Prologue in Sermons: April 18

Prayer Can Be Made Not Only in Churches, But Everywhere

April 18

(A saying from the Paterikon on humility, which conquers all the power of the devil.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Many Christians say: “I would gladly pray, but I have no time to go to the church of God — sometimes work does not allow it, sometimes family members prevent me.” What should be said to such people? Of course, all these things do happen. Sometimes work really does prevent it. For example, if there are sick people at home — how can you leave them if there is no one else to care for them? At other times, family members hold you back. What then? In such cases, it is often necessary to remain at home so as not to cause conflict and discord in the family. There are, of course, many other obstacles as well. But if these obstacles are truly so great that one cannot go to church, then is it really impossible, at least in such cases, to pray to God at home or wherever one may be? One can pray everywhere. You may say: “There is no time.” But that is not true. If your hands are occupied — your lips can speak; if your lips are occupied — pray with your mind and heart. God will hear that prayer, and He will count prayer at home in place of prayer in church.

“The Apostle Paul did not pray in a temple,” says Saint John Chrysostom, “but in prison; and since his feet were fastened in stocks, he could not kneel, yet he prayed lying down. Because his prayer was with faith, he shook the prison, freed the prisoners from their chains, and converted the jailer to Christ. Hezekiah also did not stand in a church to pray, nor did he kneel, because illness had bound him to his bed; but since he called upon God with warm and heartfelt prayer, he overturned the righteous sentence of death, received an extension of his life, and obtained deliverance for the whole city from its enemies. The thief crucified on the cross received the Kingdom of Heaven through a few words. Jeremiah prayed in the muddy pit, and God heard him. Jonah entreated God in the belly of the whale. Others also, through prayer, averted dangers that threatened them and received God’s help. Likewise even now, many have been delivered from troubles and evils through prayer, with God’s help. Therefore we too, brothers, should not search for special places for prayer, nor strive for eloquent words; but as the Canaanite woman prayed, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, for my daughter is grievously possessed,’ so we also should say in prayer: ‘Have mercy on me.’ Though such a prayer is brief, it draws down the depth of God’s love for mankind. And where God’s mercy is, there is every good thing. Therefore, wherever you are, say: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ If you cannot say it aloud, keep it in your mind, in your heart. God hears even those who are silent; and within yourself you will create a church — therefore do not seek a special place for prayer. When the Hebrews came out of Egypt, the sea was before them, Pharaoh behind them, and Moses in the middle. Moses was in great distress among the murmuring people, and it seemed he could not pray. But the Lord said to him: ‘Why do you cry to Me?’ The three youths also prayed in the furnace, and their prayer quenched the flame, loosed their bonds, brought them out alive, and glorified them. Job prayed to God upon the dung heap, and the Lord showed him His mercy. Therefore, when trouble comes upon you, run to God and pray to Him, that He may deliver you. God is everywhere and near you. Even before you finish your prayer, He will already give you relief and deliver you from evil passions.”*

Thus, the salvation of our God is found in every place, and since He is everywhere present, He hears our prayers everywhere and receives them from every place. Therefore it is not right to say that if one cannot go to church, then one cannot pray at all. Are there not many places where there are no churches at all? Who, except a fool, would say that in such places there are no people praying and being saved? And in the first centuries of Christianity, how many churches were there? In some lands there were almost none, and yet the first Christians prayed constantly — at home and in underground places.

So pray wherever the Lord leads you. If you have the opportunity to visit the church, hasten there — for there is a special presence of God there, and your prayer may more easily become heartfelt and fervent, both through the example of others and through the reverent services. But if you cannot go to church, enter your room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly (Matthew 6:6). Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

Notes:

* This passage is not a direct quotation from a single identifiable work of John Chrysostom, at least not in this exact form. What you’re seeing is typical of Russian devotional literature (especially 19th–early 20th century collections): What it actually is:

- A composite paraphrase drawn from Chrysostom’s teachings on prayer

- Mixed with examples from Scripture (Paul, Hezekiah, Jonah, etc.)

- Framed as a continuous exhortation for practical use

The themes in that passage do reflect genuine Chrysostom material, especially:

- Prayer anywhere, not just in church
→ Homilies on First Epistle to Timothy (esp. on 1 Tim 2:8 “pray in every place”)

- Interior prayer (mind/heart prayer)
→ Homilies on Gospel of Matthew (particularly on Matthew 6:6)

- Examples of biblical figures praying in distress
→ Scattered across multiple homilies and catechetical instructions

- Short prayer like “Have mercy on me”
→ Very typical of Chrysostom’s pastoral style, but not a fixed quote here
Bottom line

This is therefore best understood as a didactic compilation inspired by Chrysostom, not a verbatim citation.