The Holy Fathers say that the most powerful prayer is “pure” prayer, that is, prayer that is unencumbered and undistracted by thoughts. The prayer that best lends itself to becoming pure prayer is the so-called “Jesus Prayer”: “Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me”. This facility comes from it having the Name of Jesus, which itself is a source of divine energy, or grace; from its brevity, which allows it to easily be retained by the mind; and from it being easily and continuously repeated, which helps keep the mind from wandering. In this photo, two ascetic monks are praying […]