The prayers of the Church are so important because the whole theology of what we believe about God is to be found in those prayers (lex credendi, lex orandi). What we believe is what we pray. And what we pray is what we believe. The Orthodox Church in her great wisdom has given us what is known as the Rule of Prayer. This means that you have to set aside a regular period of time each day and devote it exclusively to prayer. In other words, "You cannot wait to be in the mood of prayer; you have to use the spur of your Prayer Rule to force yourself to pray," as Sergei Fudel writes in his excellent book "Light in the Darkness" (SVS Press). Truly, prayer is the greatest privilege we have, if only we would avail ourselves of it not just in time of trouble but every day, many times a day. We begin with a simple invocation of the name of God, i.

e., when we make the sign of the cross and say, "In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." This is followed by the prayer to the Holy Spirit, "O Heavenly King." This is followed in turn by the Trisagion Prayers. Of course, this is only the beginning of the Rule of Prayer. It may go on and include the reading of a psalm, a Scripture reacting, the Nicene Creed, some of the petitions from the liturgy, a period of silence, special petitions of praise and thanksgiving, intercessions for other people, etc. It can be as long or as short as you please.

It depends on you. Remember the prayer of the thief on the Cross was very short, "Lord, remember me in your kingdom;" and the prayer of the Publican was very short, "Lord, be merciful to me, the sinner." If you have not already started, begin to form a daily Rule of Prayer. Use the Trisagion prayers of the Church as the foundation upon which to build. Begin humbly and simply-but begin. You will be greatly blessed. Book jacket.