THE PRAYER ROPE: tool for the Jesus Prayer. How WORK UNDER OBEDIENCE can save an empty, fallen soul

[@williammaccarthey3089]

If the world were right then this channel would have millions of subs. A reborn catholic youth here and i really appreciate all of the wisdom

[@fp7923]

Everyone please pray for Croatia

[@Klotrik]

I hold my prayer rope in my fists. It is the only thing I understand about prayer anymore. I can't pray. I hold my rope and hope that God will recieve this action as my prayer to him. Thank you father. God bless you, and your monastery, and all who are here. All glory to God. Amen.

[@MegaTubetiger]

Beautiful and deeply spiritual words. Glory to Jesus Christ!

[@ericwilting]

Thank you. Sometimes i have no more strength than to use the name of Jesus. I believe in the name!

[@MyLifeInTheDesert]

Father, thank you for your guidance. These videos are helping me through the dark night of the soul...

[@harrihuovinen9706]

Dear Father Seraphim, you keep answering the questions I didn't realize I had, but still did. Amazing. It must be the Holy Spirit working thru you. Thanks be to God!

[@mullmonastery]

Dear Harri, thank you for sharing with us that this is somehow helping you. I trust that Christ will give me the words He knows are useful, but - because of my sins and lack of faith - hearing that these videos are indeed helpful gives me courage to keep working. May we all be blessed, dear one.

[@gwatts5934]

@@mullmonastery I've been drawn to your videos and wonder if you could recommend a monastery in the United States? Thank you for your videos and for explaining everything so clearly. 🙏

[@asapasiafury4100]

@@gwatts5934 Where are you located?

[@gretagarbo6930]

@@mullmonastery ❤🥰💐

[@southpawmoose]

6:00 Brother, Ain't that the Truth. Thank you for sharing this wisdom.

[@PaperParade]

Thank you for this! I have been very perplexed by so many of the traditions in the Church, coming from a Protestant upbringing. One thing I find so beautiful about Orthodoxy is that nothing is simple and nothing is meaningless. Even the most simple things have a depth of meaning and intention. It’s lovely.

[@erikcripe6192]

I am constantly amazed at your wisdom. You are so young to be so wise. It can only be that Christ is using your voice to help us all. Praise the Lord.

[@annawhiteley3128]

Father, my shell rope arrived in the mail at, synchronously, precisely the right time. Thank you. It’s easy to forget that all things happen on God’s schedule.

[@TheTennisMachine]

Thank you for your teachings. May God bless you and the monastery abundantly.

[@nething94]

Greetings from Serbia! Stay strong in faith, and may God bless you with his Son and the Holy Spirit. Amin

[@II-PodviznickaSlova]

Тако је, брате Србине! (^_^)

[@nething94]

@@II-PodviznickaSlova Ima nas hehe, pozdrav brate.

[@hilarywhite2953]

The Oblate master of our monastery just sent me a prayer rope, so thank you for this video explaining more about how to use it.

[@kashmoose2478]

Pray for me I wanna convert to orthodoxy im 16 and my parents always have plans on sundays and I haven’t been to liturgy in 2 months pray that I can attend. And that one day I can be baptized and receive the Eucharist

[@patrickwalsh4754]

Definitely seems to me that the holy spirit was moving strong in this moment

[@alinradu7289]

Mulțumim părinte. Sfântul Nicolae și Sfântul Serafim de Sarov să fie cu sfinția voastră!

[@soniadiaz8438]

Please pray for me 🙏🏼 please I got I witchcraft spirit from a person i pray for 🙏🏼 I’m catholic, but since I heard the rop prayer I filled hope, please pray for my deliverance in Jesus name!! Thank you

[@andreahutchinson5783]

Good Morning , Blessed Brother , Fr. Seraphim, And all the brothers and sisters there. I am watching the weather and thinking about you under the Holy Glory Cloud of Our God. May His fire keep you safe and warm. I have not listened to all of your teaching yet today. It is late morning ( almost 11a) and my husband is home from work...so to minister to him in Christ and look forward to sit with you later in the day an listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say. I have been thinking quite a bit about the Prayer Rope . When i get up i bless myself and sing to the Lord the "my two palms before you ..."song and He helps me.. immediately'' to place my body a living sacrifice before Him and begin to sing praises in my heart to Him. Thank you, thank you, thank you, so much for everything you are doing to help us draw closer and closer to Him. May His Glory fill you and His presence be with you every moment. Amen, Amen, Amen We are praying in the Spirit here and singing songs over you together with the LORD. Your friend In Christ Jesus Our Lord, Mrs. Terry Hutchinson, (Andrea) Thank you again!

[@mullmonastery]

Dear Andrea, we all have our ministry in the world, and they all lead to Christ if we find the patience and the joy to fulfil that ministry before Him. I am so happy that the booklet and the recording of blessings we have done are helpful to you. May we all grow through each other, and may we all be blessed.

[@Needlerh3]

Your channel is amazing, keep up the good work :)

[@saudevcthaismelo8606]

Just what I needed to hear

[@AnniWho600]

The " Jesus prayer" was totally unknown to me ( German roman catholic) BUT one day these little words were like planted in my mind. I tought them my children and some year later I learned, that this little prayer, that bloomed like a beautiful flower in my mind was so well known in the orthodox church. I learn a lot from your videos and hope that churches are united some day, our God will do this , I'm sure. thank you and God bless you!🙏

[@lucas953]

🇧🇷✝️❤️

[@xmc7189]

Thank you for your guidance father. I have put this prayer rule aside (doing the Agpeya canonical hours) for a while as I need more guidance. Now I can start all over again. Also love those beautiful scroll candlesticks.

[@michellelowe7127]

Perhaps this is why I have not been able to paint or draw. If I start a drawing I feel like I need to be praying or reading the Bible instead and felt like I was being disobedient. I thought that maybe I was depressed. I pray a few times a day and I do my menial work joyfully, so it did not make sense as to why I am not inspired to create anything. I actually do selfishly admire my own work and that is definitely putting myself before Him. I am glad this video showed up in my feed. It clarifies things that have been going on with me over the last several months. I also recieved confirmation that my prayer Rope and prayer book is on its way. I am excited to receive it in the post. Thank you for all of your hard work. 🙏

[@andreahutchinson5783]

Dear Father Seraphim, So it has been 2 days and finally The Lord has given me grace and a little time to finish listening to your teaching. Before i only saw a little on the prayer ropes, so wonderful, but now finished all of it. Aside: This morning I was singing again a portion of "two palms before my beloved.." and waiting on the Lord when the scripture...If your eye be single then your whole body will be filled with light...(paraphrase)mine came to me. end of aside. Then my work for the day was calling me and i kept thinking about focus and singleness of mind and so forth when the Lord reminded me i had not finished your teaching...just finished it now. So wonderful, how Holy Spirit gave me great joy and understanding and confirmation of how beautiful our work is. How you taught on singleness of heart. Amen, Amen. Thank you ,Thank you. It is as if I am there with all of you weaving the prayer ropes together with the saints in the presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ , and how i wish i could actually make some ropes to fill your quota! May the beauty of the LORD our GOD be upon us and establish the work of our hands upon us. May He give you angels to help you . Amen, Amen, Thank you for your response you so generously took time to give me . It lifted me up in Christ and gave me great encouragement and joy in the HOLY Spirit. Please forgive me for taking up so much time in my note and may any of it bless us all together with you there if someone might see the joy ...it is enough! Amen, Christ is risen. Mrs. Hutchinson (Andrea)

[@sewitabruce]

Thank you Abona🙏

[@joeldombecki2140]

Fr Seraphim Aldea, God Bless your soul with all of Christ's Love and all of the love of the Theotokos, Holy Angels and Saints! I love your videos Father! Thank you so much.

[@wendyflanagan5738]

God bless you for sending the small icon of Saint Anna, Saint Joachim, Mother Mary and Lord Jesus as a young baby . It is much venerated. Keep safe and Holy.

[@liehhungc3261]

Thank you, Father, I had received the booklets and felt so moved while I was reading them as those words revealed the honesty and true character. And yes, indeed I am not waiting for Christ or anybody else but for my own growth in the dessert/situation I am in. Hope I will learn to be so attached to God /prayers in the dessert as I am growing my spiritual muscles.

[@MatthiasPendragon]

I love that story of John the Dwarf! God willing one day I will be distracted by my prayer rather than my passions. As always, thank you for your videos. You and the monastery are always in my prayers.

[@realtimeisnowtanyalynnk5425]

AMEN

[@zoiamadge4199]

Amin, amin, amin!

[@beautifulwhitecat]

God bless you! 😇❤️ Numbers 6:24-26 KJV The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

[@sebleasfaw2368]

Thank you father 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@TCizzle111]

Fr. Serafim, You are an inspiration to me. I am praying for you and will continue to bless you in the Father's name. Amen.

[@jennymaalouf9928]

Dear Father, happy feast of Saint Nicolas ☦️🌸

[@ChibiBoxing]

Every video I watch leaves me perplexed by your wisdom...thank you.

[@ashleysue13]

I loved the comment about we are given the work we need, not the work we want. It is helps the grief process of what I thought my life would look like, and what it needs to look like if I am to become closer to God. The two sides pull heavily on my heart some days.

[@jamescummings5272]

Thank you Father

[@martinniceski4032]

Thank you father for this video. God bless you!

[@pieinthesky9646]

Thank you Father ...God Bless you.

[@mmaakkiinn]

AMHN 🙏

[@fp7923]

Please pray for the whole region of Croatia to Serbia. God have mercy on us all.

[@patrickwalsh4754]

Father, than you so much for this video. I just felt God's grace so deeply watching this. It contains so much that I needed to hear.

[@heatherwhitehead3743]

The art on the walls in that room is so BEAUTIFUL! I'm so pleased to realize icons are still being made. I truly hope you have support for all your creative gifts. It's like a piece of heaven on earth there on Mull sometimes. If only the whole world was Mull. Living like your monastery does.

[@zb7293]

God bless you. Thank you. Amen

[@deborahcox7784]

Bless Father, No one else can do the work you do!

[@theresamason5506]

Thankyou Father I was praying about this very thing.

[@DivineMercy_7]

Thank you!🙏

[@Sarahofthewoods]

Thank you, Father, bless! I appreciated this perspective of God more valuing our salvation than what our talents can produce. It would seem this to be an obvious thing, but our culture very much promotes personal satisfaction via expertise/craftsmanship.

[@ingevangelderen3018]

This video comes exact on a moment that my prayer ropes from your monastery are on there way to Belgium 🙂. The information about the ropes is so beautiful, also about our spiritual enemies. It is very good to think what are our spiritual enemies. You give us always so much spiritual wisdom. May God protect you father.

[@Jeff-wr1fs]

Thank you for this very insightful talk on the importance of obedience in regards to pray.

[@apostolesfricydim2247]

Que hermoso sermón sobre la oración. Nosotros también somos monjes. bendiciones Padre Seraphim.

[@volnadr]

Wonderful video and topic Fr Seraphim, as usual. I live in London close to Monastery of St John the Baptist and can only hope that one day I will have the opportunity to visit your monastery as well. In the meantime I look forward to receiving the booklet and St Sophrony’s icon which I’ve ordered from you. Keep the good work father🙏

[@lauracoutcher6028]

I do not see the beauty or blessing in John the Dwarf not being able to think outside of (repetitive) prayer. How is this living? I know that when I say or listen to the Jesus prayer it stays repeating in my mind after I have stopped. But I cannot imagine it not leaving at all, not being able to think. This sounds like unliving, not living to me. The John the Dwarf story seems incredibly sad and more like his cell was a prison and not a place of oneness with God. It seems to me that the meaning of life is connection to God and to each other. That relationship with other human beings is God’s Divine plan and not until we as the human race see ourselves as one unit, one entity, will God allow any human soul to stay in heaven. Until then each will be sent back for another lifetime to try again. When will we see Christ (God’s Divinity) in each other - all others? God has given each of us breath, we are all a child of God and our actions effect each other. Our personal decisions make a difference for more than ourselves. Oh my Jesus forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven especially those most in need of your mercy. If we can achieve those most in need of God’s mercy being led to heaven - then there is hope for all of humanity.

[@BETH..._...]

This video is both timely and confirmation for me ... thank you. God Bless You 🙏🏼

[@PhoebeK]

Father, thankyou, you have clarified something my Spiritual father said to me a few months ago which at the time seemed completely counterproductive to the fulfilling of the vocation he and others had recognised in me.

[@katkat2340]

Thanks be to God

[@georgeandvictoriam7151]

Thank you, stay safe too. A powerful message. My own realisation of this is so pinpoint. Thank you.

[@abrahamkassis3138]

I had so many answers to questions I didnt even know I had while watching this! Thank you so much and Godbless you!🥰

[@nickhoward7419]

Father, would you be willing to give a video on a simple prayer rule that you would recommend? I know it’s always best to go to a Spiritual Father, but I am in the US military and it’s difficult to even find church service much less a dedicated spiritual father. There is so much confusion on the internet, there are hundreds of prayer rules and videos and apps. I feel very lost on my prayer life... ANY advice would be so welcome. Thank you so much for your videos, you’ve helped me through such dark times. I will pray for you and the monastery. Please I beg you pray for me in return.

[@811MainPage]

May I suggest that you download the "daily readings" Orthodox app. You will find there prayers for morning prayers, for evening and prayers of the hours on the main page. Then in the menu you could find prayers for every occasion. I have found it such a great help. I have pretty much tried to set my own prayer rule and now just struggle to keep it, lol. Pray in the morning, prayers in the evening and somewhere in between try to pray for my children. By the way, also in the app is the daily Gospel reading. It is my aim to read that daily as well. Luck on your journey! App link: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.goarch.dailyreadingsfull

[@mhpupacios]

Bless Father , very interesting history of the Prayer rope and message. Unfortunately I crushed my sea shell on my 33 knot Prayer Rope ( I wear it all the time so it is to hand but it was crushed whilst lifting something). Perhaps in the New Year I will buy another one or perhaps a handful of sea shells. As always I love your message and your love and Prayers for us. You and your Brothers and Sisters are always in mine. Kissing your right hand in Christ , Mark

[@mullmonastery]

Thank you for your prayer, dear one. It may be worth keep the rope in a pocket or by your icons. I have one in my pocket and several in my icon corner. Mine get lost, not crushed 😊, so I try to keep them safe. When you order the new one, send us an email and ask that we use one of the shells from St Columba's Bay - they are bigger, but almost petrified, so you will not be able to crush it even if you try! be blessed, dear one.

[@bonnie_gail]

Thanks for the update re prayer rope orders, ordered mine in November so will wait for mine in the new year.

[@monizoe3188]

Hello beloved Father, i have adopted you as my Spiritual guide because you said i need one and i've never heard anyone say that. Also, we're in "lockdown" and all churches are closed. i saw another little video saying that praying the Jesus prayer without guidance is dangerous? Why would it be dangerous? Anyway, i am excited to order a prayer rope. Thank you for answering questions i didn't know i had. Please pray for me i struggle with lack of direction and being pulled into the world by my children who are buying homes, getting married, career, etc. I try to stay as spiritual and close to God as i can by constantly saying the Jesus prayer under my breath or in my mind, praying every morning the Rosary ( im not sure im doing that perfectly ive never been taught) the more i learn about the monastic life the more i yearn for it. I have a longing, as if i had it once and feel homesick. I don't know how to explain. Blessings to you and the monastery. I look forward to every single video. Glory to God

[@maezareid3789]

Dear Sister, I am from Ethiopian Orhodox Church. You comment reminds me my mother. After bringing up her 10 children and all left home, her job was going to church near and far also monstries. Fasting and praying and make herself avaliable for services when she csn. But she had found the worldly obligation pointless as her interest was to stay in the. monstrey pray and serve and have Monstic life. God help you to live the life you want🙏

[@vladescumina6925]

Sărut mâna,părinte!V-aş ruga dacă se poate, să puneţi la subtitrare şi limba română.Vă mulţumim pentru cuvintele pline de mângâiere şi nădejde!Dumnezeu să vă ocrotească cu harul său, să vă dea sănătate şi putere să vă îndepliniţi misiunea care v-a încredinţat-o!Doamne ajută!

[@angvulpe6361]

Doamne ajută! Cum va putem ajuta cu ceva banuți?.

[@thekir1]

Fr Seraphim I thank you for your great help to me. I need your help with my spiritual problems. I need your answer please. I don’t have a spiritual father. Since 6 year ago, I have been praying and fasting by myself I got deceived by an evil spirit For 2 years thinking that I am following my lord Jesus Christ. I cried to the lord asking Him to show me the truth. He answered me. I learned in my heart that this is an evil spirit. Since then I am in hell. I am trying without guidance to pray the lord prayer, to pray 3 times daily. Try to help others as far as I can. I am facing severe spiritual struggles against my self the world and the demon. I am getting beaten during prayers so that I will not accomplish them.I feel frustrated and weak. I am so weak to face all this hell without spiritual guidance Because I am still doing what I think will help me, but is month getting any better. Thank you for your reply

[@airfox44]

Father. Thank you. God Bless you. Please consider transcribing your videos and setting it all into a book. With wisdom somewhere in the title

[@josephbell6418]

Behind you is St. Seraphim with a lestovka.

[@dansgone2229]

Strung beads are also widely used among the Orthodox.

[@shouftas]

I wonder what that means for those of us in the world who enjoy our jobs? I'm a real estate photographer and sometimes can get caught up in my work too much. However I've been dealing with migraines a lot lately. Sometimes I think they are sent by God to help me refocus on whats important.

[@sonyavojnik5265]

I agree with Nicks comment below.. I feel very confused on how to pray .. I feel discouraged.. like it’s not the right way or correct so it somehow doesn’t count. I don’t know.. very discouraging but I am still going to try to do what I can to please the Lord

[@ИнокВарнава-п9й]

I've recieved your rope recently and decide not to use it - I put it on the st. Ninian's icon as a part of that holy thing :) Thank you for your love!

[@ionvoiculet3210]

🙏

[@adriana-mariaincze8262]

Please, father, help me trough this. Why i feel, that i cannot go forward trough searching and think about Holy Scripture. I must to say, that I m only from 3 years came to God. I am 31. I have a group, with my spiritual father, with more people in, for reading and meditate,but somehiw... I feel so desoriented, like i can't think. Why it's happening this, and what can i do, to be more able for studying? I was tried with medication, with prayers... But still nothing. I feel like something goes trough my hands.And thank you, father for all this videos. 🙏💌

[@florencewhite7758]

Fr seraphine please pray for me i am struggling, thank you

[@watchaddicts1213]

"...and I'm going blind making them." You are so funny, Father.

[@mullmonastery]

Well, it is true 😊

[@watchaddicts1213]

@@mullmonastery I understand. It's merely the way you say things...naturally funny and dry sense of humor. For sure, the goats bring it out in you!

[@gretagarbo6930]

@@mullmonastery 😢💔

[@kvlteacher5911]

Thank you Fr. Seraphim. Please pray for me and my family

[@mullmonastery]

May God bless you and you family, dear one. Please remember us in your prayers, too.

[@fracosimoeremita]

🙏❤️

[@fracosimoeremita]

thank you my brother god bless you 🙏

[@heatherwhitehead3743]

Father my mind doesn't seem to separate truth and beauty as two independent forces. They seem the same thing to me. I've been following beauty since I was a child. But after hearing your words I wonder if I have been mislead. I'm a visual artist. How many of us our worshiping a false God without knowing it?

[@antoninospitale4646]

Can someone explain me the difference between rope and catholic rosary? Thanks

[@cassaundramariac9075]

Is there a book anyone can recommend reading on just the Desert Fathers? (I'm Catholic so I don't know a good place to look.) Thank you.

[@mullmonastery]

Look for 'The Saying of the Desert Fathers', dear Maria. There are many translations, editions etc. The one I use most is the one translated by Sister Benedicta Ward. May we all be blessed.

[@cassaundramariac9075]

@@mullmonastery Thank you Father.

[@j-pdebeer6747]

​@@mullmonastery Dear Father. Thank you for your incredible videos. They have been so helpful. I introduced the Holy Rosary into my Jesus prayer practice and the Mother of God came hastily to guide me into the heart. The Holy Rosary helps make the Jesus Prayer easier for me. Id love to hear your experience using these prayers together.

[@pictopoezia]

But what about singlehood, Father? Can our skills and passions be put to good use on our way to God's grace? Even though this makes us sometimes a bit "too much in love" or too involved with our work... And since I'm here, would it be possible to ask for a video on "Christian singlehood" (sounds a bit cheesy, but eh.. ), just a few words for us "wandering stars". I've heard you many times saying it is a blessing, which alwayd gives me courage, but please, I would really appreciate it if you could tell us more about it. Thank you! Sărut mâna, părinte! ❤️

[@colmwhateveryoulike3240]

If the prayers of one member of the community serve all, and this applies to families, do my prayers for the salvation of my friends and family (who I would say do seek truth and love yet do not believe in God and so do not always discern truth and love fully) have an effect? I cannot stop praying for them, including those who have already died, but I would like to know what you might know about this please?

[@Gold-bl7hz]

If you do not have a spiritual father and don't know what your spiritual gift is, Can you recommend a routine or set of books to read for guidance.

[@mechengineergeorge]

Dear Father, how can one decide to go to a monastery leaving the world behind?

[@CrismariuMihnea]

Doamne ajută...părinte știți cumva vreo biserica ortodoxă in Irlanda zona Longford?

[@servicemotorsdevon9265]

Please teach us how to make this as most videos appear far too hard

[@HelloHello8D]

Can I get a prayer rope and Orthodox icons even though I'm a Catholic?

[@MrResearcher122]

This Young Monk believes Celtic Christianity, the Faith of the early Irish, was Orthodox in inspiration. If you're of a Celtic heritage, you'll just be returning to your ancestral spirituality.

[@skyback1]

Binecuvantati ! Parinte stiu ca nu aveti vreme pt noi toti, dar mi-am zis sa mai indraznesc o data sa va intreb, vazand ca de data asta aveti mai putine comentarii, daca adresa de email afisata la facebook este a dumneavoastra personala. As avea mare nevoie de indrumare ! Multumesc !

[@mullmonastery]

Doamne ajuta. Nu mai stiu ce adresa este afisata. Folositi [e-mail] dar imi cer iertare deja pentru ca va dura inainte sa raspund. Sunt in urma cu toate. Domnul sa ne binecuvinteze

[@sonsoftheedelweiss72]

How to order?

[@clairewatt4947]

My sister is in the last stages of dementia and there are 4 of us to pray with her. can i possibly get 4 prayer ropes, one for each of us to pray together. in the convent ( Inwas there 4 13 years and we used the .). i can send a credit card number or whatever you need. Thank you so much! ❤. Rose Watt I listen to you daily, what a blessing,

[@iretabrickey6979]

Can you say the Jesus Prayer for someone else or only for yourself?

[@blabccdcdc7200]

Can we have a personal conversation with you ?

[@TedBruckner]

The BIG take -away from this video: because i don't be a monk in monastery and thus not having a father to be living in obedience to, i am not safe, and in fact i may be saying the Lord's prayer but the only God i am serving is my self.

[@tonytrevorrow1280]

Dear Reverend Father, thank you for this wonderful reflection,it has explained many things upon which I have dwelt,my missionary church has been closed since March & remains so, I have no priest locally,I am struggling along the ' Way', I need guidance,,for I fear that as you have said I maybe praying to myself,not to Our Lord,how can I find a Spiritual Father ,I so urgently need.?

[@TeetersMcShmeeter]

I ask this out of pure curiosity and just honest questioning. I am trying to learn and form my opinion. I am NOT trying to attack you. When the Bible says “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” -Matthew 6:7. I feel when using prayer beads and counting/repeating your prayers it results in this repetition that it speaks of in Matthew. Also when praying to passed saints and mother Mary, is that not prayers in vain since they have since passed? I apologize if I come across as rude I’m just actually curious of your opinion on this? I love your videos but some orthodox practices confuse me and the more research I do on them the more confused I get. -Edit: I’m not against prayer ropes or beads I just can’t understand why some people say they’re a heathen tradition and some say they are really good for building prayer and relationship with god

[@nuzzi6620]

Read "The Orthodox Way" by Timothy (Kallistos) Ware. Watch Fr. Spyridon's videos. Both are good for introductions to Orthodox concepts and explain them really well. There's a ton of info out there (and it can get pretty deep), but it's best to attend a local Orthodox church service and speak to the priest. It isn't vanity to call on the holy name of Christ Jesus, God Incarnate, the second Person of the eternal and all-powerful Trinity who took on human flesh for the sake of us sinners and for our salvation-that is, if you really are asking for Him to be merciful to you. The more you become aware of your own sinfulness and utter wretchedness, the more the prayer and its perpetual repetition will make sense to you. Do you think the publican simply said, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" a single time, and then proceeded to walk out of the temple courts? Of course not! Such repetition is never in vain. And the whole point of the rope is precisely so one can *stop* focusing on the number of prayers, on counting, and focus on prayer itself. Are prayers to the saints and the Mother of God in vain, if, as Christians, we know and believe that death is destroyed and trampled upon, and no longer bars us from communion with heaven? Are those who have passed not more alive than we in this earthly life could ever possibly be? If, as St. James tells us, the prayer of a righteous person is effective, and those in heaven are the holy and righteous ones of God who have finished their race _and are in His very presence,_ shouldn't we be asking for their prayers, as we did when they were with us? Our God is not a God of the dead, but of the living. And if, as Revelation describes, the saints and angels indeed pray to God in intercession for those of us still struggling on earth, shouldn't we implore them for the help they willingly offer us? You're certainly not forced to, but I mean, why wouldn't you want to? We really do believe that death is abolished, and our theology and practices over the past 2000 years reflect that reality. One way of thinking about intercession of the saints that helps me is this: picture yourself in the first-century church, a couple years after our Lord's Ascension. The apostles are doing their thing, the gospel has spread throughout the land, and churches can be found all throughout Judea, where you're at. Imagine you have some issue you're really struggling with, for which you'd really appreciate prayer. The miracle-working apostles who walked with the Messiah Himself have already passed through your town, and St. Paul at this point is mostly unknown and way up in Tarsus, where he'll be for the next decade making tents and preparing for his ministry to the Gentiles. Your local bishop is a righteous man and appointed by one of the apostles, sure; he's already praying for you, but you have time on your hands and are willing to search out a truly God-bearing person to help you. You just about make up your mind to travel to Antioch, where a burgeoning Christian community headed by St. Peter the chief apostle is located-and then it hits you! You remember that only a day's journey away in Jerusalem is none other than the mother of Christ herself, the holy Virgin Mary! Hah! Of all the people in the world, He would doubtless listen to the entreaties of she who raised Him, who suckled Him, who loved Him and cooked dinners for Him and worried for Him and, at the cross, wept for Him, and took His bloodied Body down and held Him in her arms, and laid Him to rest in the tomb; whose heart burst with joy at the sight of His Resurrection and who bade farewell for the last time to her Son in the flesh before He ascended into heaven; who was with the apostles in that grace-filled room on the day of Pentecost when the fire of the Spirit consumed but did not burn His people, and who currently lived in Jerusalem under the care of the most beloved of Christ's disciples! And so you head to the city, and the next morning find the house, after consulting some local Christians-only to discover something of a queue outside the door! But, alas, is it really so surprising? you think to yourself... God hears our prayers-even our own measly, paltry prayers. But it's nice to have pure and blameless people to pray on your behalf, because His ears are especially open to their prayers. We need all the help we can get! And so we thank our Lord Jesus that whether its our earnest pleas to Him for His grace or to His all-pure Mother and His saints for their intercession, He is always pleased with us when our hearts are set on Him. I hope some of this helps. I'll link some verses of Scripture as well. Again, please join a church for Divine Liturgy (which has been served basically word-for-word since the fourth century, and is based on the Liturgy of St. James from the first century) if you really seek to understand the fullness of the truth that Holy Orthodoxy possesses. As Philip once said to Nathanael, "Come and see!" Genesis 21:17-18 Zechariah 1:12-13 Matthew 18:10 Luke 16:19-31 Hebrews 12:1 Rev. 5:8, 8:3-4 1 Kings 2:13-20 “...In this way is he [the true Christian] always pure for prayer. He also prays in the society of angels, as being already of angelic rank, and he is never out of their holy keeping; and though he pray alone, he has the choir of the saints standing with him [in prayer].” St. Clement of Alexandria _(Miscellanies, _*_[A.D. 208]_*_ )._

[@mkeenan1955]

Yes, I believe Father Seraphim is saying that repetition of prayers can be vain when there isn’t obedience, though the discernment that comes with handiwork may come upon you rather than the grace that comes when the mind and heart work together. He was actually illustrating it in the video. He was doing the mindless work of making a prayer rope while giving his talk.