July 2023 Letter

Dear brethren,

We learn from H.G. Bishop Mattaous about “some of the physical conditions for answered prayers”:

• It should be noted that the body should be in full force and activity, so that it does not disappoint us when we stand for prayer, while striving to tame and force it to stand attentively in prayer.
• Be attentive and mindful that you will stand in the presence of God and that God sees and hears you. Bishop Nastarious said “Pray to God as if you are watching Him because He is present”
• Stand upright in your prayer, as the soldier does before his commander.
• Do not lean against a wall behind you or beside you while standing to pray, because this makes the body relax and the mind wander and rest.
• Pray a Dynamic prayer, not Static prayer. Dynamic prayer is accompanied by movements, such as raising the hands, raising the eyes, percussion on the chest, bowing, spraying the cross, and prostrations. This makes you focus in the prayer and not wander your mind.
• Saint Anthony says “Raise your hands in prayer before death makes them loose.”
  • The Psalmist says “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord” (Psalm 134: 2).
  • And says “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice” (Psalm 141: 2).
  • After crossing the red sea, Amalek came to fight Israel, so Moses said to Joshua: go out and fight Amalek while I stand at the head of the mountain and God’s rod in my hand and pray … “And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed” (Exodus 17: 11). Pray to God with faith and your prayers will be answered.
  • In the Divine Liturgy we pray, saying: “Again, let us give thanks to God the Almighty, the Father of our Lord, our God, and our savior, Jesus Christ, because He made us worthy to stand in this holy place and lift up our hands and serve His Holy Name”.
• Raising up your eyes to heaven is important to focus in prayer. When you talk to someone, it is necessary that you look at him. And when you’re praying, you are talking to God, and heaven is the seat of God. You’re looking at Him and speaking to Him.
  • When we raise our eyes to heaven during prayers, we emulate our teacher, David the prophet, who said: “Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens” (Psalm 123: 1).
  • And by the Lord Christ, because it is written about Him: “Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed” (Luke 9: 16).
• It is better to have a cross in your right hand during prayer, which you kiss warmly.
• Beat your chest with contrition when mentioning your sins, offering repentance, and asking God for mercy, such as “Have mercy on me, O God, for I have sinned against You”. Because beating the chest helps to crush the heart and gather the mind.
• While reciting the Psalms, the Gospels, the litanies, or the absolution in the Agpeya, repeat some phrases in which you find comfort and touch your feelings during prayers.

May the blessing of Saint Mary & Saint Mercurius be with us all always.

Belleville, July 1, 2023

رسالة شهر يوليو ٢٠٢٣