The Jesus Prayer
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Saint Paul, in writing to the Christian community in Thessaloníki (Thessalónica), directs them to “pray without ceasing.”

The tradition of unceasing prayer is therefore of obvious Apostolic origin, and has been consistently followed by faithful Christians throughout the history of the Church.

Orthodox Christians practice unceasing prayer by reciting the “Jesus Prayer,” a form of invocation used by those practicing mental prayer, also known as “prayer of the heart.”

The words of the Jesus Prayer most usually said are “Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ ἐλέησόν με - Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.”

There are slight variations in the form of the Jesus Prayer, the most common being “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner.”

To practice unceasing mental prayer as indicated in Holy Scripture, Orthodox Christians repeat the Jesus Prayer constantly and continually, regardless of whatever else they are doing.

The purpose of “The Prayer” is to be continually united with God trough the unceasing remembrance of His presence and the repeated invocation of His name. By doing so, we will always serve Him and others with the virtues of Christ and the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

A “κομποσχοίνι,” or “prayer rope,” is commonly used when saying the Jesus Prayer, either as a “counter” to recite “The Prayer” a fixed number of times or simply as a reminder to repeat it continuously.

Click on the following links to read more about the Jesus Prayer and the Prayer Rope:

Click on the following links to learn how to make (tie) a Prayer Rope (Κομποσχοίνι – Komboschoínoi, or Четки – Chótki)

The Jesus Prayer in various languages:

Arabic:
أيها الرب يسوع المسيح ابن الله, إرحمني أنا الخاطئ
(Ayyuha-r-Rabbu Yasū` al-Masīħ, Ibnu-l-Lāh, irħamnī ana-l-khāti’)
(ana-l-khāti’a if prayed by a female).

Belarusian:
Госпадзе Ісусе Хрысьце, Сыне Божы, памілуй мяне, грэшнага. Hospadzie Isusie Chryście, Synie Božy, pamiłuj mianie, hrešnaha.

Bulgarian:
Господи Иисусе Христе, Сине Божий, помилвай мен грешника.

Chinese:
主耶穌基督，上帝之子，憐憫我罪人。

Church Slavonic:
Господи Ісусе Христе Сыне Божїй помилѹй мѧ грѣшнаго.
(грѣшнѹю if prayed by a female).

Czech:
Pane Ježíši Kriste, Syne Boží, smiluj se nade mnou hříšným.

Dutch:
Heer Jezus Christus, Zoon van God, ontferm U over mij, zondaar.

Farsi (Persian):
عیسی مسیح خداوند، پسر خدا، بر من رحم کن گناهکار .

Finnish:
Herra Jeesus Kristus, Jumalan Poika, armahda minua syntistä.

French:
Seigneur, Jésus Christ, Fils de Dieu, aie pitié de moi, pécheur.

Georgian:
უფალო იესუ ქრისტე, ძეო ღმრთისაო, შემიწყალე მე ცოდვილი.

German:
Herr Jesus Christus, Sohn Gottes, erbarme dich meiner, eines Sünders.
(einer Sünderin if prayed by a female).

Greek:
Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, Υἱέ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐλέησόν με τὸν ἁμαρτωλόν
(τὴν ἁμαρτωλόν if prayed by a female).

Hawaiian:
Ē ka Haku ‘o Iesu Kristo, Keiki kāne a ke Akua: e aloha mai ia‘u, ka mea hewa.

Hungarian:
Uram Jézus Krisztus, Isten Fia, könyörülj rajtam, bűnösön!

Italian:
Signore Gesù Cristo, Figlio di Dio, abbi misericordia di me peccatore.

Japanese:
主イイスス・ハリストス、神の子よ、我、罪人を憐れみ給え。

Korean:
하느님의 아들 주 예수 그리스도님, 죄 많은 저를 불쌍히 여기소서

Latin:
Domine Iesu Christe, Fili Dei, miserere mei, peccatoris.
(peccatricis if prayed by a female).

Lithuanian:
Viešpatie Jėzau Kristau, Dievo Sūnau, pasigailėk manęs nusidėjelio.
(nusidėjelės if prayed by a female).

Malay:
Wahai Isa-al-Masih, Putra Allah, kasihanilah aku, sesungguhnya aku ini berdosa.

Maltese:
Mulej Ġesù Kristu, Iben ta’ Alla l-ħaj, ikollok ħniena minni, midneb.

Norwegian:
Herre Jesus Kristus, forbarm deg over meg.

Polish:
Panie Jezu Chryste, Synu Boga, zmiłuj się nade mną, grzesznikiem.

Portuguese:
Senhor Jesus Cristo, Filho de Deus, tende piedade de mim pecador!

Romanian:
Doamne Iisuse Hristoase, Fiul lui Dumnezeu, miluieşte-mă pe mine păcătosul.
(păcătoasa if prayed by a female).

Russian:
Господи Иисусе Христе, Сыне Божий, помилуй мя грешнаго
(грешную if prayed by a female).

Serbian:
Господе Исусе Христе, Сине Божји, помилуј ме грешног.
(Gospode Isuse Hriste, Sine Božiji, pomiluj me grešnog.)

Slovak:
Pane Ježišu Kriste, Synu Boží, zmiluj sa nado mnou hriešnym.

Spanish:
Señor Jesucristo, Hijo de Dios, ten piedad de mi, que soy un pecador.

Ukrainian:
Господи Ісусе Христе, Сину Божий, помилуй мене грішного.
(грішну if prayed by a female).