The Jesus Prayer

The Prayer of the Heart

The Jesus Prayer is one of the most ancient and powerful prayers in Christianity. Originating in the Eastern Christian tradition, it is designed to be repeated continuously until it becomes as natural as breathing—a prayer of the heart that never ceases.

This simple prayer contains the essence of the Gospel: acknowledgment of Jesus as Lord, Son of God, and Savior, combined with humble recognition of our need for His mercy.

The Jesus Prayer

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

Shorter Forms

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.

Lord Jesus, have mercy.

Jesus, mercy.

Greek Original

Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, Υἱέ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐλέησόν με τὸν ἁμαρτωλόν.

(Kyrie Iesou Christe, Yie tou Theou, eleison me ton hamartolon.)

How to Pray the Jesus Prayer

The Jesus Prayer is meant to be prayed repetitively, allowing it to sink from the mind into the heart. Here's how to begin:

  1. Find a quiet place — Sit comfortably, close your eyes
  2. Breathe slowly — Calm your body and mind
  3. Begin repeating the prayer — Slowly, with attention to each word
  4. Coordinate with breathing — "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God" (inhale), "have mercy on me, a sinner" (exhale)
  5. When distracted — Gently return to the prayer
  6. Practice regularly — The goal is to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Many people use a prayer rope (called a chotki or komboskini) with 33, 50, or 100 knots to help count repetitions.

The Meaning Within Each Word

  • "Lord" — Acknowledges Jesus as God (the Greek Kyrios is the word used for YHWH in the Old Testament)
  • "Jesus" — His human name, meaning "God saves"
  • "Christ" — The Anointed One, the Messiah
  • "Son of God" — The Second Person of the Trinity
  • "Have mercy on me" — The cry of the blind man (Luke 18:38) and the tax collector (Luke 18:13)
  • "A sinner" — Humble recognition of our need for salvation

In just twelve words, we profess the entire Christian faith and place ourselves in need of God's grace.

Biblical Foundation

The Blind Man: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" — Luke 18:38

The Tax Collector: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" — Luke 18:13

St. Paul: "Pray without ceasing." — 1 Thessalonians 5:17

History of the Jesus Prayer

The Jesus Prayer developed among the Desert Fathers of Egypt in the 4th-5th centuries. These monks sought a way to "pray without ceasing" as St. Paul commanded. The prayer was refined over centuries in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.

The classic text on this prayer is "The Way of a Pilgrim," a 19th-century Russian spiritual classic about a wanderer who learns to pray the Jesus Prayer continuously.

While rooted in Eastern Christianity, the Jesus Prayer has been embraced by Catholics and Western Christians as a powerful form of contemplative prayer.

"The Jesus Prayer is so simple that even a child can learn it, yet so profound that a lifetime is not enough to exhaust its depths."

— Traditional saying

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