- Λεπτομέρειες
- Συντάκτης: PPapadimitriou
- Κατηγορία: Liturgical articles
- Εμφανίσεις: 56
“Let Us Pray to the Lord”: Neither “Pray Thou, Father” nor “Pray Ye, Faithful” (Secret Prayers)
Pan. Papadimitriou, PhD
From the 3rd Greek edition, 15/5/2026
[at the end the article is given in pdf]
“while the Secret Prayer is being performed” (St. Gregory of Nyssa, 4th c.)
In this article we argue that when the deacon says “Let us pray to the Lord,” we must understand this as addressed both to the priest and to the faithful. Thus, the priest obeys and responds with his secret priestly prayer, while the faithful, also pray secretly and inwardly, chiefly with “Lord, have mercy,” while only the chanter gives the response aloud. The central thesis is that in the Divine Liturgy there are three coordinated forms of prayer: the common audible deaconal prayers through Prosphonesis, the secret priestly prayers, and the secret lay or monastic (in the monasteries) prayers. These are not competing or disconnected prayers, but one common ecclesial prayer rising to God. The prayers of all become one Prayer, one Power, by the Grace of God. The traditional silent reading of the priestly prayers, is defended, and criticizes their modern amplification through microphones, and challenges several academic positions concerning the timing, audience, and function of the priestly prayers.
