Everything the Orthodox Church offers for personal prayer, beyond the daily services.
Daily Devotions
These standalone prayer collections can support prayer at home. They are not Matins or Vespers and do not replace an appointed office.
A collection of prayers for use after waking.
A collection of prayers for use before sleep.
Meal Prayers
Orthodox Christians pray before and after every meal. The before-meal prayer is the Our Father. These are short and simple.
The Our Father and blessing of food. Under 1 minute.
Thanksgiving after eating. Under 1 minute.
Common Prayers
Psalm 50 is the most-prayed psalm in Orthodoxy. It appears in almost every service. Learning it by heart is one of the first steps in Orthodox prayer life.
The great penitential psalm of King David. "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness." Prayed daily in Orthodox worship.
Communion Preparation
Read these prayers the evening before or morning of receiving Holy Communion. Ask your priest when you should begin receiving Communion as a catechumen.
Preparation for Holy Communion
30 min
▶
Prayers of repentance and faith before receiving the Eucharist.
Thanksgiving After Holy Communion
10 min
▶
Prayers of gratitude after receiving the Body and Blood of Christ.
Devotional Prayers
These prayers go beyond the daily services. They are read for personal devotion whenever your heart needs them. There is no obligation to read them, but they deepen your life in Christ.
Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos
20 min
▶
The most popular Orthodox devotional prayer, sung standing ("akathist" means "not sitting"). Thirteen kontakia and thirteen oikoi with the refrain "Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!" Traditionally read on Fridays or in times of need.
Canon to the Guardian Angel
15 min
▶
A personal prayer addressed to your guardian angel. Nine odes asking for protection, guidance, and intercession.
Memorial prayers for those who have fallen asleep in the Lord. Read on Saturdays (the day the Church remembers the departed) and on memorial anniversaries.
Lenten Prayers
During Great Lent (the 40 days before Pascha), the Church adds special prayers with full prostrations. The Prayer of St. Ephrem is said at every Lenten weekday service and can be prayed at home.
Prayer of Saint Ephrem the Syrian
5 min
▶
The quintessential Lenten prayer with prostrations and bows. "O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk." About 5 minutes with prostrations.
Additional Services
These are services from the Horologion (the Book of Hours) that are not part of the standard daily cycle but are available for deeper prayer life.
During Bright Week (Pascha through Thomas Sunday), these replace ALL regular daily prayers. "Christ is Risen" replaces every psalm and troparion. The entire service is joyful celebration of the Resurrection.
The Psalter
The 150 Psalms are divided into 20 sections called kathismata. Many Orthodox Christians read one kathisma per day. During Lent, the entire Psalter is read twice per week. Start with Kathisma 1 and read through. If that is too much, read one psalm per day.
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly." Read at Sunday Matins.
"I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart." Read at Monday Matins.
Kathisma 3 (Psalms 17–23)
18 min
▶
"I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength." Read at Tuesday Matins.
Kathisma 4 (Psalms 24–31)
18 min
▶
"Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul." Read at Wednesday Matins.
Kathisma 5 (Psalms 32–36)
15 min
▶
"Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous." Read at Thursday Matins.
Kathisma 6 (Psalms 37–45)
20 min
▶
"O Lord, rebuke me not in Thy wrath." Read at Friday Matins.
Kathisma 7 (Psalms 46–54)
18 min
▶
"God is our refuge and strength." Read at Saturday Matins.
Kathisma 8 (Psalms 55–63)
18 min
▶
"Be merciful unto me, O God, for man would swallow me up." Read at Sunday Vespers.
Kathisma 9 (Psalms 64–69)
15 min
▶
"Praise waiteth for Thee, O God, in Sion." Read at Monday Vespers.
Kathisma 10 (Psalms 70–76)
20 min
▶
"In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust." Read at Tuesday Vespers.
Kathisma 11 (Psalms 77–84)
20 min
▶
"Give ear, O my people, to my law." Read at Wednesday Vespers.
Kathisma 12 (Psalms 85–90)
15 min
▶
"Bow down Thine ear, O Lord, hear me." Read at Thursday Vespers.
Kathisma 13 (Psalms 91–100)
18 min
▶
"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord." Read at Friday Vespers.
Kathisma 14 (Psalms 101–104)
18 min
▶
"Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto Thee." Read at Saturday Vespers.
Kathisma 15 (Psalms 105–108)
20 min
▶
"O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His name." Read at the Third Hour.
Kathisma 16 (Psalms 109–117)
20 min
▶
"The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at my right hand." Read at the Sixth Hour.
The longest chapter in the Bible: 176 verses. "Blessed are the undefiled in the way." Read daily in many monasteries.
Kathisma 18 (Psalms 119–130)
15 min
▶
The Songs of Ascents. "In my distress I cried unto the Lord." Read at the Sixth Hour.
Kathisma 19 (Psalms 131–142)
20 min
▶
"Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions." Read at the Sixth Hour.
Kathisma 20 (Psalms 143–150)
18 min
▶
"Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary." The Psalter's joyful finale. Read at the Sixth Hour.