Everything the Orthodox Church offers for personal prayer, beyond the daily services.
Daily Devotions
These standalone prayer collections can support prayer at home. They are not Matins or Vespers and do not replace an appointed office.
A collection of prayers for use after waking.
A collection of prayers for use before sleep.
Meal Prayers
Orthodox Christians pray before and after every meal. The before-meal prayer is the Our Father. These are short and simple.
The Our Father and blessing of food. Under 1 minute.
Thanksgiving after eating. Under 1 minute.
Common Prayers
Psalm 50 is the most-prayed psalm in Orthodoxy. It appears in almost every service. Learning it by heart is one of the first steps in Orthodox prayer life.
The great penitential psalm of King David. "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness." Prayed daily in Orthodox worship.
Communion Preparation
Read these prayers the evening before or morning of receiving Holy Communion. Ask your priest when you should begin receiving Communion as a catechumen.
Prayers of repentance and faith before receiving the Eucharist.
Prayers of gratitude after receiving the Body and Blood of Christ.
Devotional Prayers
These prayers go beyond the daily services. They are read for personal devotion whenever your heart needs them. There is no obligation to read them, but they deepen your life in Christ.
This hymn to the Mother of God has thirteen kontakia (short hymns) and twelve oikoi (longer stanzas), with the refrain 'Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!'
A personal prayer addressed to your guardian angel. Nine odes asking for protection, guidance, and intercession.
Memorial prayers for those who have fallen asleep in the Lord. Read on Saturdays (the day the Church remembers the departed) and on memorial anniversaries.
Lenten Prayers
During Great Lent (the 40 days before Pascha), the Church adds special prayers with full prostrations. The Prayer of St. Ephrem is said at every Lenten weekday service and can be prayed at home.
The quintessential Lenten prayer with prostrations and bows. "O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk." About 5 minutes with prostrations.
Additional Services
These are services from the Horologion (the Book of Hours) that are not part of the standard daily cycle but are available for deeper prayer life.
During Bright Week (Pascha through Thomas Sunday), these replace ALL regular daily prayers. "Christ is Risen" replaces every psalm and troparion. The entire service is joyful celebration of the Resurrection.
The Psalter
The 150 Psalms are divided into 20 sections called kathismata. Many Orthodox Christians read one kathisma per day. During Lent, the entire Psalter is read twice per week. Start with Kathisma 1 and read through. If that is too much, read one psalm per day.
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly."
"I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart."
"I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength."
"Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul."
"Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous."
"O Lord, rebuke me not in Thy wrath."
"God is our refuge and strength."
"Be merciful unto me, O God, for man would swallow me up."
"Praise waiteth for Thee, O God, in Sion."
"In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust."
"Give ear, O my people, to my law."
"Bow down Thine ear, O Lord, hear me."
"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord."
"Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto Thee."
"O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His name."
"The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at my right hand."
The longest chapter in the Bible: 176 verses. "Blessed are the undefiled in the way."
The Songs of Ascents. "In my distress I cried unto the Lord."
"Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD;"
"Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary." The Psalter's joyful finale.