HOLY AND GREAT LENT: THE PRAYER OF SAINT EPHRAIM

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

HOLY AND GREAT LENT: THE PRAYER OF SAINT EPHRAIM

The Prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian is a central, daily Lenten petition in the Orthodox Christian Church that entreats the Almighty and Merciful God to remove unholy spiritual habits-especially SLOTH, DESPAIR, LUST FOR POWER, AND IDLE TALK–and replace them with virtues like CHASTITY, HUMILITY, PATIENCE AND AGAPE. It is recited with PROSTRATIONS (METANOIES) to strengthen and encourage repentance and self-awareness. The Prayer is brief, sober, yet remarkably complete, this prayer takes us to the very heart of what Holy Lent means.

THE PRAYER OF SAINT EPHRAIM

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

But give me the spirit of chastity,
humility, patience, and love to
Thy servant. (Prostration)

Yes, O Lord and King grant me to
see my own transgressions, and
not to judge my brother, for blessed
art Thou, unto ages of ages. Amen."

Our Holy Orthodox Church very wisely provides the faithful with another spiritual tool to understand the purpose and meaning of Holy Lent. It helps us to focus on transformation. It is a concise summary of our Lenten journey, concentrating on transforming our soul from apathy to active love.

Addressing key sins such as sloth (Laziness) or the lack of desire to do good or pray. To avoid falling into despair or despondency which happens to those who lose hope because of a weak faith. The other temptation is the lack of commitment to control the urge to control or impose one’s will. Furthermore, we must avoid completely idle talk/gossip which is a very harmful discussion, a sign of vanity and conceit.

Instead, with the help and guidance from our Holy Church we place all of our attention in cultivating virtues. It asks for CHASTITY (inner integrity/purity, HUMILITY (true self-assessment, PATIENCE (self-control, and AGAPE (LOVE).

The Orthodox Christian’s Final Petition is specifically for the grace to concentrate on one’s OWN SINS rather than judging and criticizing others.

This solemn and inspiring Prayer is used in the divine services of Holy and Great Lent (excluding Saturday and Sundays).

For those who are unfamiliar with how to execute the prostrations during the Prayer of Saint Ephraim is as follows: The prostrations are three major prostrations (kneeling to the ground and bowing, touching your forehead to the ground).

With sincere agape in His Divine Diakonia,
+ Father George