Elder, I have a problem. My question may seem a little vague.

Please, just help me a little. Let’s say that someone goes at night to pray only with the Jesus Prayer (the monologue prayer). Is it, let’s say, a little sad that some other hymns should be read? I only have this question, my elder, please tell me: what would happen if someone prayed only with the Jesus Prayer, only the monologue prayer? Is it correct?

Let us say that we have our prayer, we pray, thank you very much. The purpose is to pray. There are no magical prayers that someone must read. I cannot say that now I must pray for 20 minutes every night or half an hour. I know how much time each person has and is able to pray.

Now, whether you pray with the monologue prayer, or read the Psalms of David, or read a canon, the Akathist, the Supplication to the Virgin Mary or to a saint, or read the Holy Gospel, or make prostrations — all of these are prayer.

Let us not remain attached to only one kind of prayer and say that only this one must be read, or that you must read all these services, or so many Psalms and so many chapters of the New Testament. I think it is not bad for someone to say freely: “Every day I can pray for 20 minutes or half an hour.” In this half hour I can say a prayer; I like to say the Jesus Prayer — good, say the Jesus Prayer. Or I like to make a supplication to the Virgin Mary — say the supplication to the Virgin Mary. Or I like to read the Psalms standing — I read the Psalms of David. Or I like to make many prostrations — I make prostrations.

Someone can go to church, worship God, and say the prayer at the same time. A person prays, and prayer has results. Or someone can say: “I can pray with my own words.” I open my heart before God and cry before God, saying: “My God…” My confessional prayers, in my own words, with what I feel, I offer them to God. Do this — and this is a prayer.

All prayers are good and holy because they are directed toward God, but above all because they attract divine grace. In the end, the purpose of prayer is the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Holy Spirit come into our soul, into our being, to sanctify us, to cleanse us, to enlighten us, to give us the blessing of God’s presence in our heart.

And if someone feels this, sometimes he wants to step away from what he does every day and say: “Today I don’t feel like reading the prayer rope; instead, I want these 20 minutes, when I can say the Jesus Prayer.” He says the Jesus Prayer — he is not harmed.

It is true that the Jesus Prayer is emphasized by the Fathers as beneficial because we can say it everywhere, always, and at any time. But all the Fathers do not underestimate other forms of prayer, such as the Psalms, the hymns, the services of our Church, and the readings.

All these prayers, even for us who are lay people and weak in spiritual exercises and spiritual struggles, help us and strengthen our heart and soul, so that we are not completely isolated from certain things.