PRAYER AS A MEANS OF CULTIVATING THE HEART IN THE MISSION OF FAITH
PRAYER AS A MEANS OF CULTIVATING THE HEART IN THE MISSION OF FAITH

Summary/Abstract: The Orthodox Church is spiritually revived through the power of prayer, sustained by the service of bishops, priests, monks, hermits and all her faithful people. Prayer, the existential foundation of the faithful, unceasingly renews the spirituality of the Church, reflecting in the diversity of forms of prayer the breadth of the spiritual life. Central is the essential prayer that resounds in the words "Well will I say the Lord at all times, his praise always in my mouth" (Psalm 33:1), manifesting the gospel in its living and authentic form. St. Isaac the Syrian emphasizes this as the "praise of the Church of Christ," highlighting a multifaceted spiritual practice that includes monasticism as a sanctuary where doctrines and devotions are preserved in unadulterated forms. Monastic chant, a subtle but profound element of this spiritual ecosystem, illuminates and challenges with the light of Christ. Through prayer, the Church not only communicates with God, but also spiritually transforms human beings, extending the prayer of the heart to the whole of creation. The spiritual fathers outline three progressive stages in the life of prayer and Christian perfection, as St. Basil the Great summarizes. These stages involve the journey of the mind from an outward movement to God, to introspection, and finally, the ascent of the soul itself to God. Each stage signifies a deeper integration of the spiritual into everyday life, culminating in the direct and direct encounter with God, overcoming the need for images or conceptual forms. This transformative prayer practice leads to a deep inner unity, echoing the teachings of the Psalmist and the Fathers of the Church, manifesting itself as a joyful devotion and love to God. By maintaining sustained attention and the virtues of temperance and patience, this transformative engagement with the Divine is maintained, deeply embedding the prayer of the heart into the fabric of daily existence.

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