Holy Pentecost Feast - Prostration Prayer - صلاة السجدة

 6 4 2023
ما هى صلاة السجدة ؟ ولماذا سميت بهذا الأسم؟
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
What is the prostration prayer? and why it was named by that?
 
* The prayer of prostration is a special prayer that the church performs in remembrance of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost.
 
* It was the custom in the past during the time of the apostles for the worshipers to recite the prayers of prostration while standing. It is said that the reason for adopting the prostration when reciting them; as is now practiced; is due to what happened once that while Anba Makarios, the Patriarch of Antioch was reciting the petitions, a strong wind blew as happened in the upper room of Zion. On the day of the fiftieth feast, the worshipers prostrated themselves, and the wind ceased. Then they rose to complete the prayer standing, then the wind blew again, so they prostrated, so the wind subsided. Then they returned to standing, and it came back for a third time, so they prostrated and the wind subsided. They knew that God’s will wants these prayers to be performed in a state of prostration and reverence, and from then on the church took this habit to present day..
 
* Prostration is inseparable from the prayers of invoking the Holy Spirit in the Church, as it is in the sacraments (baptism, the Eucharist, repentance and confession, marriage, priesthood).. On this manner, the Church receives the action of the Holy Spirit while prostrating.
 
During the prayers of prostration, incense is raised/burned, and this is because on the day of Pentecost, the fragrant of the Holy Spirit spread among the disciples and filled the whole world through their preaching work.. The Holy Spirit is God, and the incense is a sign of God’s presence in the place.
 
* During the prayers of prostration, the church also asks for the comfort for the souls of those who are asleep, (raising incense & prayers for the departed souls).
 
* The first and second prostrations are performed in the second chorus (the place of the Pascha prayers).. The third prostration, which reminds us of the descending of the Holy Spirit is performed in the first chorus, in front of the alter.