Prayer of St. Ephraim

The Orthodox pray the Prayer of St. Ephraim during Great Lent is normally added to either morning or evening prayers. The prayer is punctuated with prostrations.

Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim

O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk.

prostrate

But give rather the spirit of soberness, humility, patience, and love to Your servant.

prostrate

Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother, for You are blessed, unto ages of ages.

prostrate

Glory to You, O Christ our God and our Hope, glory to You.

sign the cross and bow

More Orthodox Prayers

Blog

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On the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, Fr. Nicholas Frazer explains why the Church fought for the holy icons: because the Son of God truly became man. Drawing on St. Paul's warning against empty quarrels and Christ's prayer that His disciples may be one, he asks whether our Orthodoxy bears fruit — in humility, communion, repentance and love.

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