A prayer that is said simultaneously by several people is called a prayer by agreement; Christians can read it from different parts of the country and even the world. It is not necessary to be in one place. The agreement on the time and on the prayer itself is decisive here.
The number of people praying at the same time is also not limited - from two people to thousands or millions.
Truly I also say to you that if two of you on earth agree to ask for anything, then whatever they ask will be done for them by My Father in heaven, for where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them.(Matt. 18, 19-20).
From this letter of Matthew it becomes clear that the purpose of joint prayer by agreement is a request addressed to God and strengthened many times over by the heart of each person asking. Saint John of Kronstadt noted:
The Church, praying together, is the great power of God, defeating the demonic armies and being able to ask God for every perfect gift, every help, every intercession, deliverance, salvation.
What is asked for in prayer by agreement?
Prayer by agreement is required in difficult cases, when a person needs a special prayer of a petitionary nature, when he is not able to cope with trouble on his own one on one.
The request should not be abstract (for example, world peace), but specific and precise. There are no small things for God. But the essence of the petition should not be in the request itself and the benefits received, but in how these benefits will be used in the future. A person striving for God, with a spiritually meaningful life, opens his heart and thoughts to the Lord, trusts his situation to His will.
The order of reading the prayer by agreement
Prayer by agreement has great power and can help even in the most hopeless and sorrowful situation. There is no strict rule on how to pray correctly. The procedure for reading the prayer is determined by agreement and is usually as follows:
- receive a blessing from your confessor, who is familiar with the situation and can suggest how best to conduct the prayer (he will also select the appropriate text and suggest the correct pronunciation with emphasis);
- find like-minded people who want to share a specific request to God (your priest can advise specific parishioners with a similar situation);
- agree on the time of reading the prayer and its duration;
- select a text from the prayer book for prayer by agreement and agree on the order of its reading.
The reading order is determined in advance. This can be reading one kathisma a day, then the prayer itself by agreement and ending with a pre-agreed request. Believers, by agreement, can jointly and simultaneously read the Holy Gospel, canons, kathismas or akathists. Reading a prayer by agreement in Russian or Church Slavonic is also agreed upon in advance. It is important to agree and for everyone to follow the same prayer rule, saying the request for the same thing.
Hard prayer work and voluntary duty, which cannot be neglected, is what Orthodox prayer by agreement means. If a Christian, for some good reason, was unable to read the promised prayer by agreement or fulfill the full agreed order of reading, it is worth repenting and confessing about it.
Text of prayer by agreement
In Russian
With deep faith in the immutability of Your words and with hope for Your immeasurable mercy towards us, we humbly ask You to hear Your servants (names) who have agreed to jointly ask You: Lord, let Your Holy will be done. Enlighten us, strengthen us and help us in everything for the benefit of people and for Your glory, Lord. Grant us, Lord God our Savior, to follow You, helping our neighbors to follow the path of salvation, doing works of faith, so that with Your help and by Your mercy our efforts serve to increase good and decrease evil in deeds, words and thoughts. Amen.
In Church Slavonic
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Thou hast declared with Thy most pure lips: “Amen, I say to you, that if two of you take counsel on earth about every thing, and if you ask for it, you will have it from My Father who is in Heaven: where are the two? or three gathered in My name, I am I in the midst of them.” Thy words are immutable, O Lord, Thy mercy is unconditional and Thy love for mankind has no end. For this reason we pray to Thee: grant to us, Thy servants(names) who agreed to ask Ty(request) , fulfillment of our request. But not as we want, but as You want. Thy will be done forever. Amen.
Almost everyone knows what an individual petition, a collective petition, or an evening or morning rule is. However, what is “prayer by agreement”? When to read it and how to do it correctly. Is it important to receive a clergy blessing? As priest Peter Guryanov, who is the chairman of the Melekess diocesan commission regarding family issues, including the protection of childhood and motherhood, says, if several people ask God for help, then whatever they ask will be given to them, because where they are gathered in the name of God, there is God among them.
Based on the basis of the instructions presented, the Church and the Orthodox branch actively practice such prayer. Its essence is determined by its very name. Several people of the Orthodox faith agree to pray together during the same period at the appointed time, regardless of the circumstances.
When is it necessary to read a prayer by agreement?
Most experienced confessors suggest reading this prayer when a person is in a very difficult situation, including incurable illnesses, sorrows and other difficulties. To do this, it is proposed to find more than one like-minded person who would voluntarily take on such a feat as mutual prayer. Moreover, this is not just a general prayer, but a specific request for something.
An equally important question arises regarding what does a prayer look like when several or more people have agreed to read it? As a rule, at least ten, twenty or even more people give their consent to the reading of the Psalter. If there are twenty people, then each of them reads one kathisma per day. For example, today - the first, tomorrow - the second, and so on. In addition, all volunteers pray for the health and repose of the one they are going to ask for. After the kathisma has been read, they begin to read the prayer itself by agreement, adding a single petition to it.
It is known that this prayer was used by the Moscow pastor - Father Konstantin Rovensky and Father John of Kronstadt. Based on the words of Rovensky, he repeatedly witnessed many wonderful cases of how prayer works, and in those cases when people lost hope. In addition, some, united together, read the Gospel, canons, akathists, and at the end added the names of those people for whom they are praying.
This prayer is very effective and often brings great benefits. However, there are also some details that may not be taken into account. One of these nuances is optionality. At first, the person commits to saying the prayer every day at the same time, but eventually begins to miss days of reading. It is worth understanding that this is a huge responsibility and acts as a certain element of self-discipline. If a person pledges to read kathisma and does not do so, then because of this the Psalter is considered unread. In such a situation, it is imperative to repent and confess.
However, on top of everything else, not every person will be able to cope with such prayerful work. For this very reason, there is no need to make decisions on your own. The best option would be to contact a clergyman and ask for his blessing.
In what cases will the prayer not be fulfilled...
God's purpose will not always agree with anyone's requests and hopes. That is why, unfortunately, not all prayers will be fulfilled. If a person does not receive what he asks for, then it is from God; if he receives, then it is again at the command of the Almighty. You need to come to humility, at the same time trust and mercy. All Orthodox prayers are very important to say with humility and hope in your soul. Therefore, every person who believes in God should understand that the will of God is not always capable of being comprehended. However, despite all this, the Almighty is always ready to give people what they really need.
Should we hope for a certain time frame?
Nothing depends on people here. Therefore, setting certain deadlines is simply pointless. All the will of God. What are six months, a year or ten years? Everyone is well familiar with examples from the Bible when all the deadlines passed, and God gave people what they so humbly asked for. It is also recommended to remember Sarah and Abraham. How many times they said prayers, and the Almighty gave them what they asked for when all hope was already lost.
Prayer by agreement
†Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for Thou hast declared with Thy most pure lips: Amen I say unto you, For if two of you take counsel upon the earth of every thing whichsoever he asketh, it shall be done by him from My Father who is in heaven: for where there are two or three congregations in My name, I am in the midst of them. Thy words are incomparable, O Lord, Thy mercy is without application, and Thy love for mankind has no end. For this reason, we pray to Thee: grant to us, Thy servants (names), who have agreed to ask Thee (request), the fulfillment of our request. But not as we want, but as You want. Thy will be done forever. Amen.
“Truly I also say to you that if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven, for where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matt. 18, 19-20).
Based on this instruction, the Orthodox Church practices the so-called “prayer by agreement,” when, in the event of any difficult situation: illness, misfortune, disaster, etc., two or more Christians agree together to pray intensely for the deliverance of someone from the situation that has befallen them. his troubles.
This prayer was used by Father John of Kronstadt and one of the Moscow pastors, Fr. Konstantin Rovinsky. According to the latter, he witnessed numerous and miraculous cases of the effectiveness of such prayer: patients sentenced to death by doctors recovered; lost vision and the ability to walk returned; persistent attacks of hatred, etc. ceased.
When praying by agreement, Father Konstantin Rovinsky read the following prayer four times a day (morning, afternoon, evening and night), which was also read by those persons with whom he agreed to pray until, by the grace of the Lord, the request was fulfilled in prayer.
Lord our God, Jesus Christ, with Your most pure lips You told us: “If two of you agree on earth to ask for anything, then whatever they ask will be done for you by My Heavenly Father.” With deep faith in the immutability of Your words and Your immeasurable mercy, we ask You to hear Your servants (name the names of those asking), who have agreed to humbly ask You for Your needy (sick, lost, etc.) servant (name) - and grant him. (state your request). However, not as we want, but as You, Lord; May Your holy will be done for everything. Amen.
The prayer is read daily (for example, at 21.00 Moscow time).
Prayer by agreement
Ksenia of Petersburg
Oh, holy servant of God, blessed Ksenia! Look mercifully with your eye on us, servant of God (names), tenderly praying to your honorable icon and asking you for help and intercession. Extend your warm prayers to the Lord our God and ask our souls for forgiveness of sins. Therefore, with a contrite heart and a humble spirit, we call on you to be a merciful intercessor to the Lady and a prayer book for us sinners, as if you have received from Him the grace to pray for us and deliver us from troubles. We therefore ask you, do not despise us, unworthy, praying to you and demanding your help, and intercede for everyone everything that is useful for salvation, for by your prayers to the Lord God, having received grace and mercy, we glorify all the good Source and Gift-Giver and the One God, glorified in the Trinity of Saints, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Prayer by agreement
About the sick person
Lord our God, Jesus Christ, with Your most pure lips You told us: “If two of you agree on earth to ask for anything, then whatever they ask will be done for you by My Heavenly Father.” With deep faith in the immutability of Your words and Your immeasurable mercy, we ask You to hear Your servants (name the names of those asking), who have agreed to humbly ask You for Your needy (sick, lost, etc.) servant (name) - and grant him... ( make a request). However, not as we want, but as You, Lord; May Your holy will be done for everything. Amen.
Prayer by agreement
About health
† Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for Thou hast declared with Thy most pure lips: Amen I say unto you, For if two of you take counsel upon the earth of every thing whichsoever she asketh, it shall be done by her from My Father who is in heaven: wherefore there are two or three congregations in My name, I am in the midst of them.
Thy words are immutable, O Lord, Thy mercy is unconditional and Thy love for mankind has no end.
For this reason we pray to Thee: grant to us, Thy servants (to name the names of those asking) and to all whose names You Himself weigh, Lord, who have agreed to ask Thee
about granting to Your servants (names) health, strengthening, healing, admonition and deliverance from the actions of the devil, the fulfillment of our request.
But not as we want, but as You want.
Thy will be done forever.
Amen
We read the initial prayers in advance:
Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to you, our God, glory to you.
Heavenly King... Holy God, Holy Mighty.... (3 times) Glory even now... Holy Trinity, have mercy on us...
Lord, have mercy... (3 times) Glory and now... Our Father... Lord, have mercy... (12 times) Glory and now... Come, let us worship our King God. (3 times)
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Thou hast declared with Thy most pure lips: Amen, I say unto you, For if two of you take counsel on earth from every thing that is asked, it will be done by My Father who is in heaven: where there are one hundred and two or three gathered in My name, I am in the midst of them. Thy words are incomparable, O Lord, Thy mercy is without application, and there is no end to Thy love for mankind. For this reason we pray to Thee: grant to us Thy servants who are sinners, infirm and weak: Elena, Elena, Elena, Lydia, Larisa, Larisa, Alexandra, Alexandra, Natalia, Nina, Nina, Fotinia, Alla, Margarita, Alexander, Ekaterina, Zoya, Irina
Those who agreed to ask You: Master Almighty, Holy King, punish and do not kill, strengthen those who fall, and raise up those who are cast down, correct bodily sorrows of people, we pray to You, our God, Your servants: Irina, Photinia, Valentina, Alevtin, Elena, Natalia, youth Nikolai, Valentina, Larisa, Natalia, Valeria, Alexandra
Visit the weak with Your mercy, forgive them every sin, voluntary or involuntary. Hey, Lord, send down Your healing power from heaven, touch the body, extinguish the fire, tame passion and all lurking infirmities, be the physician of Your servants: Irina, Fotinia, Valentina, Alevtina, Elena, Natalia, youth Nikolai, Valentina, Larisa, Natalia, Valeria, Alexandra
Raise them from their sick beds, and grant them health in soul and body, pleasing them and doing Your will. And give us the fulfillment of our request, but not as we want, but as You do. Thy will be done forever. Amen. For it is Thine to have mercy and to save us, O our God, and to Thee we send glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Apostle(1 John 3:10–24) (1 John 3:10–24)
Beloved, for this reason the essence of the child of God and the child of the devil has been revealed: everyone who does not do righteousness is not from God, and do not love his brother. For this is the testament that you heard from the beginning, that we love one another, not as Cain did because of the evil one and slaughtered his brother. And for what crime did she kill him? For his deeds are evil, but his brother’s are righteous. Don’t be surprised, my brother, if the world hates you. We know that we are dying from death in the stomach, that we love our brethren: if you do not love your brother, you will remain in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that every murderer does not have eternal life within himself. For this knowledge of love, for he laid down his soul for us: and we must lay down our souls for our brethren. Whoever has the riches of this world, and sees his brother demanding, and closes his womb from him, how much of the love of God abides in him? My children, we do not love in word and tongue, but in deed and in truth. And of this we understand that we are of the truth, and before him we humble our hearts: even if our hearts look upon us, as if the God of our hearts and the whole message is painful. Beloved, if our hearts do not deceive us, the imam’s boldness towards God, and even if we ask for it, we accept it from him, as we keep his commandments and do what is pleasing before him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as he gave us a commandment. And he who keeps his commandments abides in him, and he also in him. And of this we understand that it abides in us from the spirit which he gave us to eat.
Before and after the Gospel prayer:
Save, O Lord, and have mercy on Your servants who are seriously ill:Irina, Photinia, Valentina, Alevtina, Elena, Natalia, youth Nikolai, Valentina, Larisa, Natalia, Valeria, Alexandra
in the words of the Divine Gospel, about the salvation of Your servants. The thorns of all their sins have fallen, Lord, and may Thy grace dwell in them, scorching, cleansing, sanctifying the whole person in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Gospel from John (13, 31–35)
The Lord spoke to His disciples: Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, and God will glorify Him in Himself, and He will glorify Him. Children, I am still with you a little: you will seek Me, and as I was killed by the Jews, even as I went, you cannot come, and I speak to you today. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another, just as you have loved, that you also love yourselves. Everyone understands this, because you are My disciples, if you have love among each other.
Prayer after reading the Gospel (see above).
This prayer is practiced based on this instruction in the Holy Scriptures: “Truly I also say to you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask, it will be done for them by My Father who is in heaven, for where two or three are gathered together My name, there I am in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:19-20), when in case of any difficult situation: illness, misfortune, disaster, etc. - two or more Christians agree together to pray intensely for the deliverance of someone from the misfortune that befell him. It is recommended to read it four times a day (morning, afternoon, evening and night), which you and those with whom you agreed to pray until, by the grace of the Lord, the request in prayer is fulfilled.
The text of the request in the prayer can be changed, as long as the prayer comes from loving hearts and with firm faith that the Lord hears it and, in His wisdom, will do what is best for the person or those for whom they are praying. Depending on the zeal of those praying and the condition of the one for whom they are praying, the frequency of saying prayers during the day is determined.
“Lord our God, Jesus Christ, with Your most pure lips You told us: “If two of you on earth agree to ask for anything, then whatever they ask will be done for you by My Heavenly Father.” With deep faith in the immutability of Your words and Your immeasurable mercy, we ask You to hear Your servants (name the names of those asking), who have agreed to humbly ask You for Your needy (sick, lost, etc.) servant (name) - and grant him. make a request). However, not as we want, but as You, Lord; May Your holy will be done for everything. Amen."
Examples of prayer by agreement
about the sick person
about granting healing and health to your sick servants (names of the sick)
about the birth of children
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Thou hast spoken with Thy most pure lips: Amen, I say unto you, that if two of you shall take counsel on earth concerning every thing, whatsoever thing shall be asked of My Father. Like in heaven: where there are two or three congregations in My name, I am in the midst of them. Thy words are incomparable, Lord, Thy mercy is inestimable and Thy love for mankind has no end. For this reason we pray to Thee: grant us Thy servants (names of those praying) who have agreed to ask Thee about giving us long-awaited children to your servants (names) fulfillment of our request. But not as we want, but as You want. Thy will be done forever. Amen.
about marriage
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, You have declared with Your most pure lips: Amen I say to you, for if two of you take counsel on earth concerning every thing that anyone asks, it will be done from My Father who is in heaven: for where there are two or three gathered in My name, I am in the midst of them. Thy words are incomparable, O Lord, Thy mercy is without application, and Thy love for mankind has no end. For this reason, we pray to Thee: grant to us, Thy servants (names), who have agreed to ask Thee for the fulfillment of our request. about giving us honest and pious spouses, so that in love with them and in harmony we glorify You, the merciful God: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. But not as we want, but as You want. Thy will be done forever. Amen.
