about praying

We’ve posted excerpts here on neepeople.com from the Antiochian prayer books we regularly use for several reasons. Primarily, prayer is a part of our life, a growing and significant part, and as with other parts of our lives we felt these prayers should be here. Additionally, we know that many come here whoare looking into Orthodoxy, and the richness of the prayers posted may be an encouragement to them, as they are to us, especially when our own words seem so inadequate in light of the words of the Saints. 
To quote Fr. Apostolos Hill:

Prayer is the bedrock of our spiritual life. Without it, the soul languishes and withers. With it, the soul can breathe and flourish…

Prayer is the living water, by means of which the soul quenches its thirst.

Finally, a word from Fr. John Winfrey, who compiled many of the prayers copied into these mere pages:

These morning and evening prayers have followed a division of the prayers this is in common use in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese by the Prayer Fellowship of Saint Philip. All of the prayers in each service are to be said unless they have a parenthesis following the title of the prayer. Inside the parenthesis is an abbreviation of the day of the week that particular prayer is said (e.g., Sn=Sunday; M=Monday; Tu=Tuesday; W=Wednesday; Th=Thursday; F=Friday; and St=Saturday).

One may say all of the prayers in any of the given services if they wish, but it is best to do so only with the blessing of one’s spiritual father. It is better to begin one’s Rule of Prayer by simply using those prayers assigned for the day of the week. Then as one grows spiritually and becomes more disciplined in prayer, perhaps including some or all of the other prayers may be good. If one doesn’t start simple, it is too easy to become discouraged and quit praying all together.

We trust that these prayers will give words to the longing of the hearts of those who come by neepeople.com, as they have our own.