How to Pray for Salvation: The Path to the Kingdom of Heaven in Orthodox Tradition
Introduction: The Soul Seeks God
Our hearts are restless until they find rest in God. This truth, articulated by Saint Augustine in the fourth century, rings as true today as it ever has. Millions of people around the world seek answers to the questions: What is prayer? How can I attain salvation? What awaits me in the Kingdom of Heaven?
In this article, I will reveal to you the profound teachings of Orthodox Christianity on prayer and salvation, drawing upon the richness of ancient Greek language and the wisdom of the early Church Fathers.
What is Σωτηρία (Soteria) – Salvation?
Soteria (σωτηρία) means salvation, redemption, healing in Greek. It is not merely a momentary decision or a “ticket to heaven,” but theosis (θέωσις) – divine transformation, in which a person participates in the nature of God.
Orthodox tradition teaches that salvation is:
1. Metanoia (Μετάνοια) – Repentance
True repentance is not simply regret, but metanoia – a complete turning of mind and heart. In Greek, “meta” (μετά) means “beyond” or “over” and “nous” (νοῦς) means “mind.” Thus metanoia is a reorientation of the mind – a turning from sin toward God.
Saint John Chrysostom taught: “Metanoia is not merely weeping over one’s sins, but complete abandonment of sin and the beginning of a new life in Christ.”
2. Pistis (Πίστις) – Faith
Pistis means belief, trust, and faithfulness. It is not merely intellectual assent to truths, but a way of life. Saint James writes: “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).
3. Baptisma (Βάπτισμα) – Baptism
The Greek word baptisma means immersion. In the Orthodox Church, during baptism one is immersed three times into the depths of water in the name of the Triune God, symbolically dying with Christ and rising in new life.
4. Koinonia (Κοινωνία) – Communion
Koinonia means fellowship, communion, sharing. Salvation is not an individualistic experience, but becoming part of the ekklesia (ἐκκλησία) – the Body of the Church. We are not saved alone, but together with the communion of saints throughout the ages.
Προσευχή (Proseuchē) – Prayer as the Art of Breathing
Proseuchē (προσευχή) – prayer – is at the heart of Orthodox spirituality. It is not simply the utterance of words, but pros (πρός – “toward”) + euchē (εὐχή – “wish, prayer”) – the turning of the heart toward God.
The Jesus Prayer: Monologistos Proseuchē (Μονολόγιστος Προσευχή)
One of the most precious pearls of Orthodox tradition is the Jesus Prayer or prayer of the heart:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!”
In Greek: “Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, Υἱὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐλέησόν με τὸν ἁμαρτωλόν” (Kyrie Iēsou Christe, Huie tou Theou, eleēson me ton hamartōlon)
This prayer contains:
- Kyrios (Κύριος) – Lord, Ruler
- Christos (Χριστός) – Anointed One, Messiah
- Huios tou Theou (Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ) – Son of God
- Eleēson (ἐλέησον) – have mercy, be merciful
- Hamartōlos (ἁμαρτωλός) – sinner
Hesychia (Ἡσυχία) – Holy Silence
Hesychia means silence, stillness, inner quietness. The practice of hesychasm teaches us:
- Nepsis (Νῆψις) – watchfulness, sobriety
- Prosochē (Προσοχή) – attention, vigilance
- Mnēmē theou (Μνήμη θεοῦ) – remembrance of God
Saint Gregory Palamas wrote about hesychia: “Hesychia is a heart purified from all passions and constantly praying the Jesus Prayer.”
Basileia tōn Ouranōn (Βασιλεία τῶν Οὐρανῶν) – The Kingdom of Heaven
Basileia tōn Ouranōn – the Kingdom of Heaven – is not a distant place where we go after death, but God’s reign, which already begins now in our hearts.
Eschatologia (Ἐσχατολογία) – The Doctrine of Last Things
The Greek word eschatos (ἔσχατος) means “last.” Orthodox eschatology teaches:
- Parousia (Παρουσία) – the Second Coming of Christ
- Anastasis (Ἀνάστασις) – resurrection
- Krisis (Κρίσις) – judgment
- Aiōnios zōē (Αἰώνιος ζωή) – eternal life
What is Heaven?
Heaven is not a place above the clouds with golden streets. Saint Maximus the Confessor teaches that heaven is direct vision of God – what in Greek is called theōria (θεωρία) or theoptia (θεοπτία) – seeing God.
Orthodox theology speaks of energeiai (ἐνέργειαι) – God’s self-revelations. Heaven is participation in God’s operations, but not in His essence (ousia, οὐσία), which remains inaccessible to us.
How to Pray for Salvation: Practical Steps
1. Begin with Metanoia (Repentance)
Turn to God with an honest heart. Confess your hamartia (ἁμαρτία – sin, missing the mark):
“God, be merciful to me, a sinner! I confess that I have strayed from Your holy will. Help me to turn to You with all my heart.”
2. Confess Pistis (Faith)
Declare your faith in Christ as Savior:
“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who died for my sins and rose from the dead. I receive Him as my Kyrios (Lord) and Sotēr (Σωτήρ – Savior).”
3. Seek Koinonia (Communion)
Salvation cannot happen apart from the Body of the Church. Find an Orthodox congregation where you can:
- Participate in the Eucharistia (Εὐχαριστία – Thanksgiving, liturgy)
- Receive the mysteria (μυστήρια – sacraments)
- Live the leitourgia (λειτουργία – service, common work)
4. Practice Proseuchē (Prayer)
Make the Jesus Prayer part of your daily life:
- Upon waking in the morning
- Before every task
- In the face of difficult situations
- Before going to sleep
5. Live in Theosis (Deification)
Pursue aretē (ἀρετή – virtue). This cannot be achieved by your own power, but through charis (χάρις – grace). The goal is to become christophoros (Χριστοφόρος) – a Christ-bearer.
Liturgical Prayer: Synaxis (Σύναξις)
Synaxis means coming together, assembly. The Orthodox liturgy is heaven on earth, where:
- Anamnēsis (Ἀνάμνησις) – remembrance becomes present
- Epiclēsis (Ἐπίκλησις) – invocation of the Holy Spirit
- Anaphora (Ἀναφορά) – offering up
- Koinonia – communion with the Body and Blood of Christ
Saints as Examples: Theotokos and Pantes Hagioi
Theotokos (Θεοτόκος – God-bearer), the Virgin Mary, is our example of perfect obedience. Her fiat – “Let it be done to me according to Your word” – is the ideal hypakoē (ὑπακοή – obedience).
Pantes hagioi (Πάντες ἅγιοι – all saints) are a cloud of witnesses who support us in our athlēsis (ἄθλησις – contest, athletics) in the spiritual life.
Askēsis (Ἄσκησις) – Spiritual Training
Askēsis means training, discipline. It is not hatred of pleasure, but enkrateia (ἐγκράτεια – self-control), to free the heart for God:
- Nēsteia (Νηστεία) – fasting
- Agrypnia (Ἀγρυπνία) – vigil, night prayer
- Eleos (Ἔλεος) – mercy toward others
- Tapeinophrosynē (Ταπεινοφροσύνη) – humility
Spiritual Warfare: Antirrhēsis (Ἀντίρρησις)
Christian life is an agōn (ἀγών – contest) against the passions (pathē, πάθη). Practice antirrhēsis – talking back to temptation with Scripture and prayer.
Saint John Cassian taught the theory of logismoi (λογισμοί – thoughts): eight principal passions to fight against:
- Gastrimargia (Γαστριμαργία) – gluttony
- Porneia (Πορνεία) – sexual immorality
- Philargyria (Φιλαργυρία) – love of money
- Orgē (Ὀργή) – anger
- Lypē (Λύπη) – sadness
- Akēdia (Ἀκηδία) – sloth, despondency
- Kenodoxia (Κενοδοξία) – vainglory
- Hyperēphania (Ὑπερηφανία) – pride
Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Karpos tou Pneumatos (Καρπὸς τοῦ Πνεύματος)
When we live in the Holy Spirit, karpos (καρπός – fruit) appears in our lives:
- Agapē (Ἀγάπη) – love
- Chara (Χαρά) – joy
- Eirēnē (Εἰρήνη) – peace
- Makrothymia (Μακροθυμία) – patience
- Chrēstotēs (Χρηστότης) – kindness
- Agathōsynē (Ἀγαθωσύνη) – goodness
- Pistis (Πίστις) – faith
- Prautēs (Πραΰτης) – gentleness
- Enkrateia (Ἐγκράτεια) – self-control
Conclusion: Politeuma en Ouranois (Πολίτευμα ἐν Οὐρανοῖς)
Saint Paul writes: “Our politeuma (πολίτευμα – citizenship) is in heaven” (Phil 3:20). Already here on earth we can live as citizens of heaven, practicing:
- Unceasing prayer (adialeiptos proseuchē, ἀδιαλείπτος προσευχή)
- Continual eucharistia (thanksgiving)
- Agapē toward all
- Diakonia (διακονία – service)
- Martyria (μαρτυρία – witness)
A Short Prayer for Salvation
Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, Υἱὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ!
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God!You who came into the world to save sinners, look upon me with eyes of mercy. I confess my hamartia – I have strayed from Your holy will. But I believe in You as the only Sotēr – Savior.
Accept my metanoia – my repentance. Give me charis – Your grace, that I may walk in new life. Make me koinonos – a partaker of Your divine nature.
Theotokos, Mother of God Mary, pray for me! Pantes hagioi, all saints, support me!
Guide me en tē hodō – on the way that leads to zōē aiōnios – eternal life.
Ἀμήν (Amen) – so be it!
Take the first step today. Salvation is not for those who remain distant, but for those who call upon the name of the Lord with trembling hearts. Maranatha (Μαρανα θα) – The Lord comes! Be ready.
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