Every person on Earth understands that in addition to the gross material world - with its laws and obligations, there is also a world of subtle matter, a spiritual one, which also has its own rules.
And one of such unspoken spiritual laws for any person is prayer. In the morning, when you wake up - a prayer of gratitude. In the afternoon, when you labor, you are joyful at work. In the evening, when you fall asleep, thanksgiving for the day lived and good night.
And there is a prayer before meals, for children, parents, for friends and so on.
But one of the most important, after “Our Father”, is the prayer of the Most Holy Theotokos. And it is necessary to pronounce it in a special way and a certain number of times, so that the action becomes truly miraculous. So commanded the holy elder - Seraphim of Sarov. And before him - the Queen of Heaven gave people these rules.
The complete Mother of God rule of St. Seraphim of Sarov, daily prayers and the cooperation of the saint - about everything in this article.
About the life of St. Seraphim
Many Orthodox Christians know or have heard of such an ascetic, a holy elder, who devoted his whole life to the ministry of God - Seraphim of Sarov.
He was originally from Kursk, and all his life he served at the monastery of Sarov. He also assisted the monasteries that were nearby.
His parents were honest and God-fearing people, especially his mother, who, having become a widow, raised Prokhor, who was barely 3 years old (the name of Seraphim at birth), and his brother.
From an early age, it was noted by spiritually developed people, including the boy’s mother, that he was "Under the Veil of Heaven." When the boy fell from the bell tower of the temple, he remained safe and sound, during his illness - healed by the holy icon of the Virgin.
Throughout his life, from time to time, visions came to him in which the Mother of God spoke to him, proclaimed something important.
At the age of seventeen, Seraphim made a serious decision to serve God completely and, having received a blessing from his mother, went first to the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, and then to the Sarov Monastery.
Service to God through work and prayer
I crossed the threshold of the temple, in which Seraphim of Sarov spent his entire conscious earthly life on the feast of "Introduction to the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos."
At first, he was only appointed a novice under Father Pachomius, who knew the parents of Seraphim and heard about his pure, full of spiritual piety and devotion to God, life.
In addition to the prayers that are performed daily by all church attendants - novices, and monks, and the abbot, the young man's duties included:
- vigils during services (morning, afternoon, evening, all-night);
- private obedience;
- obedience in the bread;
- obedience in prosphora;
- obedience in the carpentry;
- Ponomari duties and so on.
Of course, he also had temptations: despondency, boredom, sadness. But Seraphim was distinguished by vigor, strength of mind and perseverance, but at the same time, humility before the Lord.
And therefore, over time, everything fell into place, and he continued to go his own way in monastic life.
Help of the Virgin
Seraphim of Sarovsky protected and protected the Veil of Heaven in the person of the Lady of Heaven and Earth - the Holy Virgin, the whole earthly path.
Through dreams and visions, in the most difficult moments of her life, She appeared with the apostles and helped Seraphim survive the illnesses and sorrows, the temptations of darkness, and indicated how best to act.
Indeed, many of Serafim Sarovsky’s eyewitnesses and followers testified that at certain moments of his life he was seriously ill, but healed by some miracle, was weak, but soon became unusually strong and strong. All these are real spiritual miracles.
And each of the people of the present, who believes in the divine power of prayer, is repeatedly convinced of its effective help.
The prayer to the Virgin is also very healing and truly helps in difficult moments of life. It also fills the soul with heavenly light and joy.
Prayers and the Mother of God rule
In the VIII century, a prayer rule was given to people , which is also called the Mother of God. Fulfilling all the prescriptions, it really helped people and supported them at different periods of life: grief, calamities, illnesses.
But after a while, they forgot about this set of rules. And only Seraphim of Sarov reminded humanity of them. And he himself performed them - adamantly and zealously.
He also recorded all the miracles that happened to people who followed the Mother of God rule of St. Seraphim of Sarov. Such a notebook was found in his cell.
How to read?
The Mother of God rule of Seraphim of Sarov must be read, 150 times a day, as said in the Prayer to the Queen of Heaven. These are the words of the prayer “Hail Mary, Hail!”, But supplemented by images of events and special prayers.
And when the Monk Seraphim was in the Diveyevo monastery (not far from the Sarov monastery), he blessed people to go around the temple and say a prayer 150 times (“Virgin Mary, Hail”) every day.
After all, Christ showed people an example of his achievement, how powerful is the prayer of His Mother, and therefore for others she is an assistant in different everyday circumstances.
Many other elders began to follow, like Seraphim of Sarov, the Theotokos rule (Zosima and others). And they also began to transfer this knowledge to their students.
Parts of the Theotokos rule
The Queen of Heaven passed in her earthly life 15 steps:
- Nativity of the Virgin;
- Introduction to the temple;
- Annunciation;
- Maria’s meeting with Elizabeth;
- Nativity;
- Meeting of the Lord;
- fleeing with the baby Jesus to Egypt;
- the search for a 12-year-old son in Jerusalem;
- a miracle in Cana of Galilee;
- the state of the Virgin at the Cross on which Jesus was crucified;
- The resurrection of Christ;
- Ascension;
- the descent of the Holy Spirit;
- Assumption of the Virgin;
- Glory to the Mother of God.
And each of these stages corresponds to its purpose of the prayer, “Hail Mary, Hail!”
How to read prayers?
The Mother of God rule of Seraphim of Sarov is divided into fifteen dozen. That is, it is necessary to each of the 15 moments to consistently present (remember) and pray for him 10 times.
The first ten is a prayer for the children.
The second is a prayer for those who have left the church, lost their way.
The third is the prayer of comfort for the mourners.
The fourth is about the union of the separated or those who have gone missing.
The fifth is about the revival of the soul to a new life.
Sixth - about the meeting of the soul with the Virgin after earthly life.
The seventh is about protection from temptations and adversities.
The eighth is about the search for Christ in our lives and the lack of attachment to earthly blessings.
The ninth is about help in business, getting rid of need.
The tenth is about helping in grief.
The eleventh is about the gift of prayer and the resurrection of the soul.
The twelfth is about the ascension of the soul and the pursuit of the spiritual.
The thirteenth is about purity of heart and renewal of spirit.
Fourteenth - about the peaceful demise of the earth.
The fifteenth is about the protection by the Queen of Heaven of all earthly beings.
Before beginning to read the Theotokos rules (Seraphim of Sarov), it is necessary to purify oneself in one’s heart and thoughts and ask for blessings from a spiritual mentor.
Reviews of believers
The Mother of God rule of Seraphim of Sarov during reading in different people causes his individual feelings: sorrow, desire to cry, moan from heartache. And for some, on the contrary: light appears inside, horizons of worldview expand, and the heart is filled with love, goodwill.
But in any case, every believer, after reading prayers from the Theotokos rule, feels improvement in all areas of life.
It is also recommended to alternate these prayers with others.
About daily prayers
Seraphim of Sarov, the Mother of God honored the rules as diligently as the rest of the prayers he read daily. And so he taught his followers and all who asked for help.
He left the prayer rule:
- After morning awakening, having crossed himself, in a secluded place to read three times “Our Father”. Then, as many times, “Hail Virgin, Hail”. And then the “Creed”.
- Next, go about your business and worries of the day.
- When traveling or doing something, constantly silently or aloud, repeat: "Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." If there are a lot of people around, then just repeat "Lord have mercy!". And so until lunch.
- Before lunch, repeat the same prayers as in the morning.
- After lunch, doing the work, read the prayer “Blessed Virgin Mary, save me a sinner.” Do this until the evening.
- If you have the opportunity to be in solitude, you must read the prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on the Virgin Mary to me a sinner."
- Before going to bed, repeat the morning prayers. And cross yourself, fall asleep.
Seraphim of Sarov said that prayer is necessary in life, like air, like the sun, like water.
In order to feel truly happy, a person needs to pray, reflect on God, and lead a clean lifestyle.