Compressing lengthy, beautiful and comprehensive homilies of Saint John Chrysostomos on prayer, we offer the following salient points to help the praying person. Prayer must be a systematic and regular practice in our life, with a pious and reverent stance, and with absolute attention. To pray as we should, with the reverence appropriate to conversation with God, we should be aware of the great benefit of prayer, independently of knowing whether there have been specific responses. The person whose prayer is truly a conversation with God is transformed into an earthly angel.

Born in Pisidian Antioch of pagan parents, Marina only heard of the Lord Jesus at the age of twelve, of His Incarnation of the Most Pure Virgin, His many miracles, His death by crucifixion and His glorious Resurrection. Her little heart was inflamed with love for the Lord, and she vowed never to marry and, further, desired in her soul to suffer for Christ and be baptized with the blood of martyrdom. Her father hated her for her faith, and would not regard her as his daughter.

What, after all, is the nature of prayer? Is it worth the toil, concern, and effort that goes into it?

Let us examine the words of the Holy Fathers for insight.

Saint John Chrysostomos says:

"Prayer is a harbor in the storms of life, an anchor for those who are storm tossed, the treasure of the poor, the security of the rich, the healing of the sick, the preservation of health. Prayer banishes evil things, and preserves the good."

The life of prayer is one part of a much broader topic of spiritual life, in general, the life in Christ, spiritual ascension, the way to sanctification and deification (theosis). Combined with personal inner purification and a regular sacramental life, a life of prayer will help significantly in the regeneration of the faithful during this difficult period in which we live.

Through God's grace, we have holy relics of the Holy Martyr Cyricus in our church, and which upon the consecration of Saint Andrew were placed, along with other holy relics, in the crypt inside the altar table. What a blessing!

Saint Silouan likewise writes, "Just as people go in and out of a house, so may thoughts proceeding from devils come and go again, if you do not accept them." The same idea is expressed by another contemporary spiritual elder (geronda) of Mount Athos, Elder (Saint) Paisios. He used to liken logismoi (evil thoughts) to airplanes that are flying by overhead in the air. If you don't give them any attention, they just keep passing by, but he said we must be careful not to build an airport in our hearts so that they can land and take residence within us. That's a nice little analogy.