Psalm 26 Psalm read. Prayers of Schema-Archimandrite Vitaly

The Lord is my enlightenment and my Savior, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Protector of my life, from whom shall I fear? Sometimes those who are angry come close to me, they destroy my flesh, they insult me, and they attack me, they are exhausted and fall. Even if a regiment takes up arms against me, my heart will not fear, even if it rises up to fight me, I will trust in Him. I have asked one thing from the Lord, and this I will require: that I may live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may behold the beauty of the Lord, and that I may visit His holy temple. For He hid me in His village in the day of my evil, for He covered me in the secret of His village, and lifted me up on a stone. And now, behold, I have lifted up my head against my enemies: I have died and devoured in His village a sacrifice of praise and shouting, I will sing and sing praises to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, my voice to which I cried: have mercy on me and hear me. My heart says to you, I will seek the Lord. I will seek Your face, O Lord, I will seek Your face. Do not turn Your face away from me and do not turn aside in anger from Your servant: be my helper, do not reject me, and do not forsake me, O God of my Savior. For my father and mother have abandoned me, but the Lord will receive me. Give me the law, O Lord, in Thy way and guide me on the right path for my enemy’s sake. Do not betray me into the souls of those who are afflicted by me, as if I stood up as a witness to unrighteousness and lied untruthfully to myself. I believe in seeing the good of the Lord on the land of the living. Be patient with the Lord, be of good courage and let your heart be strong, and be patient with the Lord.

Protection against enemy attacks

Psalms 26, 90

“...And it won’t be torn apart by a bomb”

(What Elder Father John of Optina told me)

Sergei Alexandrovich Nilus and his wife Elena Alexandrovna came to the Optina Elder Father John (Salov). The elder accepted with the joyful affection characteristic of him towards my wife and me.

“Take a stool,” he said, hugging me, “sit down next to me.”

—What psalms do you read? - he asked me a question. I was embarrassed: usually in my short, purely worldly, not even the rule, but the rule, I did not read any psalms.

“I know,” I answered, ““Alive in help,” “Have mercy on me, O God”...

- And what other ones!

- Yes, father, I have read all the psalms and, although not by heart, I know everything; but my little rule...

The elder interrupted my self-justification:

“I don’t want to ask you about what is your rule, but about whether you still read Psalm 26 - “The Lord is my enlightenment?”

- No, father, I don’t read.

- Well, so I’ll tell you what! You once told me that the enemy was shooting his arrows at you. Do not be afraid! not a single one will touch you, don’t be afraid of any rubbish: rubbish will remain rubbish. Just take my advice as a rule, listen: read in the morning and evening before your prayer both of these psalms - the 26th and the 90th, and before them the great Arkhangelsk joy - “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice.” If you do this, neither fire will take you, nor water will drown you...

At these words, the elder stood up from his chair, hugged me and with some special strength, in a rolling ringing voice, did not even say, but shouted:

“I’ll tell you more: it won’t blow up with a bomb!” I kissed the old man’s hand that hugged me. And he again, pressing himself close to my ear, again loudly exclaimed:

- And the bomb won’t explode!* And don’t pay any attention to any rubbish: what can rubbish do to you?.. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Well, now go with the Lord!

And with these words the elder sent us away in peace.

I knew that person, more precisely, the woman to whom the elder was hinting, calling her rubbish: she clung to the Optina splendid-leaved tree like a lichen, and for a long time, with her false holiness and the name of the elders, she fooled the Optina pilgrims. I understood her, and she took revenge on me where she could. God be with her!..

“And the bomb won’t explode!..” Prediction of Fr. John (Salov) was exactly fulfilled during the Civil War. According to the memoirs of M.V. Smirnova-Orlova, Elena Alexandrovna told her that once, when she and her husband were riding in a tarantass under fire, a bomb exploded next to them, but they were not hit at all.

Archangel's greeting to the Most Holy Theotokos

Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.

Psalm 26

(speaking of the believer’s perseverance in persecution and his consolation through the protection of the Lord)

The Lord is my enlightenment and my Savior, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Protector of my life, from whom shall I fear? Sometimes those who are angry approach me and destroy my flesh; those who insult me and defeat me become exhausted and fall. Even if a regiment turns against me, my heart will not fear; Even if he fights against me, I will trust in Him. I have asked one thing from the Lord, and this I will require: that I may live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may behold the beauty of the Lord, and that I may visit His holy temple. For He hid me in His village in the day of my evil, for He covered me in the secret of His village, and lifted me up on a stone. And now, behold, you have lifted up my head against my enemies: the waste and devouring in the village of His sacrifice of praise and exclamation; I will sing and make praise to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, my voice in which I cried, have mercy on me and hear me. My heart says to you: I will seek the Lord, I will seek your face, O Lord, I will seek your face. Do not turn Your face away from me and do not turn aside in anger from Your servant: be my helper, do not reject me and do not forsake me. God, my Savior. As my father and mother abandoned me. The Lord will accept me. Give me the law, O Lord, in Thy way, and guide me on the right path for my enemy’s sake. Do not betray me into the souls of those who are afflicted by me: for I have stood up as a witness of unrighteousness, and lied untruthfully to myself. I believe in seeing the good of the Lord on the land of the living. Be patient with the Lord, be of good courage, and let your heart be strong, and be patient with the Lord.

Psalm 90

1 He who lives in the help of the Most High will dwell in the shelter of the Heavenly God. 2 Says the Lord: Thou art my Protector and my Refuge. My God, and I trust in Him. 3 For He will deliver you from the snare of the trap, and from rebellious words, 4 He will cover you with His cloak, and you will trust under His wing; His truth will surround you with weapons. 5 Thou shalt not fear from the fear of the night, from the arrow that flies during the day, 6 from the thing that passes in darkness, from the cloak, and from the demon of the midday. 7 Thousands will fall from your country, and darkness will be at your right hand, but it will not come close to you, 8 but look at your eyes, and see the reward of sinners. 9 For You, O Lord, are my hope, You have made the Most High your refuge. 10 No evil will come to you, and no wound will come near your body, 11 for His angel commanded you to keep you in all your ways. 12 They will lift you up in their arms, but not when you dash your foot on a stone, 13 tread on the asp and the basilisk, and cross over the lion and the serpent. 14 Because I have trusted, I will deliver, and I will cover, because I have known My name. 15 He will call to Me, and I will hear him: I am with him in tribulation, I will destroy him, and I will glorify him, 16 I will fill him with long days, and I will show him My salvation.

Elder Schema-Archimandrite Vitaly (in the world V.N. Sidorenko (1928-1992) was a pupil of the great elders of the Glinsk Hermitage. He stood out for his high spirituality, humility, and obedience. This humble, meek shepherd, not of this world, was distinguished by a special gift from God: he healed the mentally ill and the possessed .

As a prayerful memory, Schema-Archimandrite Vitaly left Mother N. (who was his spiritual child for 30 years) a prayer to bless the house. This prayer was read several times a day during bombings, sieges, and searches. And her house in one of the “hot” spots of the Caucasus, and the people in it, were not harmed when everything nearby and in the area was burned, smashed, and blown up.

Prayer for blessing a home

May Almighty Merciful God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit bless us and protect us. ABOUT! Sweetest Jesus Christ, Almighty King of Heaven and earth, Son of David, Jesus of Nazareth, crucified on the Cross for our sake, have mercy on this house, protect those who live in it.

May Your blessing from the Lord accompany them everywhere; may the Holy Spirit sanctify their thoughts and hearts: His omnipotence is everywhere, in every place: everything that is in this house, who enters them and who leaves them, may the Most Holy Trinity bless and protect from all evil, so that nothing unclean comes close to them. Let the name of the Lord Jesus Christ with the nine orders of Angels be in this house and give it its peace. May the Most Holy Virgin Mary cover you with her maternal veil; May the Holy Apostles protect his well-being and may the Holy Evangelists establish and strengthen him. Let the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ be his roof; let the nails of our Lord Jesus Christ be his protection; let the crown of our Lord Jesus Christ be his covering.

Most Holy Virgin Mary, Holy Righteous Joseph and all the saints, Guardian Angels, beg the Lord Jesus Christ, the One of the Holy Trinity, to save this house from thunder, lightning, fire, hail, flood, from the attacks of evil people, need, unbelief, heresy ( war) and every misfortune that threatens the soul and body: in which may God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit help us. Amen.

Grant, O Lord, that on this day (or this night) we may be preserved without sin.

Lord have mercy (3 times).

May Thy mercy be upon us, O Lord, as we trust in Thee, O Lord. We trust in Thee, may we not be ashamed forever. Amen.

Prayer to Archangel Barachiel

Oh, great archangel of God, Archangel Barachiel! Standing before the Throne of God and from there bringing the blessing of God into the homes of God’s faithful servants, ask the Lord God for mercy and blessings on our homes, may the Lord God bless us from Zion and from His Holy Mountain and increase the abundance of the fruits of the earth and give us health and salvation and good haste in everything, victory and victory against our enemies and will preserve us for many years, so that with one accord we glorify God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Rule read in danger

during military operations in Tbilisi, he gave his spiritual children a special rule for protection from dangers. He advised in the morning, when leaving the house, to read Psalms 26, 50 and 90, and between them, at the beginning and at the end, one prayer, “Rejoice, Virgin Mary.”

He added, as his spiritual children remember: “After this, if a shell or bullet explodes nearby, or a fire occurs, no trouble will touch you.”
“Read Psalms 26, 50, 90, and the Lord and Mother of God will bestow Their mercies.”
Those who prayed testify this way: “Whoever did this was saved with his whole house.».

Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.

Psalm 26

Psalm 50

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the multitude of Your mercies, cleanse my iniquity. Above all, wash me from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin; for I know my iniquity, and I will take away my sin before me. I have sinned against You alone and have done evil before You, so that You may be justified in Your words and triumph over the judgment of You. Behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and my mother gave birth to me in sins. Behold, you have loved the truth; You have revealed to me the unknown and secret wisdom of Yours. Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. My hearing brings joy and joy; humble bones will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and cleanse all my iniquities. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit away from me. Reward me with the joy of Your salvation and strengthen me with the Lord’s Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your way, and the wicked will turn to You. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salvation; My tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise. As if you had desired sacrifices, you would have given them: you do not favor burnt offerings. The sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; God will not despise a broken and humble heart. Bless Zion, O Lord, with Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then favor the sacrifice of righteousness, the offering and the burnt offering; Then they will place the bullock on Your altar.

Psalm 90

Living in the help of the Most High, he will settle in the shelter of the Heavenly God. Says the Lord: Thou art my Protector and my Refuge, my God, and I trust in Him. For He will deliver you from the snare of the trap and from rebellious words, His blanket will overshadow you, and under His wing you hope: His truth will surround you with weapons. Do not be afraid from the fear of the night, from the arrow that flies during the day, from the thing that passes in darkness, from the cloak, and from the demon of the midday. Thousands will fall from your country, and darkness will fall at your right hand, but it will not come close to you, otherwise look at your eyes and see the reward of sinners. For You, O Lord, are my hope, You have made the Most High your refuge. Evil will not come to you, and wound will not approach your body, as His Angel commanded you to keep you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their arms, but when you dash your foot against a stone, you will step on an asp and a basilisk and cross a lion and a serpent. For I have trusted in Me, and I will deliver, and I will cover, and because I have known My name. He will call to Me, and I will hear him: I am with him in sorrow, I will take him away and glorify him, I will fulfill him with the length of days and show him My salvation.

Even in ancient times, every person knew the text of the main protective prayer Psalm 90 Alive in the help of the Most High. But most modern Orthodox people also remember his holy words by heart and wear a consecrated belt with the text.

How and where to read

Reading requires a special mood that allows the prayer word to reach every corner of human consciousness.

It is important that prayer comes from the depths of the soul. God does not like empty speech. He needs strong faith, a desire for the best.

Icon of Jesus Christ

Before starting psalm reading, it is necessary to repent of sins. This is the Sacrament of Confession, performed in an Orthodox church.
If it is not possible to confess (due to weakness or other valid reasons), then you need to remember your sins, repent, and ask Christ for forgiveness for the sinful acts you have committed.
It is advisable to ask for a blessing to read the Psalm from the priest of the local temple.
Typically, clergy bless parishioners for 40 days of prayer. At first, it is allowed to read the Psalm from the prayer book, but it must be learned by heart.

You need to say a prayer in the temple in front of the Face of Christ or at home in front of the iconostasis. The prayer book must be baptized in Orthodoxy and wear a cross on the body - the main symbol of the Orthodox faith.

Important! The main protective prayer is often read to free the mind from bad, sinful thoughts. Therefore, if a person feels that he is ready to break one of the Commandments of God, then it is urgent to read Living in the Help of the Most High.

This is one of the reasons why you need to know the text by heart, because at any moment you may need support from Heaven.

Psalm 90

Living in the help of the Most High, he will settle in the shelter of the Heavenly God.
Says the Lord: Thou art my Protector and my Refuge, my God, and I trust in Him.
Yako Toy will deliver you from the snare of the trap, and from rebellious words.
His cloak will cover you and you will hope under His wing: His truth will surround you with weapons.
Do not be afraid from the fear of the night, from the arrow flying in the days.
From things that pass away in the darkness, from clots and the midday demon.
Thousands will fall from your country, and darkness will fall at your right hand; he won't come close to you.
Look at your eyes and see the reward of sinners.
For You, O Lord, are my hope. You have made the Most High your refuge.
Evil will not come to you. And the wound will not come close to your body.
As His Angel commanded you, keep you in all your ways.
They will take you in their arms, but not when you dash your foot against a stone.
Tread on the asp and the basilisk, and cross the lion and the serpent.
For I have trusted in Me, and I will deliver; I will cover, and because I have known My name.
He will call to Me, and I will hear him: I am with him in sorrow, I will destroy him, and I will glorify him.
I will fill him with long days, and show him My salvation.

Prayer Song Rules

Any prayer is a frank dialogue with God. She helps those who, with faith and true repentance, turn to the Almighty, asking Him for protection, peace of mind, and assistance in any difficulties.

Attention! Psalm 90 Alive in the help of the Most High cannot be read periodically, “for show,” otherwise “let it be done to you according to your faith.”

Reading it every day, preferably in the morning or before starting any task, the great meaning of the words of the Psalm, Divine truth, is revealed to a person. The man of prayer realizes that he is not alone in the world, the Heavenly Father, the Great Comforter and Intercessor is always next to him, and all trials are His great providence and an invaluable lesson for the soul.

Jesus Christ - Lord Almighty

Appeal to the Lord in the dialect of Psalm 91:

can protect from any troubles and even save from death;
cure serious illnesses;
protect from witchcraft influence;
all obstacles on the path to the cherished goal will be revealed to the one praying, he will be successful in everything, all controversial issues will be resolved.

In addition, the text of the prayer contains a prophecy - the coming of the Savior - the main Protector of the Orthodox Christian - a person who believes in Christ.

The meaning of prayer

In many difficult and difficult situations, the Psalm helps, saves from troubles and misfortunes, consoles in grief, guides on the right path, strengthens the spirit, and instills faith in the best.

In difficult circumstances, read:

With sincere prayer and, like a loving Father, he sends help to his children. This is a reward, which is usually greater the more a person deserves it before Him. But God does not follow the principle “you give me - I give you.” It often happens that He helps great sinners who have strong faith and hope in Divine blessings so that the sinful servant of God becomes more and more strengthened in faith.

Jesus Christ the Great Bishop

At the same time, people who believe in Christ and live according to His Commandments do not always receive blessings from Heaven. The Lord sometimes allows attacks from the devilish forces to admonish Christians, to strengthen their spirit, and makes it clear that the sins committed could have been avoided.

When a person understands this, his life path becomes smooth and calm. The Providence of God is present in everything, all tests are given to people according to their strength and for the good! But God’s Providence is not known to anyone in advance, people are not given the opportunity to know it before the allotted time, and there is no point in doing so.

The Lord is a Lover of Mankind, with faith in His help you can not be afraid of danger, because the Power of the Lord is great!

Watch a video about Psalm 90.

Jan 17, 2019 13:47 Administrator

You can discuss the article and ask questions about the Orthodox faith in the comments:

Hello! you see, something is wrong, I turned to a magician not of my own free will, they told me that they treat me and people go to him, at first I had a business and everything was fine, as I understand it, this magician was not noticeably draining my energy in 5 years, I lost weight and I lost the message very much, I began to believe this magician, you see, she inspired me to talk to me so that I should go to her and so she began to keep pushing at a distance that I had to earn, I just lost my earnings for 3 years, I didn’t miss it, but after another 2 years I really noticed I have lost a lot of weight and my balance has started to collapse, I read live help every day, it seems to help, but I can’t achieve anything in life that I need, what will be the solution, I no longer know what to do and how I can fight.

Good afternoon. Unfortunately, you are describing quite ordinary consequences of turning to magicians and sorcerers. Almost always, appeals to such people end in sorrows, illnesses and other troubles. The temporary external positive effect is short-term, since magicians communicate with spirits and dark forces, the purpose of which is not to help a person, but to harm him. The Orthodox Church in all centuries has warned its children not to turn to magicians and sorcerers. Their popularity has been growing recently, which is explained by the apparent simplicity of solving problems. I came to a psychic, drank some water, and all my problems were resolved. Unfortunately, the retribution for such actions will always be great. And your example is another proof of this.
As for your prayer work, home prayer alone will not be enough, although you don’t need to give it up either. In addition to the fact that you read Psalm 90 at home, there should be a constant prayer rule, which is best determined in consultation with a priest. In addition to home prayer, it is very important to go to church and participate in church congregational prayer. After going to the magicians, a confession is necessary, where you need to repent of this sin and make a firm promise to yourself and God to never repeat this again. After confession, we need to proceed to the Sacrament of Communion - it is through it that we unite with the living God. Many people who fell into the networks of magicians and sorcerers were able to escape in the Church. Home prayer is necessary and important, but it cannot be a substitute for a full church life.
Help you, Lord, in your difficult situation!
- You are absolutely right, I went to the magicians and was healthy, gradually I had problems with my stomach, then some illnesses appeared, then the work did not go well. You come to the magician - she walked around me with glasses of water, and it seemed like my work was going well, and my business was going, but not for long. And so on all the time. She lied to me, I believed it, I thought it was true that she was a good person. Over time, I realized that she was a natural witch, because when I didn’t go to her, my business went down. And now I understand - she was conjuring something, that is, all sorts of lapels and love spells, and so she tormented me for 5 years. At night I couldn't sleep. Imagine how I can go to the priest and tell this, because it’s a laugh, he will say - why did you go to the sorcerers? Now I don’t even know how to protect myself, she has some feelings for me. Either it will grab your back, as if something is clinging to it, or your leg will hurt so much that it hurts like a nerve ache. Moreover, at the time when I did not turn to her, there were no illnesses. Tell me how to get treatment now, I’m already reading about Cyprian, but I don’t know whether this prayer helps or not, and I don’t know how to ward off this evil, because it clings to me, apparently I liked it. It’s dragging me down, but in the meantime I have to suffer for nothing. I don’t know how to fight.
  - First, you need to realize that you are suffering not “because of anything,” but because of your own actions and turning to the witch. It is quite possible to understand that you were deceived and dragged into their network, and now they do not want to let you go. But still, you yourself asked for such help, although you did not understand what would come of it. This point is very important to realize so that you can repent of what you have done.
    Of course, having gained a person into their power, and even for several years, the sorcerers will not want to let their victim go so easily. And most often, a person cannot cope on his own. The fact that you pray on your own at home, read Psalm 90 and the prayer to St. Cyprian is good, keep doing it. But you should not treat prayer as a conspiracy against evil forces, in this way you will only become like the same sorcerers. Prayer is a conversation with God, communication with him. And in order for this communication to be complete, it is very important to join the church and become a full-fledged member of the Church of Christ. It is in the Church that you can find protection from the evil that you yourself have allowed into your life and which now torments you so much.
    You need to go to the temple, it is advisable to find an experienced priest with whom you can first just talk, tell him your whole situation. Next, you need to confess, repent of sin, and receive communion. And then begin to lead a life according to Christian commandments. This is the only way to be saved from evil forces.
    What you should never do is read conspiracies against evil forces, look for “white” magicians, some kind of money that removes damage and the evil eye, and the like. All these people are of the same order, they will only harm you even more and drag you into an even greater swamp.
    Help you, Lord!
    - This sorceress wasn’t the first to drag me into her network! Here half the city comes to see her and every day she has 15 people at her reception, it’s not just like that, it’s some kind of power she has that people come to her and say that she helps. And I went to her, they told me that she was raising a business, but she simply stole it. Over the past 5 years, I have experienced so many illnesses, she took away all my desires that God gave me, I believe him and have always believed! And you’re right when you say that it’s pulled you into a net and doesn’t give you freedom, and it’s true, that’s how it is. When I stopped going to her, I read Alive in Help, it seems like everything is unfolding for me, you feel - both work and joy. But at what point does it all stop, although you think - it seems like you’re not guilty of anything, why is that? It seems that you want to achieve your goal... Then I started reading a prayer to Kuprian every day, and it seems that prayer also helps. But a week later evil is committed again. It feels like someone is controlling you. What you say is correct, she has pulled in with her strength and doesn’t want to lose the victim, that’s the way it is. And with my back - no matter how many times I came to her, my back was getting worse. She lied to me, saying that she had been stressed out somewhere at work. Now I understand, this is a natural deception. And you are right in saying that there are no white magicians, they all feed on dark power. Probably the strongest force, as you say, is God and the church.
      Tell me, I want to go to church and tell the priest how it was, if he doesn’t laugh at me. Because only with my prayers I cannot drive away this evil that is ruining my life. I want to live, but she won’t let me. It feels like a suction cup is sucking on and pulling, like the bones are crunching, and it’s shocking my leg. Apparently, I can’t cope at home.
      The fact that you were deceived, like many other people, is understandable. This is what such sorcerers work on. But still, your decision to contact such people is your personal sin, which you need to repent and confess.
      No normal priest would ever laugh at a person who came to him with his trouble, especially with such a serious problem. Therefore, you can safely go to the priest. Ask around in your region, read thematic forums and websites - perhaps they will suggest you a good, experienced confessor. In such a neglected situation, it is definitely not possible to cope only on your own.
      The whole point is that you don’t just need to read some special prayers (such as Psalm 90). If you come to the priest and simply ask for a recipe, what prayers and rituals you can use to get rid of the influence of a sorcerer - such general recipes do not exist. Here you need to radically reconsider your life, join a church, and begin to live as a Christian. This is not an easy path, but it is the one that leads to the salvation of our soul. Without the Church, without participation in the Sacraments, a person cannot be saved. Therefore, do not be afraid of condemnation, but go to the temple as quickly as possible.
      God help you!
      I used to live without a church, and I had everything and all my wishes came true! Until, as they say, I fell for the witch’s bait. That is, the fact that I read Living in Help or the prayer to Cyprian does not protect me? Even when reading any prayer, this evil pesters me; I cannot read the prayer normally. You can imagine how she, the witch, clung to her like a magnet. I don't know how else to unhook it. It will be Saturday, we have confession these days, I will go to church for confession. After confession, should the meeting wait until it ends, or can I leave? Tell me, how many times do I need to confess now in order to get rid of this witch and for her to leave behind? She won’t let me go, and these prayers are strong, Living in help or Cyprian, she still crosses them! How can I tell my father, just say that I went to a charlatan and she took everything from me and broke it? If he believes, of course. Is one time not enough to confess?
      Dear Sergey, you misunderstand the meaning of going to church. “I used to live without a church and all my wishes came true.” The Church of Christ is not a tool for fulfilling your desires; you cannot go there just so that there are no problems, business goes well and illnesses recede! The Church is the Body of Christ, His earthly abode. Orthodox Christians go to churches, first of all, in order to unite with the Lord through participation in the Sacraments, to reunite the connection with God lost through sins. This is incomparably higher than the fulfillment of any everyday desires.
      As for confession, first it’s better for you to just come to the church for the service (maybe not at the very beginning, if it’s hard to stand and it’s unclear), and after the end of the service, ask the priest to just talk to you. You need to explain your situation and ask for advice on what you should do. And the priest will tell you how, when and how many times you need to confess, how to prepare for it, when to come, and so on. Confession requires preparation, so if you simply show up to the next service and immediately go to confession, you will not be prepared. Therefore, first try to simply talk to the priest and ask for advice. And proceed further as he tells you.
      Regarding what to say, say it like it is. That you turned to a witch for help and now you are suffering greatly because of it. Only you must understand - the fact that she misled you, promised to help, etc., does not relieve you of your personal responsibility for going to her. This is a very important point; you must realize and repent that you yourself made the decision to go with your troubles not to God, but to the witch. Just like it is, explain it to the priest. There is no need to be afraid of condemnation, or that the priest will not believe you. Priests, especially experienced ones, constantly encounter people who have suffered from magicians, sorcerers and psychics. Therefore, you won’t surprise Father with anything.
      Help you, Lord!

February 25th 2011 -

“...And it won’t be torn apart by a bomb”
(What Elder Father John of Optina told me)

Sergei Alexandrovich Nilus and his wife Elena Alexandrovna came to the Optina Elder Father John (Salov). The elder accepted with the joyful affection characteristic of him towards my wife and me.

“Take a stool,” he said, hugging me, “sit down next to me.”
- What psalms do you read? - he asked me a question. I was embarrassed: usually in my short, purely worldly, not even the rule, but the rule, I did not read any psalms.

I know,” I answered, “Alive in help,” “Have mercy on me, O God”...

And what else!

Yes, father, I have read all the psalms and, although not by heart, I know everything; but my little rule...

The elder interrupted my self-justification:

I don’t want to ask you about what is your rule, but about whether you still read Psalm 26 - “The Lord is my enlightenment?

No, father, I don’t read.

Well, I'll tell you what! You once told me that the enemy was shooting his arrows at you. Do not be afraid! not a single one will touch you, don’t be afraid of any rubbish: rubbish will remain rubbish. Just take my advice as a rule, listen to:

read in the morning and evening before your prayer both of these psalms - the 26th and 90th, and before them the great Arkhangelsk joy - “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice.” If you do this, neither fire will take you, nor water will drown you....

At these words, the elder stood up from his chair, hugged me and with some special strength, in a rolling ringing voice, did not even say, but shouted:

- I’ll tell you more: it won’t be torn apart by a bomb.! I kissed the old man’s hand that hugged me. And he again, pressing himself close to my ear, again loudly exclaimed:

And the bomb won’t explode!* But don’t pay any attention to any rubbish: what can rubbish do to you?.. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Well, now go with the Lord!

And with these words the elder sent us away in peace.

Archangel's greeting to the Most Holy Theotokos

Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.

Psalm 26
(speaking of the believer’s perseverance in persecution and his consolation through the protection of the Lord)

Psalm 90

Prayer to the Holy Cross

Protect me, Lord, by the power of Your Honest and Life-giving Cross, and save me from all evil.