The Prayer Book

The daily rule of prayer from the Orthodox prayer book, with the commemoration of the living and the departed and prayers at the table.

• Morning PrayersThe Church's prayers on rising from sleepMorning · 23 min
• Evening PrayersPrayers before sleepEvening · 25 min
• Commemoration of the Living and the DepartedPrayers for the Church, family, friends and the departedAny time · 8 min
• Prayers at the TableBefore and after mealsAny time · 5 min

The short services that sanctify the day and close it, as a layperson reads them at home without a priest.

• Small ComplineAs commonly prayed in the Russian and OCA usageNight · 22 min
• Small Compline (Greek usage)As prayed in the Greek usageNight · 22 min
• The First HourThe prayer at the beginning of the day (about 7 a.m.)Morning · 16 min
• The Third HourThe prayer at mid-morning (about 9 a.m.), remembering the descent of the Holy SpiritMorning · 17 min
• The Sixth HourThe prayer at midday (about noon), remembering the CrucifixionMidday · 16 min
• The Ninth HourThe prayer in mid-afternoon (about 3 p.m.), remembering the Lord's death on the CrossMidday · 18 min

Prayers before and after Holy Communion, and a gentle guide to preparing for the Mystery of Confession.

• Before Holy CommunionPrayers of preparation from the Church's Prayer BookAny time · 22 min
• After Holy CommunionPrayers of thanksgiving after receiving the Holy MysteriesAny time · 10 min
• Preparing for ConfessionA gentle guide, and prayers of repentanceAny time · 17 min

Short prayers for the sick and the departed, for journeys, work and study, family, enemies, temptation and sorrow, and for thanksgiving.

• Prayers for NeedsShort prayers for the sick, the departed, the road, the table, work and study, the family, trouble, thanksgiving and sleepAny time · 26 min