Prayer Life of a Cleric in Quotes of Russian Bishops and Priests

The rule of prayer is the necessary minimum that helps to preserve the spirit of the cleric. It is impossible to refer to a single canon or rule. The rule of prayer is chosen individually, based on pastoral and Christian commitment and taking into account a number of factors.

What are the principles that guide its formation?

*Based on materials from webiste priest.today

Bishop Panteleimon

1) Is there any universal rule for every priest?

"There are hardly any universal standards for a priest's daily rule of prayer. A priest, like every Christian, must fulfill the apostolic command to 'pray without ceasing' (1Thess 5:17). At the same time, there can be different ways of addressing God in prayer": Bishop Panteleimon of Vereya.

2) How long should the prayer last and why is it necessary?

"A priest must certainly have his own unchangeable rule, which he fulfills infallibly, regardless of circumstances. This is useful from an ascetic point of view because it teaches us not to live by our own will. This rule should not be exaggerated, and then, depending on the circumstances, we can add new elements to it. Usually, prayer lasts ten minutes in the morning and the same amount of time in the evening. It may be the usual morning or evening rule, psalms or other prayers to be read with attention": Archpriest Pavel Khondzinski, Dean of the Theological Faculty.

3) What is needed to find your prayer rule?

"As long as a priest loves to pray and cannot imagine life without prayer, he will choose an appropriate rule.": Archpriest Georgy Breyev.

Father Georgy Breyev (†2020)

4) Is the prayer rule more important than other obediences of a priest?

"The general principle to personal prayer can be formulated as follows: a priest does not need any kind of super-rule. His priesthood demands of him something else - to strive to be before God at all times, to constantly turn to Him in short prayers, and to live a life of theological reflection.": Bishop Veniamin of Rybinsk.

5) Can a priest choose their own prayer rule for themselves?

"First of all, every priest needs a confessor, with whose advice and blessing he should establish for himself a rule of prayer.": Metropolitan Ambrose (Ermakov) of Tver.

6) In the early 20th century, what prayer rule did devout fathers take upon themselves?

"Metropolitan Benjamin (Fedchenkov; 1880-1961), while giving lectures on pastoral theology at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, expressed the conviction that, in addition to morning and evening prayer, a priest should observe the 'daily average' of the monastic rule, namely to recite three canons (to the Lord, the Mother of God, and the Guardian Angel), one chapter from the Gospel, two chapters from the Apostles, and a kathisma from the Psalter. Today, a hundred years later, such an 'average' rule seems quite challenging, rather an ideal to aspire to. Nevertheless, it will do nothing but good to those who take it upon themselves to follow it. Observing such a rule, at least from time to time, will be good practice": Father Pavel Khondzinski.

7) Is there a specific prayer rule for newly ordained priests?

"Something similar can be recommended to novice priests during the first year after ordination - to make an effort to read the 'extended' Rule with the canons and psalms, and even to practice the singing of Vespers and Matins at home when not serving in the church. This forms a specific ecclesial sense of life and a specific way of perceiving the world.": Archpriest Pavel Khondzinski

8) Should reading of Scripture be included in the prayer rule?

"The priestly rule necessarily includes the reading of the Gospel and the apostolic epistles. Prayer and Sacred Scripture can be compared to the two wings of a bird, echoing the words of St. Ignatius (Bryanchaninov): "When I pray, I converse with God; when I read the Scriptures, God converses with me.: Archpriest Georgy Breyev.

9) Bows as part of the prayer rule.

"It is also helpful to devote time to making bows. For example, it is useful to examine one's inner peace in the evening and to make at least three bows with the Jesus Prayer for each rebuke of conscience and for each case of inner fall - in thoughts, in words, or in deeds. Bows are not only good for opening the heart, they are also good physical exercise, so much needed in our sedentary way of life. Of course, they are absolutely invaluable for a clergyman.": Archpriest Nicholas Vazhnov.

10) Can we temporarily replace the traditional prayers that have become automatic?

"St. Righteous John of Kronstadt used to say that our task is not to constantly look for new prayers, but to learn to pray the prayers we already know with attention and with all our heart.

People want to change their morning and evening prayers because if they recite them regularly, at some point they begin to lose their attention. But we priests recite the Eucharistic Prayers several times a week, if not every day. How do we replace them when we begin to be distracted?

It is better to deepen the rule of prayer than to replace it.": Archpriest Pavel Khondzinski.

Father Pavel Khondzinski

11) ...but when can one still change the prayer rule?

"Sometimes we are so used to morning or evening prayers that everything goes by the book, without touching our hearts, and we read performatively, 'just to tick the box'. But God does not need formalities. In this case, it is advisable to leave these prayers for a while and find other prayers. In time, the morning and evening prayers will be perceived differently and it will be possible to return to them.": Archpriest Nicholas Vazhnov.

12) Can the Rule be shortened, on the principle that 'less is more'?

“Even if we do not fully immerse ourselves in the meaning of the words [of a prayer], it gives us a great advantage, distracting us from "trivialities, vanities, fears, and impure thoughts".

If we add to this our effort to experience deeply at least a small part of what is read, the soul acquires inestimable treasures [....]. Every prayer is important, even an inattentive one... The holy words of prayer, even if they are repeated absent-mindedly, cover our memory, mind, and heart with delicate strokes and do a good work on us that is beyond our comprehension.": Diary notes of Priest Alexander Yelchaninov.

13) What about a practice of replacing Vespers, Vigil, Matins, etc. with the recitation of a certain number of Jesus Prayers?

"It is rather a question of circumstances, when there are no books, or when a person is illiterate. ... However, if the books are available, it is permissible to say the Jesus Prayer as an exception, if circumstances require it. ... You can certainly practice the Jesus Prayer, but to say that you can unite with God through it alone is a bold statement. For me, voluntarily refusing to be in communion with the saints through their services is not quite right, or rather it is a kind of withdrawal.": Archimandrite Seraphim (Krechetov).

14) In which cases can the prayer rule be replaced with the Jesus Prayer?

"It is very important that the decision to replace the Morning or Evening Prayer with the Jesus Prayer should be taken in consultation with a confessor, a spiritually experienced person, based on life circumstances, availability of free time, and spiritual age. ... Speaking for myself, I am afraid to give up the Rule and just go to the Jesus Prayer - I am concerned that it will not be useful for me. It's a very individual question.": Bishop Panteleimon.

15) The Jesus Prayer as an addition to the prayer rule.

"It is certainly very important for a priest (as well as for a layman) to pray the Jesus Prayer. It is hardly necessary to set a rule about the exact number of prayers, but at least some time should be given to the Jesus Prayer every day. Every Christian should be involved in the Jesus Prayer at least to some extent because it contains the whole Gospel and the fullness of prayer.": Metropolitan Ambrose.

16) The Instructional Message on shortening the rule.

Our comment: There are different circumstances in a clergyman's life, and even the Instructional Message says that a prayer rule can be shortened if the clergyman is busy with important matters, such as visiting a dying person with the Holy Gifts. For this reason, each person decides what to read according to his own inner state, examining his conscience, and struggling against laziness, self-pity, and the temptation to prefer secondary things.

17) Is the daily reading of all the prayers without any shortcuts, regardless of any circumstances, a measure for the saints only, or for every priest?

"There is hardly a clear assessment here. ... Saint Righteous John of Kronstadt, with his very busy schedule (visits to various patients and events), always fulfilled his priestly rule almost without fail. But we know how difficult it was for him; and we are aware that such an effort is not granted to everyone. Not all of us priests can force ourselves to sleep for two hours at a time and give up many pleasures.": Metropolitan Theodore (Kazanov).

Metropolitan Theodore (Kazanov) of Volgograd

18) ...And yet, everyone chooses a prayer rule according to their abilities.

"There are times when a priest is in a constant state of tension, both physically and spiritually. Then there comes a time when God allows him only to read the Morning and Evening Prayer and the Rule for the Divine Liturgy if he celebrates in the morning. ... It may happen that in the morning he hurries to visit a sick person, spends all his time praying for that person, and has time to read the morning rule. ... What prayer rule would be superior to this feat?": Metropolitan Theodore (Kazanov).

19) A priest should live with God 24/7, and the prayer rule serves as a helpful tool in achieving this.

"It is important for a cleric to spend the whole day in inseparable union with God and with the people whom the Lord sends to him, praying and caring for each one of them. ... It is necessary to live our lives in such a way that we do not have an idle mind and an indifferent heart; that we are always busy doing good. Then the priest will develop spiritually and will bear fruit rather than wither. ... The rule of prayer is the necessary minimum that helps to sustain the spirit of the cleric, lest it become stagnant and weakened." Metropolitan Theodore (Kazanov).

20) "I read the rule, and do whatever you want?"

“A priest should never allow himself to think: 'I have read everything that I should, O Lord, and now You are alone and I am alone'. The priest must always walk before the living God. Then God will help him to be a good shepherd, and the people will certainly appreciate it.": Archpriest Nicholas Vazhnov.

We hope that you, dear readers, have learned something useful from this article. We wish you spiritual and physical strength, fervent prayer, and joy in the Lord.