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  • Unceas Ing Prayer

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    This document discusses unceasing prayer, specifically the Jesus Prayer. It states that unceasing prayer, as defined in the New Testament and supported by Church fathers, is an important spiritual practice that fosters a direct relationship with God. This relationship with God through constant prayer is necessary for theosis, or union with God. The document then examines the origins, evolution, approach and results of unceasing prayer, especially the Jesus Prayer, according to Orthodox literature and theology.

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    Original Title

    Prayer

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    This document discusses unceasing prayer, specifically the Jesus Prayer. It states that unceasing prayer, as defined in the New Testament and supported by Church fathers, is an important spiritual practice that fosters a direct relationship with God. This relationship with God through constant prayer is necessary for theosis, or union with God. The document then examines the origins, evolution, approach and results of unceasing prayer, especially the Jesus Prayer, according to Orthodox literature and theology.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    15 views36 pages

    Unceas Ing Prayer

    Uploaded by

    se
    This document discusses unceasing prayer, specifically the Jesus Prayer. It states that unceasing prayer, as defined in the New Testament and supported by Church fathers, is an important spiritual practice that fosters a direct relationship with God. This relationship with God through constant prayer is necessary for theosis, or union with God. The document then examines the origins, evolution, approach and results of unceasing prayer, especially the Jesus Prayer, according to Orthodox literature and theology.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
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    of 36

    Unceas

    ing
    Prayer
    John

    Kotsonis

    Thesis:
    Unceasing
    prayer,as
    definedin
    theNew

    Testament,
    supported
    bythe
    Fathersof
    the
    Church,
    expanded

    and
    explainedin
    Orthodox
    Literature,is
    an
    extremely
    significant

    aidanda
    very
    efficient
    accelerator
    forour
    personal
    spiritual

    growth.As
    itdevelops,
    itengenders
    adirect,
    clearand
    constant
    relationship

    withGod,
    whichisa
    necessary
    and
    sufficient
    condition
    forour

    theosis.
    Thiswork
    focuses
    onthe
    unceasing,
    continuous
    prayer,

    especially
    theJesus
    Prayer,or
    Prayer
    OfThe
    Heart
    itsorigin,

    evolution,
    approach
    andresults.
    Thetext
    mirrorsthe
    structureof
    the

    Thesis
    statement.

    I.
    Unceasing
    prayeris
    definedin

    theNew
    Testament,
    supported
    bythe
    Fathersof
    the

    Church,
    expanded
    and
    explained
    in
    Orthodox

    Literature

    Prayerisour
    attemptto
    speakwith
    Godand
    establisha
    personal

    connection
    withHim.
    As
    Orthodox
    Christians,
    weknow
    thatweare

    expectedto
    maintaina
    powerful,
    directand
    personal
    relationship
    withGod

    through
    prayerand
    receivethe
    divinegrace
    thatflows
    fromit.The
    union

    thatfollows
    isthe
    ultimategift
    fromGod
    andour
    birthright.In
    thewordsof

    StJohn
    Climacus:
    Prayeris
    bynaturea
    dialoganda
    unionof
    manand

    God.
    Itseffectis
    toholdthe
    world
    together.
    Itachievesa
    reconciliatio

    nwith
    God.(R14
    p274).
    Eversince
    theFall,
    humans
    havetriedto

    keeptheir
    connection
    withGod
    aliveand
    functioning
    through
    prayer(1).

    However,an
    integrated
    prayerin
    Godsname
    c
    ouldnotbe
    offereduntil

    His
    Incarnation
    (including
    His
    Crucifixion
    and
    Resurrection

    )was
    complete.
    Afterthat
    point,the
    faithfulcan
    relyonHis
    promisethat

    Hewill
    makesure
    our
    legitimate,
    andproperly
    placed,
    requestsare

    fulfilled(2).
    Christhas
    pledgedthat
    Hewillact
    onour
    behalf,that
    Hewillbe

    our
    personal
    Intercessor
    (3,4)which
    issomething
    theprophets
    oftheOld

    Testament
    neverhad.
    Our
    prayersare
    nowblessed
    bythevalue
    ofChrists

    human
    experience,
    including
    Hissacrifice
    and
    victoryover
    deathand

    Hehas
    promisedto
    respondto
    ourrequests
    madeinHis
    Name.We
    also

    knowthat
    prayerwasa
    bigpartof
    Jesuslife
    andthatHe
    prayedvery
    frequently,

    asweread
    throughout
    theNew
    Testament.
    For
    example,the
    Gospelof

    SaintJohn,
    chapter17,
    containsa
    deeply
    moving
    prayerthat
    Jesus

    offeredto
    HisFather.
    Thislong
    prayerwas
    tailoredto
    the

    circumstanc
    esHewas
    facingatthe
    time,butit
    canals

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