ambition, and idle talking give me not. But rather a spirit of chastity,
humble-mindedness, patience, and love bestow upon me Thy servant.
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my failings and not condemn
my brother; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.Á-?
head touching or near the ground, then immediately standing back up. As the bow to the
ground is begun, the sign of the cross is made. Some people touch their knees to the
ground first and then bend their upper body down, and the more athletic or coordinated
essentially Á-°fallÁ-? forward to the ground with their knees and hands touching at
essentially the same time. This is very similar to the familiar gym class Á-°burpeeÁ-?.
A Bow, also known as a Á-°reverenceÁ-? or Á-°PoklonÁ-? is when the sign of the cross is
made, while simultaneously bowing the head by bending at the waist. Some bow deeply
and touch the ground with their right hand, and other make very shallow bows. It really
does not matter as long as the movement is done with attention.
Something NOT TO DO: No Á-°waving at the airÁ-?. Some do prostrations and bows
quickly or carelessly, and the sign of the cross they make looks like they are shooing
away a fly. Á-°Let all things be done in good orderÁ-?.
The author has many fond memories of saying this prayer way back when, when a
layman, especially in church, or with his children. The church would be dark, and lit
only by candles, the priest standing in front of the royal doors. It would be very quiet,
and only his voice and Á-°swishingÁ-? sounds from the prostrations or bows would be heard.
Everybody would be doing the same thing at once; this was always a profoundly holy
moment and I remember thinking sometimes that I wish I would always be in this state
of mind. There was a feeling that something profoundly good and important was
happening. A mixture of sorrow for my personal condition and great hope in God that I
really would get better sometime, would flood my soul. Many times I would even feel
warmth. With the sublime, was always mixed Á-°real lifeÁ-? Á-? sounds of grunts, heavy
breathing, the sights of children making very creative prostrations. When I had to say
the Trisagion prayers immediately after, I would sometimes struggle to say them without
betraying that I was out of breath!
Parents: say this prayer with your children! I know, it is sometimes a Á-°circusÁ-?, but where
are they going to learn piety is not from you. Prayer is not always neat and pretty with