Prayer of St Ephraim

[Alex Haig]

I was having a conversation with someone about the Prayer, each of us working from memory. He thought the prayer was used starting from next week (week following the Sunday of the Prodigal Son), I thought not until Forgiveness Vespers, which one of us is correct? Is this a Greek/Russian tradition difference?

Many thanks in advance.

With love in Christ

Alex

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

We begin to say the Prayer of St. Ephraim at Vespers on Tuesday of CheeseFare Week; then at Great Compline which is said on Tuesday night; then at Midnight Office; at Wednesday Matins; & at the Hours during the day (the structure of these services is semi-Lenten).

We also say the Prayer at Wednesday Vespers.

At Thursday Vespers we repeat the semi-Lenten pattern we used at Tuesday Vespers going right through to the Hours & then Friday night Vespers all with the Prayer of St. Ephraim.

To better understand how this works & to see the texts in English for the services all through CheeseFare find The Lenten Triodion- Supplementary Texts.. This book is absolutely essential for the services of CheeseFare but it is often out of print & difficult to find.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Mother Evfrosinia]

If anyone needs or would like the Supplementary Texts to the Lenten Triodion that Fr. Raphael mentions, we have one, maybe two spare copies here at the Lesna Monastery. Get in touch by email.
In Christ, m. evfrosinia

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

There are many interesting things to point out concerning next week and Cheesefare week.
The daily Gospel readings for the next two weeks from Mark & then Luke all deal with the Passion of Christ. Significantly the readings stop just before the Resurrection.
In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Fr Aaron Warwick]

Dear Friends:

In regards to liturgical services and information, you may benefit from the St. Raphael Clergy Brotherhood (http://networks-now.net/litresswraoc/) website. For specific information regarding Lenten services and the season in general, this page (http://networks-now.net/litresswraoc/Services.htm) in particular is helpful.

Aaron

[Baroness]

I have a question about the Prayer of St Ephraim which is said during Lent.

I was visiting a convent on the weekend, and on Monday morning's service the nuns fully prostrated themselves about three times, then did numerous half prostrations. I assumed they were praying the prayer of St Ephraim. Please excuse me for this basic question, but 1) are they doing the full prostrations when praying this prayer, 2) and how many prostrations do they do, 3) and how many half prostrations do they do, and 4) what are they praying when doing half prostrations?

I felt like a bit of a nut just standing there not quite knowing what to do, or what I was doing (as the prayers are in slavonic, and I don't understand much).

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your answers and help.

[Hieromonk Ambrose]

Dear Baroness, Here is the way it is recited on all weekdays:

O Lord and Master of my life, give me not a spirit of sloth, despondency, lust for power and idle talk.
(Full Prostration)

But grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love.
(Full Prostration)

Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brother. For blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.
(Full Prostration)

O God, Have mercy on me a sinner (12 times, with 12 bows from the waist and the back of your right hand touching the floor each time. These 12 prayers are said silently by each person.)

And then, again, the whole prayer of Saint Ephraim is repeated, with just one full prostration at the end of it.

At Sunday Vespers this is shortened a little.