εμού.
Του Αγίου της ενορίας: Άγιε… πρέσβευε υπέρ εμού.
Του Αγίου της εβδομάδος: Άγιε… πρέσβευε υπέρ εμού.
Δευτέρα: Άγιοι Αρχάγγελοι, πρεσβεύσατε υπέρ εμού.
Τρίτη: Βαπτιστά του Χριστού, πρέσβευε υπέρ εμού.
Τετάρτη και Παρασκευή: Σταυρέ του Χριστού, σώσόν με τη δυνάμει σου.
Πέμπτη: Άγιοι Απόστολοι, πρεσβεύσατε υπέρ εμού και, Άγιε Νικόλαε, πρέσβευε υπέρ εμού.
Σάββατο: Άγιοι Πάντες, πρεσβεύσατε υπέρ εμού.
Κυριακή: Παναγία Τριας (ο Θεός), ελέησόν με.
Για τον Άγγελο Φύλακα: Άγιε Άγγελέ μου, φύλαξέ με.
ΑΝΤΙ ΕΠΙΛΟΓΟΥ
Ο Άγιος Γρηγόριος ο Σιναΐτης δίδαξε την εργασία της Νοεράς προσευχής όχι μόνο στους Μοναχούς του Αγίου Όρους, αλλά ξεκινώντας από το Άγιον Όρος πήγε διδάσκοντας τη Νοερά προσευχή μέχρι τη Βλαχία, δηλαδή τη σημερινή Ρουμανία.
Επίσης ο λαμπρός της Θεσσαλονίκης φωστήρας αγ. Γρηγόριος ο Παλαμάς όχι μόνο σε πολλές ομιλίες του παρακινούσε όλους τους χριστιανούς να προσεύχονται νοερά και με την καρδιά τους, αλλά και λόγον ολόκληρον έστειλε στους Ιωάννην και Θεόδωρον τους φιλοσόφους, που βρίσκονταν στον κόσμο, στον οποίο λόγο αποκάλυψε σ αὐτοὺς όλα τα μυστήρια της Νοεράς προσευχής.
Ο Άγιος Διάδοχος λέει ότι ο σατανάς δε θέλει ποτέ να μάθουν οι Χριστιανοί και να πιστεύουν ότι αυτός βρίσκεται στην καρδιά και από εκεί τους πολεμάει, αλλά θέλει να νομίζουν ότι τους πολεμάει εξωτερικά. Κατόπιν τούτου οι περισσότεροι Χριστιανοί και ιδιαίτερα οι λογιώτατοι πολλές φορές πιστεύουν ότι οι λογισμοί έρχονται σ αὐτοὺς όχι εσωτερικά, δηλαδή από την καρδιά, αλλά από τη λογική τους, δηλαδή τις σκέψεις τους και τούτο, για να μη μάθουν να πολεμούν το σατανά με την καρδιακή μνήμη του Κυρίου ημών Ιησού Χριστού, δηλαδή με τη Νοερά και καρδιακή προσευχή!.. «Τω δε Βασιλεί των αιώνων, αφθάρτω, αοράτω, μόνω σοφώ Θεώ, τιμή και δόξα εις τους αιώνας των αιώνων. Αμήν».
Drunkenness is sin in and of itself… "nor drunkards... shall not inherit the Kingdom of God," according to the teaching of the Apostle (1 Cor. 6:10). And Christ says, And "take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness" (Lk. 21:34). This is the cause of so many and serious sins. It brings about the quarrels, fights, and bloodshed, and murders that follow upon it. It is rough talk, blasphemy, and cursing. It causes disappointment and offence to neighbor. It teaches lying, flattery, seizure of the things of others so as to somehow satisfy the passion. It ignites anger and wrath. It makes people cast themselves into impurity as swine into the mire.
In a word, it makes a man a beast, and the rational irrational, so that not only the inward condition but also the outward appearance of a man often changes. Wherefore St. John Chrysostom says, "The devil loves nothing like luxury and drunkenness" (Homily 58 on St. Matthew), because nothing fulfils his evil will as does a drunkard.
Drunkenness is the cause not only of ills of the soul but also of bodily and temporal ills:
1. It weakens the body and brings it to infirmity, whence it written, "Shew not thy valiantness in wine; for wine hath destroyed many" (Sirach 31:25).
2. It leads to wretchedness and poverty. "A labouring man that is given to drunkenness shall not be rich" (Sirach 19:1).
3. It takes away one's glory and good name. On the contrary it leads to ignominy, contempt and loathing. For people loathe nothing so much as they do a drunkard.
4. It brings grief and sorrow to the household, relatives, and friends, and merriment to enemies.
5. It makes its devotees useless for any calling, and in whatever calling a drunkard may be, it brings about calamity and misfortune rather than benefit to society. St. John Chrysostom, describing the misfortune and destruction of drunkenness, says, "Drunkenness is self-imposed possession, the emptying of thought, a calamity of derision, a disease worthy of ridicule, a voluntary demon" (Homily on the Resurrection), and much more. In order to guard oneself against drunkenness it is useful to apply the following:
1. Do not allow young people to drink alcoholic beverages since young people easily become accustomed to it, and whatever they learn in youth they hold to throughout their entire life.
2. Do not allow them to keep company with drunkards and the depraved.
3. Adults and those who have come to manhood should not drink wine without need.
4. Keep away from evil company and festivities.
5. Remind them that it is extremely difficult to hold back from this passion, and many perish in soul and body in and through that very passion.
6. Those that have become accustomed to this passion should powerfully arm themselves against its torments; stand, and not give in, and pray and call upon the all-powerful help of God.
7. Remember the misfortunes caused by drunkenness, and compare the condition of a sober life with the condition of a drunken life. These people should think about the fact that many drunkards die in their sleep and go from this life to the next without any consciousness, and therefore without repentance.
Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk
Most young people don’t know how to discover their calling in the life. Whether to dedicate themselves to monasticism or select the marriage path. Some have the feeling that monasticism is a more superior choice than marriage and that marriage represents a lower situation. Others believe that any young man who chooses to become a monk is a coward who avoids the responsibilities of citizenship.
Bishop of Nafpaktos, Hierotheos provides a warm insight and a clear view of the essence of both marriage and monastic life, based on the teaching of the Eastern Church Fathers. “Both marriage and monasticism are powerful symbolic ways of straining toward the ultimate goal of love. Celibacy and marriage are not contrasted with each other; instead, both are compared to and directed to God’s love”.
Monasticism and Married Life
Orthodox spirituality is accessible to all people; responding to its message is not associated with special groups of people. All those who have been baptised in the name of the Holy Triune God are “compelled” to uphold Christ’s commandments. There are no exceptions on the way toward theosis, which is the “journey” from the image of God to His likeness. The Apostle Paul says clearly: “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3, 27).
The essence and aim of Orthodox spirituality presented in the foregoing chapters is delineated in the Word of Christ and the teachings of the Apostles. Many passages from Holy Scripture have been quoted which show that the first Christians lived the spiritual life profoundly, having attained to the illumination of the nous and unceasing prayer.
In a reference to virginity and marriage the Apostle Paul states: “He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife” (1 Cor. 7, 32-33). Yet, at the same time he stresses: “But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wines be as though they had none” (1 Cor. 7, 29). Thus married people also lived ascetically and had experiences of the spiritual life.
Moreover, not to be overlooked is the fact that all of the Apostle Paul’s Epistles, sent to the various Churches, were addressed to Christians who were married and had families. And it is within these Epistles that St. Paul speaks of cleansing of the heart, illumination of the soul, acquisition of noetic prayer, of the unceasing prayer of the heart, Sonship by grace, and of life in the Holy Spirit. These epistles disclose that the Christians of the first Apostolic Churches lived as the monks live today in the holy monasteries. When the persecutions ceased, however, and Christianity became the official state religion, secularization penetrated the Church and the ascetic way of living disappeared from the cities. It was precisely during this time that monasticism developed as an attempt to preserve the essence of the spiritual life. For this reason the holy Fathers emphasize that monasticism is the continuity of the Apostolic age and the life of the first Church; and that the monks are those who live the life of the Gospel, who experience repentance to its ultimate degree and who try to observe the commandments of Christ unyieldingly. Every Orthodox monk who lives within this atmosphere is an Apostle of Christ, a Martyr and a Prophet. Monasticism is apostolic, prophetic and martyrial life.
To understand the essence of monastic life, one should read the beatitudes of Christ. The monk commences his life in profound repentance with tears of mourning and the cleansing of the heart. In the Gospel and the Apostle Paul’s Epistles all the elements which constitute the genuine monastic tradition, as proclaimed by the Fathers, can be found.
These same elements are emphasized in the service of monastic tonsuring. It states there that during the noviciate period the prospective monk passes through the stage of the Catechumen, living in deep repentance and undergoing purification of the heart.
This is the “first love” of which the Evangelist John speaks in the book of Revelation. When repentance is accomplished monastic tonsuring takes place, which is referred to as the “second baptism”.
Monastic tonsuring is called a mystery because the monk experiences the purifying and illuminating energy of God. According to St. Symeon the New Theologian the second baptism is the baptism of the Spirit, that is, the illumination of the nous and the acquisition of noetic prayer. The following is said to the monk while he is being tonsured: “You are purged of your sins and becometh son of light”, Thus, the monk experiences purification of the heart prior to his tonsure, and acquires illumination of the nous while being tonsured.
The apostolic life and the way of life of the first Christians, as described in the Pauline Epistles and the book of the Acts, is made visible.
Monasticism is apostolic and evangelical; mortification of the “old man” precedes it, though, and then the monk becomes a “temple” of the Most Holy Spirit. The prayers read by the priest are expressive of this theme.
Married Christians in their personal lives are also called to live the Gospel and the commandments of Christ. Noone is exempted from this responsibility. Every one must experience repentance; overcome selfishness; and acquire love for God and love for others.
It is apparent that the circumstances of married life are different from those of the monastery, and thus a certain adjustment is needed. Yet, what the monastery is for the monk, the family is for the married person. Family is the place for ascetic practice in married life. It is therein that a person is called to carry out the will of God.
“O God most pure … bless this marriage, and vouchsafe unto these thy servants, N. and N., a peaceful life, length of days, chastity, mutual love in the bond of peace, long· lived seed, gratitude from their posterity, a crown of glory which fadeth not away. Graciously grant that they may behold their children’s children. Preserve their bed un assailed, and give them of the dew of heaven from on high, and of the fatness of the earth. Fill their houses with wheat, and wine, and oil, and with every beneficence, that they may bestow in turn upon the needy; granting also unto those who are here present with them all those petitions which are of their salvation”. (Rite of the Holy Matrimony)1.
The Church has placed all of its teaching on marriage in the prayers read during the marriage ceremony. The wedded are blessed to live their lives in love and prudence, following the commandments of God.
“Be thou exalted, a Bridegroom, like unto Abraham; and be thou blessed, like unto Isaac; and do thou multiply like unto Jacob, walking in peace, and keeping the commandments of God in righteousness.
And thou, O Bride: Be thou exalted like unto Sarah; and exult thou, like unto Rebecca; and do thou multiply, like unto Rachel: and rejoice thou in thy husband, fulfilling the conditions of the law: for so is it well pleasing unto God”. (Rite of the Holy Matrimony).2
The fact that women and men who had been worthy of experiencing divine vision in the Old Testament are mentioned in the prayers, demonstrates the ascetic and saving character of marriage in Christ. The holy Fathers teach that conception, gestation and birth constitute the “garments of skin” which Adam wore after the Fall. God, however, eventually blessed this way. St. Maximos writes that marriage, as we know it today, is a result of the Fall.3
St. Chrysostom teaches that all of the commandments of the Gospel -except, of course, for that of marriage-are to be shared by all men -monks and married.4
St. Basil discerns that both -monastics and the married-are called to uphold the commandments of Christ in the Gospel. St. Gregory Palamas, on the theme of the purity of the heart, declares that married persons can also strive to attain it.5
The existence of many married Saints who possessed noetic prayer both in the Old and the New Testaments reveals that married people have the capacity to experience Orthodox spirituality in all its manifestations. The prophetess Anna kept noetic prayer within her heart and prayed unceasingly while in the midst of experiencing great pain.
Within the framework of Orthodox spirituality, therefore, Christians are not divided into categories of married and single, monastics and lay people; however they are separated into those who have the Holy Spirit within and those who do not. It is possible for all people to uphold Christ’s commandments and experience Orthodox spirituality under the guidance of a spiritual father. There are neither privileged nor non-privileged people within Orthodox tradition.
- See more at: http://pemptousia.com/2012/12/marriage-or-monasticism/#sthash.rcrrgO9f.dpuf
