When a person enters the temple of God, he immediately feels that he has found himself in some special majestic and at the same time very peaceful environment - in heaven, which, however, is on earth. Everything here carries harmony, deep meaning and great spiritual beauty. Each church paraphernalia and utensils maintains its own order and order. Sacred rites and prayer before the altar are performed according to strict ancient canons. All this is quite logical and understandable, but there is also something that requires careful explanation.

For example, many clergy often face the following question: bow to the ground - how to do it? It is impossible to answer it simply and unambiguously, but it is not that complicated if you study it carefully.

Prostration - how to do it?

It must be said right away that bowing is a symbolic action that has been performed since the most ancient biblical times and expresses great respect for the Creator of everything earthly and heavenly - the Lord God. Therefore, any bows should be done very slowly and with the words of prayer. To find out for yourself how to bow to the ground correctly, you need to decide what types of bows there are. It turns out that there are great ones - prostrations, and there are small ones - waist ones. And there is also a simple bow of the head.

When bowing to the ground, you must fall on your knees and touch your forehead to the floor. When bowing from the waist, the head is tilted down so that the fingers touch the floor. Thus, at the consecration of the Temple of the Lord, Daniel, when he was in captivity in Babylon, and other righteous Old Testament. This custom was sanctified by Christ Himself and entered into the practice of the Holy Church of Christ.

Kneeling

The largest part of genuflection is done during Lent. According to the explanation of St. Basil the Great, kneeling symbolizes the fall of a person in sin, and then the uprising - his forgiveness by the great mercy of the Lord.

And again the question arises: 40 prostrations to the ground - how to do it correctly? Bows are made at any time except special days, we'll talk about them below. The rest of the time there is no need to be lazy, but it is better to voluntarily plunge yourself into prostration, which means your own fall into the abyss of repentance in the hope that God will accept and bless these modest labors.

Nothing depends on the number of bows and fasting if the heart and soul are not cleansed of bad thoughts and change in better side. And if a person sincerely repents even a little, then the loving Father will certainly extend His holy right hand to him.

The experience of Bishop Afanasy Sakharov

It is not always possible to find the correct answer to how to prostrate in Orthodoxy. But let’s try to turn to the famous zealot of the Church Rule, confessor Athanasius (Sakharov).

First of all, let's figure out when you can't bow to the ground and when you can. During worship, prostrations to the ground, like bow bows in principle, are not done at will. They are made on weekdays and on fasting days of repentance. On Sundays and, of course, on great holidays, according to the decree of the Holy Fathers, they are canceled.

During the period of Easter and before Trinity, as well as from Christmas and before Epiphany, bowing to the ground is also not required. In the 90th rule VI it is written that on Sundays one should not kneel for the honor of Christ’s Resurrection. But small bows must be done at certain moments in accordance with the meaning of the prayers.

Bows and bows to the ground

So, at any worship service it is necessary:

Church Charter

Bows at services (vespers, matins, all-night vigil):

Special rules for bowing

So, we look at what prostration is. How to do it correctly? It is worth considering that sister nuns may be present at the services. Many parishioners, not knowing the rules, begin to imitate them and bow down just like them. Or, on the contrary, they look at them and feel embarrassed.

The whole point is that the monks obey their special charter, and the parishioners need to adhere to the charter of the Holy Fathers, intended for the entire Church, so that the whole meaning of worship is gradually revealed and learned.

Everyday

There is already an established tradition when, during censing by the rector of the church, parishioners are distracted from the liturgical prayer, begin to move from one side to the other, focusing all their attention on the approaching priest, creating noise, and stand with their backs to the altar, which is unacceptable. During censing, parishioners must step aside and let the priest pass, after which they should quietly stand in place and return to prayer.

If the priest begins to burn people with incense, then it is necessary to bow and return to the service, and not look for the priest with the eyes of the priest during this entire sacred rite. It may seem that this entire list is too complicated and tedious to remember, but it can help every believer get comfortable with the actions of worship.

Is it possible to bow to the ground during the Liturgy?

Liturgy is a special service that consists of three parts: Proskomedia, Liturgy of the Catechumens and Liturgy of the Faithful. In the first two parts, bows are performed according to the rules of the usual services described above, but we will describe the third part - the most important one - in more detail. When and how are small and great bows performed? Let's figure out when to bow to the ground at the Liturgy, and when to bow to the ground.

During the Great Procession, the priest comes out to the pulpit holding the Chalice and Paten in his hands, and the choir at this time sings the “Cherubic Song”:

• Small bow during the end of the first half of the “Cherubimskaya”, at this time the priest is on the pulpit.
• Stand with your head bowed during the commemoration of priests.
• Three small bows with three times “Hallelujah.”
• A great bow every day (if not on a holiday) with the exclamation of the priest “We thank the Lord.”

When the Eucharistic Canon is celebrated, Most Holy Sacrament You must maintain complete silence and keep your mind attentive.

• A small bow is made while shouting “Take, eat, drink from Her, all of you.”
• A small bow for the day is performed at the end of “We sing to You” and “And I pray to Tis, our God.” This is a very important moment for a praying person.
• A small bow for the day is performed after “It is worthy to eat.”
• A small bow at the words “And everyone, and everything.”
• A small bow every day at the beginning of the national prayer “Our Father.”
• A great bow (if not a celebration) when the priest shouts “Holy to Holies.”
• A small bow to the gifts of the day before communion with the words “Approach with the fear of God and faith.”
• Prostrate to the ground and fold your arms crosswise on your chest after the priest’s prayer before communion. (Do not cross yourself or bow in front of the cup, so as not to knock it over under any circumstances).
• Participants do not have to bow to the ground until the evening. A bow for the communicants at the appearance of the Holy Gifts with the exclamation “Always, now and ever.”
• The head is bowed when the prayer behind the pulpit sounds, and the priest, finishing the liturgy, leaves the altar and stands in front of the pulpit.

Many believers are interested in the question of whether it is possible to bow to the ground after communion. The priests warn that there is no need to kneel after it is done for the sake of the shrine, which is inside the person who accepted Holy Communion, and so that you don’t accidentally throw up.

Conclusion

I would really like for believers to understand that bowing is not the most important thing in life Orthodox Christian, but they help strengthen faith, enlighten the heart, set one in the right spiritual mood and understand the whole meaning of the service, being a participant in it. By starting small, you can achieve more. The Charters were not created out of idleness. Perhaps now it has become at least a little clear what prostration is. How to do it and when is also described above quite clearly and in detail. But in order to better understand all these rules, you need to go to church more often.

How to bow to the ground correctly in Orthodoxy?

How to bow to the ground correctly in Orthodoxy? When to bow at the liturgy? When should you not prostrate? Is it possible to bow after communion?

Any person who has at least once crossed the threshold of a church, temple or monastery, at that very moment there was a feeling of a certain majesty and tranquility, the impression as if a person was going to heaven while being down on Earth. Any person who visits a temple with a certain frequency knows that it can carry a certain deep meaning, general severity and harmony, as well as majestic spiritual beauty. No one can say that in the temple there are any attributes or objects that are located in chaos - this is absolutely not the case. After all, it is church paraphernalia that occupies a certain order in the temple and carries its own rank. The offering of a prayer or moleben before the altar of one or another Holy Face has been performed for many centuries, according to the same ancient order. That is why a person who steps onto the threshold of a church knows that no surprises will await him there, because everything happens in the same order.
Sometimes people who come to church for the first time wonder how to prostrate correctly? A person cannot answer this question in monosyllables on his own, so you need to turn to church canons or clergy who are in church all the time and tell believers about observing certain traditions.

Prostration - how to do it?

Bowing is a kind of symbolic act that has been performed since ancient times and is displayed in biblical stories. From time immemorial, every Orthodox believer knows that bowing expresses special and great respect for the creator, that is, the Almighty. Therefore, the clergy of the temple recommend that parishioners, when bowing, do not rush and at the same time offer thanksgiving prayers directed towards God. In order to figure out how to bow correctly, you need to find out about the existence of different types of this action. Church ministers explain that there are great bows, bows to the ground and small bows, and also a simple bow of the head before the Almighty.

While bowing to the ground, you must prostrate on your knees in such a way as to touch the floor of the temple with your own forehead. It was precisely this kind of bow that Solomon offered throughout his life, who constantly prayed and illuminated various temples, which to this day bear the names of the Almighty. It is worth noting that from historical information it is known that the same bows were performed by many of the righteous of the Old Testament, as well as by Daniel during that period of his life when he was in Babylonian captivity. Counted in Orthodox faith, that it was the prostration that was consecrated by Jesus Christ, and subsequently entered into the history and practice of the Orthodox Christian Church.

Kneeling

Almost every Orthodox believer knows that the greatest part of kneeling is performed during Great Christian Lent. Since it is known that St. Basil the Great argued that kneeling is supposedly a kind of symbol of a person’s fall during sin, and at the moment when a person rises from it, then forgiveness of his sins comes according to the will of the Almighty.

This leads to the question that many Orthodox believers ask: how to properly perform 40 prostrations? The temple servants explain that such prostrations are performed at any time of the day or day, with the exception of special days, which will be discussed below. Therefore, parishioners should never be lazy. Therefore, it is necessary to voluntarily make 40 prostrations to the ground, which for the Almighty will mean falling into the abyss of repentance and hope, therefore, the Almighty will accept your redemption and bless such works.

Also, church ministers claim that no matter how many days and how many bows an Orthodox believer will make, if there are bad thoughts or sinful desires in his soul and heart, and also if he dreams of inflicting some kind of punishment on another person. Thus, having such sinful thoughts, the number of bows will not matter at all. However, if a Christian sincerely and from the bottom of his heart believes in the help of the Almighty, respects and loves him, then God will extend a helping hand to him and will certainly help him in any endeavors and forgive all sinful acts.

The experience of Bishop Afanasy Sakharov

From time immemorial, the question is: how to bow to the ground correctly? It arose in almost every century, especially in Orthodoxy. However, according to various beliefs, there is a well-known zealot of the church charter, who is confessor Afanasy Sakharov, who almost always has an answer to the question posed.

Initially, you need to find out for yourself at what moments in life situations, you can bow to the ground, but when you shouldn’t do this. During the service in the temple, bows to the ground and from the waist are performed necessarily by every person who is in the temple, be it a parishioner or simply a believer. Sometimes church laws may change depending on the territory of residence of the believer or the location of the temple.

In the rules Ecumenical Council it is written that on Sundays one must under no circumstances kneel in order to preserve the honor of Jesus Christ, that is Christ's Sunday. But at the same time, you can make small bows, but do not forget to offer prayer, which will carry a certain meaning, both for the person himself and for the Almighty.

Bows and bows to the ground

It is necessary to make three small bows during reading and singing, such as come, let us bow, holy God and threefold Hallelujah.




Also during the service, Psalm 118 is said; during its pronunciation, it is also necessary to make three small bows for each verse.




Also, church ministers claim that during the reading of various litanies and during the singing of Lord have mercy, and the Almighty fall, it is necessary to make small bows and the Sign of the Cross.




While the Gospel is being read, a small bow is also made before or after the reading.




At the moment when the temple servant pronounces the akathist, it is necessary to make a small bow during each kontakion and ikos. It is important to note that during the pronunciation of the 13th kontakion, it is necessary to make a bow.




A small bow is performed each time during the blessing with the hand of the clergyman. However, during Great Easter it is necessary to be baptized and answer Truly risen, but still make small bows.

Special rules for bowing

Since we are clarifying the various nuances associated with prostration, it should be noted that in a temple, church or monastery, not only parishioners, but also nuns are often present during the service. Under no circumstances should an Orthodox believer who does not know the rules of behavior in church and church canons imitate such women and make the same bows as they do.

Since the nun sisters have their own special charter, which sometimes may differ from the general church canons. Therefore, Orthodox believers must adhere to the well-known charter of the Fathers of All Saints, which is intended for churches and temples, so that a person can, over time, learn and reveal the semantic meaning of the service.

Everyday

The church servants know the tradition when, during the censing by the rector of the church, Orthodox believers parishioners begin to be distracted from the liturgical prayer service. As a result, people move from one side to the other, at the same time, attracting all attention to themselves or to the priest, who is approaching them at that moment. Also, some parishioners of the temple may create noise and also stand with their backs to the nearest altar, but you should know that such behavior in the temple is simply unacceptable. Because at the moment of censing, Orthodox believers must part, making a kind of narrow path for the priest, letting him through, and after that it is necessary to quietly stand in the previous place and resume offering the prayer service.

If the minister of the temple begins to burn incense for each parishioner, therefore, the priest must bow and then return to the service. It is important to note that at this moment, in no case should you look for the temple servant throughout the entire censing process. By studying such simple and understandable rules, you can not only get closer to the Almighty, but also learn the basic nuances of conducting a service.

Is it possible to bow to the ground during the Liturgy?

According to church canons in the Proskomedia and the Liturgy of the Catechumens, bows are performed in accordance with ordinary services. And during the Liturgy of the faithful, it is necessary to combine prostrations with bows.

At that moment when the Servant of the temple at the Great Entrance comes out to the pulpit, and at that moment holds a cup and paten in his hands. At this moment, the church choir begins to sing a Cherubic song.

It is necessary to make a small bow before the end of the first half of the song, the priest at this moment is on the pulpit.




At the moment when the commemoration of the priests sounds, it is necessary to bow your head.




At the moment of the triple Hallelujah, make three small bows.




At the moment when the minister of the church says, we thank the Lord, a Great Bow is performed.

Many Orthodox believers are interested in: Is it possible to perform prostrations after communion? The temple servants, in turn, answer the Orthodox believers that under no circumstances should they kneel after communion, since such an act is performed for the sake of the shrine, which is located inside each person. Therefore, so that an Orthodox believer does not vomit, one should not do such an act.

Conclusion

It's important to note that different kinds bows are not the most important thing in the life of every Orthodox Christian believer, but they help strengthen the general faith, enlightenment of the heart and the right spiritual attitude. Almost every parishioner knows that in order to comprehend the meaning of the divine service, it is necessary to bow. If, while in the temple, you have forgotten what bow to perform, go to the temple minister in advance and ask him in more detail, since he will be the one who will be able to indicate what actions must be performed at the time of this or that service.

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Question: Tell me, when during the liturgy are bows made to the ground, when are they bowed from the waist? And how to bow to the ground correctly (we touch the ground with our palms and forehead or with our elbows and forehead)?

Answer: The church service is performed with many great bows to the ground and small bows.

The Holy Church requires bowing with inner reverence and outer decorum, slowly, and, if possible, at the same time as other worshipers in the church.

Before making a bow, you need to make the sign of the cross and then make a bow - if it’s small, then you need to bow your head so that you can reach the ground with your hand, but if it’s big, you need to bend both knees and touch the ground with your head. The Church Charter strictly requires that we bow in the temple of God not only earnestly, decorously and all at the same time, but also unhurriedly (“without struggling”) and in a timely manner, that is, exactly when it is indicated. Bowing and kneeling should be done at the end of each short petition or prayer, and not during its execution.

The Church Charter pronounces strict judgment on those who bow improperly (Typikon, Monday of the first week of Holy Great Lent).

Before the start of any divine service, three bows must be made from the waist. Then, during all services, at each “Come, let us worship”, at “Holy God”, at the threefold “Alleluia” and at “Be the Name of the Lord” three bows are made from the waist, only on the “Alleluia” among the six psalms, for the sake of deep silence, According to the Charter, no bows are required, but the sign of the cross is performed. On “Voucher, O Lord,” both at Vespers and at Matins (in the great doxology, sung or read), three bows from the waist are required. At all litanies of church services, listen carefully to each petition, mentally raising a prayer to God and, making the sign of the cross while shouting: “Lord, have mercy” or “Give, Lord,” make a bow from the waist. When singing and reading stichera and other prayers, then only bow when the words of the prayers encourage this; for example: “let’s fall down,” “bow,” “pray.”

After “To the Most Honorable Cherub” and before “Bless the Name of the Lord, Father” (or: Master), a deep bow from the waist is always given.

When reading akathists on each kontakion and ikos, a bow from the waist is required; when pronouncing or singing the thirteenth kontakion three times, bows to the ground or waist (according to the day) are due; the same bows are due after reading the akathist prayer.

The memorial is read with bows after each article (and in some monasteries bows are given to the ground or from the waist, according to the day, in others - always from the waist).

According to “It is worthy...” at Compline and Matins, also while singing “Most Honest...” at the 9th song of the canon, bow for the day; after the verse “We praise, we bless,” a bow from the waist is required.

Before and after reading the Gospel (at “Glory to Thee, Lord”) one bow is always given; on the polyeleos, after each magnification - one bow from the waist.

At the beginning of the reading or singing of the Creed, when pronouncing the words: “By the power of the Honest and Life-Giving Cross”, at the beginning of the reading of the Apostle, Gospel and parimia (Parimia - reading from Holy Scripture Old (sometimes New) Testament) it is necessary to sign oneself with the sign of the cross without bowing.

When a clergyman, teaching peace, says: “Peace to all” or proclaims: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love (love) of God and the Father, and the communion (communion) of the Holy Spirit be with you all,” and the choir, responding , sings: “And to your spirit” or: “And with your spirit,” you should bow from the waist without the sign of the cross. A bow is required during any blessing by the clergyman of all those praying, as well as during dismissal, if it is performed without the Cross. When the dismissal is pronounced by the clergyman with the Cross, with which he overshadows those praying, then the bow should be made with the sign of the cross. Unpious self-indulgence is when the laity, with the general blessing of the clergyman, fold their palms, and then sometimes also kiss them. When proclaiming “Bow your head to the Lord,” you should bow your head and stand until the end of the prayer said by the priest: at this time the priest prays to God for all who have bowed their heads.

When the church overshadows the people with the Cross, the Holy Gospel, an image or the Holy Cup, then everyone should be baptized, bowing their heads. And when they overshadow with candles, or bless with their hands, or burn incense to the people, then they should not be baptized, but only bow. Only on Bright Week of Holy Easter, when the priest censes with the Cross in his hand, does everyone cross themselves and, responding to his greeting “Christ is Risen,” they say: “Truly He is Risen.”

Thus, one must distinguish between worship before a shrine and before people, even sacred ones. When accepting the blessing of a priest or bishop, Christians fold their palms crosswise, placing the right on the left, and kiss the right hand of the blessing, but do not cross themselves before doing this.

From Holy Easter to the Feast of the Holy Trinity, from the Feast of the Nativity of Christ to the Feast of the Epiphany (Svyatka), and in general on all great feasts of the Lord, prostrations to the ground during church services are canceled.

God bless you!

(O. Pavel)

Man is a spiritual-physical creation. The position of the body in prayer affects the soul, helping to tune in to the right mood. Without labor it is impossible to achieve the Kingdom of God, to be cleansed of passions and sins. Prostration is a body that promotes humility, patience and contrition inner man before the Creator. Our Lord Jesus Christ himself prayed on his knees, and we certainly cannot neglect such a useful spiritual exercise. It is important to know how to bow to the ground correctly, according to the canons of the Church.

Prostrations to the ground are not permitted by the Church:

• in the period from the Resurrection of Christ to the Day of the Holy Trinity;
• from the Nativity of Christ to Epiphany (Holy Days);
• on the days of the twelve feasts;
• Sundays. But there are exceptions when prostration is blessed at the liturgy on Sunday: after the priest’s phrase “Transferred by Thy Holy Spirit” and at the moment of taking the Chalice with the Holy Mysteries of Christ from the altar to the people with the words “Come with the Fear of God and faith”;
• the day of communion until the evening service.

During all other periods, prostrations are made, but it is not possible to list these cases due to their multitude. It is important to adhere simple rule: During the service, watch the priests and repeat after them. Lenten services are especially replete with genuflections. When the special bell rings, you need to kneel down.

At home, you can bow to the ground during prayer on any day, except for periods when it is not blessed by the Church. The main thing is to observe moderation and not overdo it. The quality of bows is more important than their quantity. Also, in Orthodox practice, it is unacceptable to pray while kneeling for a long time; this is practiced in the Catholic Church.

Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov) wrote about prostrations to the ground: “The Lord fell to his knees during His prayer - and you should not neglect kneeling if you have enough strength to perform them. By worshiping to the face of the earth, according to the explanation of the fathers, our fall is depicted, and by uprising from the earth is our redemption."

Earthly work must be done slowly, with attention and concentration. Stand up straight, reverently cross yourself, kneel down with your palms in front, and touch your forehead to the floor. Then stand up straight from your knees and repeat if necessary. It is customary to bow with short prayer, for example with Jesus, “have mercy” or in your own words. You can also send a word to the Queen of Heaven or the Saints.

It is important to understand that prostration is not an end in itself, but a tool for finding lost communion with God and the beneficial gifts of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the answer to the question “How to bow to the ground?” will consist in the correct repentant disposition of the heart, filled with the Fear of God, faith, and hope for the ineffable mercy of the Lord towards us sinners.

Bows are symbolic actions that express feelings of respect to the Supreme Being - God. They have been used in the Christian Church since ancient times. Bows must be made slowly, in accordance with certain words of the prayer.

What is bow, types

Bowing is a symbolic action characterized by bowing the body and head, which shows humility and submission before the Lord.

There are several types of bows:

• Great or earthly. With them, the worshiper kneels and touches his head to the ground.
• Small or waist. When performing it, only the head and body bend.

Eat certain cases when bows are not provided. Many also confuse concepts such as bowing and the non-Orthodox custom of kneeling. When we bow to the ground, we show our humility and reverence before the Creator of the universe. After bowing, we stand up, thereby showing that the Lord has given us everything we need for salvation.

What do the scriptures say?

The custom of bowing to the ground appeared in ancient biblical times. This is how Solomon prayed at the consecration of the Jerusalem Temple (see: 1 Kings 8:54), Daniel in Babylonian captivity (see: Dan. 6:10) and other Old Testament righteous people. This custom was sanctified by our Lord Jesus Christ (see: Luke 22:41) and entered into practice Christian Church(see: Acts 12:60; Eph. 3:14). Here it is useful to recall the verses of the psalms...

31:9:“Do not be like a horse, like a foolish mule, whose jaws must be bridled with a bridle and bit so that they obey you.”

108:24:“My knees have grown weak from fasting, and my body has lost fat.”

We see that the holy prophet and king David, to the point of exhaustion, bowed to the ground in order to be cleansed of sins and fast with a fast that was pleasant and pleasing to God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ also prayed on his knees: “And He Himself went away from them a stone’s throw, and kneeled down and prayed...”(Luke 22:41).

Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov) wrote about prostrations: “The Lord knelt down during His prayer - and you should not neglect kneeling if you have enough strength to perform it. By worship to the face of the earth, according to the explanation of the fathers, our fall is depicted, and by uprising from the earth our redemption ... "

One should be baptized with a bow to the ground:

1. During the fast, when entering the temple and when leaving it - three times.
2. During Lent at Matins, after each chorus to the song to the Theotokos “My soul magnifies the Lord” after the words “We magnify you.”
3. At the beginning of the liturgy, singing “It is worthy and righteous to eat...”.
4. At the end of singing “We will sing to you...”.
5. After “It is worthy to eat...” or worthy.
6. With the cry of “Holy to Holies.”
7. When shouting “And grant us, O Master...” before singing “Our Father.”
8. When carrying out the Holy Gifts, with the words “Approach with the fear of God and faith,” and the second time - with the words “Always, now and ever...”.
9. IN Lent at Great Compline while singing “To the Most Holy Lady...” - on every verse; while singing “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice...” and so on. At Lenten Vespers three bows are made.
10. During Lent, when reading the prayer “Lord and Master of my life...”.
11. During Great Lent, during the final singing of “Remember us, Lord, when You come into Your Kingdom,” three prostrations are required.

Important Notes

Prostration on Sunday causes a lot of controversy. First of all, this lies in the fact that according to the Church Charter, bowing to the ground on Sundays and holidays is prohibited. But many liturgists say that prostrations must always be made before the throne, regardless of the day of the week or holiday. In addition, there is a certain practice when prostrations are replaced with bows from the waist. There is such a thing as Liturgy. John of Kronstadt also spoke about bowing to the ground during the Liturgy. He said that it is necessary to bow regardless of the time of the Liturgy. It is worth making three bows during it:

1. At the entrance in front of the Throne.
2. In the position of the Gifts.
3. Immediately before communion.

But again, if you don’t know when to prostrate at the Liturgy, you can consult with the clergy or simply observe their behavior. Since it is quite difficult to comprehend all the intricacies of performing all the rituals and ceremonies, you should not hesitate to ask for help, and also consult with knowledgeable people. This will allow you to avoid unpleasant and awkward situations in the temple. Remember that any action should not be performed out of necessity or coercion. All actions must come from a pure heart and only for good reasons. After all, our appeal to the Lord will be heard and given grace only if we have pure thoughts and sincere faith.

Everything depends only on you, because with whatever desires we come to God, that’s what we will receive in return. It is necessary not only to ask, but also to thank. Prayers of thanksgiving are best suited for this. And be very careful that the proverb “Make a fool pray, he will bruise his forehead” cannot be applied to you.

When not to prostrate

You cannot make great bows:

• in the days from Christmas to Epiphany,
• on Sundays,
• on the days of great holidays,
• from Easter to Pentecost,
• on the Feast of the Transfiguration, · prohibited for communicants on the day of first communion and subsequent ones.

There is also such a thing as great fasting bows. These are called threefold prostrations to the ground, which are accompanied by the imposition of the Orthodox sign of the cross and the reading of the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, which is divided into three verses.

How to bow to the ground correctly?

The priests say that the Church Charter speaks of unhurried, timely, orderly, unhurried and earnest fulfillment. Bowing and kneeling should be done after each multiple petition of a litany or prayer. Do not do this while reading or singing. It is also not allowed to bow together with the sign of the cross.

How to bow to the ground correctly? Before committing, you must impose on yourself sign of the cross. After this, kneel down and bow, hands and head should touch the floor. Before venerating an icon or crucifix, you must cross yourself again, bow twice, venerate, and then cross yourself and bow again.

Prostration in Islam

Sajdah (prostration) is one of the obligatory elements of prayer. A person performing namaz, after straightening up from the waist bow, bows to the ground, touching the ground with his forehead and nose, thereby expressing his respect to Allah. In each rak'ah of prayer, two sajdahs are performed, one after the other. If, during sajdah, one touches the ground only with the forehead, without touching the nose, then such sajdah is permitted, but in the absence of a valid reason, such sajdah is makrooh.

If during sajdah a person touches the ground only with his nose and does not touch his forehead, then, according to Imam Abu Hanifa, such sajdah is permissible, whereas, according to Imam Muhammad and Abu Yusuf, such sajdah is not permitted without a good reason. You cannot touch the ground with your chin or cheek during sajdah.

If a person cannot touch the ground with his forehead and nose, then he performs sajdah by nodding his head. According to the scholars of the Hanafi madhhab, touching the ground with the palms and knees during sajdah is sunnah, while according to Imam Zufar, Shafi'i and Ahmad, it is fard. It is not permissible to perform sajdah without touching the ground with your toes.

If the place of sajdah is half an arshin (twelve fingers) above the place where the feet are, then sajdah will be permitted, but if this place is much higher, then making sajdah will not be permissible.

Because of large quantity people, you can make sajdah on your knees or on your back in front of the person praying. If sajda is performed on something soft, on wool, hay or snow, if there is a hard surface underneath it, then in this case sajda will be permissible.

If the face is buried in this and there is no feeling of firmness, then sajdah will be unlawful. Sajdah can be performed on anything that is laid on the ground, provided that it is clean. The presence of sewage in this place will not cause harm, provided that the sewage has no odor and volume.

Sajda is the most important element prayer and the most vivid expression of humility before Allah and His exaltation. It is reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “A person is closest to his Lord during sajdah. During sajdah, make a lot of dua” (Muslim, Salat, 215).