“The Church and the Law” series of interviews by Iravaban.net discussed the topic “The Sacrament and Manifestations of Prayer in the Teaching of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church” with Father Shahe Hayrapetyan, the advisor of St. Sargis Church of the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese.
-How does the Armenian Apostolic Church define the essence of prayer and its role in the believer’s life?
-When the apostles asked the Lord how to pray, he gave the definition – “Our Father.” Prayer, as a principle, is canonical in the Armenian Apostolic Church, just as the universe is canonical. Prayer in the church is canonical and it is structured – night service, morning service, sunrise, nine services that sound throughout the day. This has come from immemorial times. Prayer has a very great significance in a person’s spiritual life because God hears us from the depths of our hearts. Prayer is specifically directed to God and it has its principles. Prayer has salvific significance because without salvation there is no hope, without hope there is no faith, without faith love diminishes.
-How does the church interpret the effectiveness of prayer and God’s answers to our prayers?
-First, God looks at our hearts. One must pray to God with all heart and soul. This is the fundamental rule of prayer.
-Often, we address God more with our requests, desires, can these be considered prayers?
-Christ says very simply – before you open your mouth, God knows very well what you need. That is, He only wants order from us. I said – the universe is ordered, man is ordered in his essence. That is, one must be in order, this is how our church is built, when you enter into order, you already become a small particle of God, of the universe.
-What is the difference between individual and communal prayer, and how does the church regulate their implementation?
-Individual prayer is our heart’s prayer directed to God. If someone reads Gregory of Narek’s “Book of Lamentations” at home, that’s individual prayer, they are communicating with the Lord.
-How should one pray correctly?
-Simply. The simpler, the more acceptable before God. Like how simple is the river that flows to the sea. True to yourself, capable of your essence.
-What are the main challenges of prayer life in the modern world, and how does the church suggest overcoming them?
-People never change. Any ancient literature that we look at, we see that people remain the same. To invent new things, that in this time one should pray this way, this doesn’t correspond to human essence.
Details in the video.
