Our Prayer Life

The monks of the Hermitage faithfully observe the sacred rhythm of prayer by keeping the “Hours” of the Church at their appointed times throughout both day and night, sanctifying time itself through continual remembrance of God.
​
In addition to the liturgical cycle of the Hours, the monks also follow a structured Daily Prayer Rule, deepening their personal life of repentance and communion with Christ. Each monk may adopt either the Prayer Rule of St. Agapetus of the Kyivan Caves or the ancient monastic discipline of St. Pachomius, according to blessing and spiritual guidance, ensuring that both communal and personal prayer remain firmly rooted in the living tradition of the Church.

The Daily Prayer Rule of St. Agapetus of the Kyivan Caves is a simple and accessible set of daily prayers dedicated to the 11th-century Saint, St. Agapetus the Unmercenary Physician of the Kyivan Caves.

The rule typically includes:
  • The Trisagion ("Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal...")
  • The Lord’s Prayer ("Our Father")
  • Psalm 50 (a penitential psalm)
  • The Creed (Nicene Creed)
  • The Doxology (formula of praise to God)​
  • The Prayer for Forgiveness of Sins
  • The Axion Estin (It is truly meet)
  • The Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian & the Lenten Prayer to the Theotokos (in the Lenten Season)
  • The Paschal Hymn (in the Paschal Season)
  • The Prayers for the Living
  • The Prayers for the Departed
  • The Dismissal Prayer​

It’s recited multiple times throughout the day (morning, noon and evening).

This concise prayer rule is a way to keep God present in one's heart throughout the day, even amidst daily duties. It reflects the Orthodox emphasis on inner prayer, simplicity, and consistency.

The Daily Prayer Rule of St. Pachomius is a structured set of short prayers traditionally used by monks and laypeople as part of their daily spiritual practice. Attributed to St. Pachomius the Great, a 4th-century Egyptian monastic father, this rule is known for its simplicity, repetition, and focus on internalizing prayer.

The rule typically includes:
  • The Trisagion ("Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal...")
  • The Lord’s Prayer ("Our Father")
  • Psalm 50 (a penitential psalm)
  • The Creed (Nicene Creed)
  • Repeated Jesus Prayer (100, 200, 300 times): "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner"

It’s often recited multiple times throughout the day, especially during set hours, and is used with a prayer rope to help with focus and counting repetitions.

The rule emphasizes consistency, humility, and repentance, and serves as a foundation for deeper personal prayer and communion with God.

And finally the Jesus Prayer.
A short, deeply reverent invocation traditionally used by monastics to cultivate inner stillness and continual prayer. The most common form is:

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

This prayer expresses humility, repentance, and a desire for communion with God. Monastics often repeat it continuously, vocally or silently, as part of their spiritual discipline, aiming to fulfill St. Paul's command to "pray without ceasing"
​(1 Thessalonians 5:17). Over time, through repetition and grace, it becomes integrated into the heart, fostering a profound awareness of God's presence.

The Monks are urged to pray the Jesus Prayer throughout the day while working or during idle times. Many Monks also utilize the Jesus Prayer after their Daily Prayer Rule.