If you’re trying to grow in your Orthodox faith and feel overwhelmed by all the Orthodox Christian prayer book options out there—you’re not alone. We were in the same place. We just wanted something clear, structured, and spiritually rich. After trying what felt like everything, we finally found Orthodox Christian Prayers (St. Tikhon’s Monastery Press), the prayer book that brought real peace and direction to our daily life.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to build a daily prayer routine as a new Orthodox Christian, you’re not alone. We’ve been there too—juggling fasting periods of the Church, learning about prostrations, and trying to make sense of morning prayers, evening prayers, and communion prayers. We tried many Orthodox prayer books. Some were thoughtful gifts. Others came highly recommended. But most didn’t stick. Some felt like they were written for monastics. Others lacked the guidance we needed.
Then we found Orthodox Christian Prayers, published by St. Tikhon’s Monastery Press. That’s when everything changed. This book gave us the structure, peace, and spiritual clarity we were looking for.
Orthodox Christian Prayers (Prayer Book)
Orthodox Christians around the world use different prayer books based on their local autocephalous Orthodox Christian Church, special needs, language, and experience. For English speakers, especially in America, the Orthodox Christian Prayers book is one of the best options available. It’s been our daily companion and spiritual anchor.
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![Image of Book: Orthodox Christian Prayers [Prayer Book]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71k5E2JzoAL._SY522_.jpg)
Book: Orthodox Christian Prayers [Prayer Book]
Buy Now →1. What's Inside the Prayer Book
This beautiful prayer book—bound in burgundy with gold-tone stamping and practical page-marker ribbons—covers nearly every aspect of Orthodox Christian prayer life. And unlike many older or monastic-focused editions, this popular handy pocket-size book uses an English language text that is readable, reverent, and spiritually rich.
Here is what you will find inside:
Daily Prayers and Spiritual Rhythms
Daily Prayers and Spiritual Rhythms
It begins with a clear explanation of prayer rules, followed by the standard daily personal prayers of Orthodox Christians. These include morning prayers, prayers at the table, the hours of the day and night, services of small compline, prayers before sleep, and prayers for the commemoration of the saints, the living, and the departed. It’s helped our family build a sustainable rhythm of prayer.
Prayers for Life’s Needs and Moments
Prayers for Life’s Needs and Moments
The book also includes occasional prayers for various needs—everything from spiritual struggles to family life, illness, thanksgiving, and guidance. These have helped us in real-life moments, especially when we didn’t know how to pray or what to say.
Holy Communion Preparation and Thanksgiving
Holy Communion Preparation and Thanksgiving
During weekends and feast days, we use the section on communion prayers: prayers of preparation before receiving the Holy Gifts, the canon for preparation, and the prayers of thanksgiving after Holy Communion. This part of the book made us feel more prepared, more reverent, and more connected to the service of preparation.
Canons and Akathists
Canons and Akathists
This section is perfect for those seeking to go deeper. It includes the Akathist to Our Sweetest Lord Jesus Christ, the Akathist “Glory to God for All Things,” the Akathist to the Theotokos, the Canon of Repentance, the Small Paraklesis to the Theotokos, and the Canon to the Guardian Angel. These follow the style of an akathist and reflect the spiritual watchfulness encouraged by the Fathers, including St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain.
The Paschal Mystery and Liturgical Hymns
The Paschal Mystery and Liturgical Hymns
During Holy Week and Pascha, the book becomes even more essential. It includes the Canon and Stichera for the Crucifixion, the Lamentation of the Holy Mother, the complete service of Pascha, and the Paschal Hours. You’ll also find Sunday hymns from the Octoechos, weekday hymns, and selections from the Triodion, Pentecostarion, and Menaion. These troparia and kontakia help connect our personal prayers with the liturgical year.
2. Why This Book Worked for Us
What really made this book stand out for us is how usable it is in real, everyday life. It’s not just something we keep on a shelf—it’s something we actually reach for throughout the day. The structure is intuitive, and the guidance is practical. It didn’t overwhelm us with too much information, but it gave us enough direction to pray with confidence.
- Simple to Use, Easy to Trust
We never felt like we had to decode anything. The red instructional text helped us stay present and focused during prayers without second-guessing what came next. It removed the hesitation that used to creep in—especially when we were still learning the flow of Orthodox prayer. Even when we were tired or distracted, the book made it easy to get back on track.
- A Companion That Grew With Us
Over time, we started to notice that we were reaching for it not just during set prayer times, but in those unexpected moments when we needed strength, clarity, or comfort. That’s the real value of this book—it became part of our life, not just part of our bookshelf.
We’ve recommended it to friends who are new to the Orthodox Church, young adults trying to develop a prayer life, and even longtime Orthodox Christians who simply want a more grounded routine. No matter where you’re starting from, this book meets you there and gently nudges you forward.
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Book: Orthodox Christian Prayers [Prayer Book]
Buy Now →The PDF version available of the Orthodox Christian Prayers prayer book on the Orthodox Church of America's Site.
Other Prayer Books To Consider
Before we settled on Orthodox Christian Prayers, we explored several other prayer books.
Here are a few we tried—and how they compare:
1. The Little Red Prayer Book (Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese)
- Ideal for beginners and widely used in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.
- Includes standard morning prayers and evening prayers but lacks structure for the fasting periods of the Church.
- No instructional text or guidance, making it hard to follow beyond basic daily prayers.
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Book: The Little Red Prayer Book
Buy Now →2. Manual of Eastern Orthodox Prayers (St Vladimir's Seminary Press)
- Features a foreword by Rev. Fr. Alexander Schmemann and offers deep, traditional prayers.
- Its language is formal, with limited guidance for personal use or special needs.
- Better suited for those familiar with Orthodox liturgical life or clergy.
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Book: A Manual of Eastern Orthodox Prayers
Buy Now →3. Old Orthodox Prayer Book (Church of the Nativity)
- A historic option with a strong monastic tone and older English language text.
- Very traditional but less accessible to young children or families.
- Does not include practical guidance for spiritual watchfulness or daily lay practice.
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Book: Old Orthodox Prayer Book (Russian Old Believer)
Buy Now →4. The Ancient Faith Prayer Book (Ancient Faith Publishing)
- A well-designed, family-friendly book with modern English.
- Beautiful for personal use but lacks many of the detailed services like the service of vespers or full Paschal texts.
- A great starting point, but limited when compared to the fuller resources of Orthodox Christian Prayers.
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Book: The Ancient Faith Prayer Book
Buy Now →5. Hear Me: A Prayer Book for Orthodox Young Adults (by Annalisa Boyd)
- Warm, personal, and deeply meaningful, especially for Orthodox young adults.
- Includes prayers and reflections grounded in the Orthodox faith.
- Less comprehensive than Orthodox Christian Prayers, especially for liturgical seasons or canonical hours.
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Book: Hear Me - A Prayer Book for Orthodox Young Adults
Buy Now →While all of these books have their strengths, none offered the same combination of tradition, practical guidance, and comprehensive content that we found in Orthodox Christian Prayers.
Watch This Video
Here is a great video to watch on that topic:
Final Take Away
Finding the right Orthodox Christian prayer book can feel like a long search. But once we found Orthodox Christian Prayers, we stopped searching. It brought structure, clarity, reverence, and peace to our daily prayers. It’s not just a beautiful prayer book—it’s a spiritual companion.
If you're a young adult exploring Orthodoxy, a parent looking for structure, or someone rediscovering your Orthodox faith, this book meets you where you are. From prayers of preparation to troparia and kontakia, from occasional prayers to the full Paschal Hours—Orthodox Christian Prayers has everything you need.
Let us know what prayer books have helped you. And if you’ve used this one, share how it shaped your spiritual life.
May your days be filled with prayer, led by the Holy Spirit, and supported by the prayers of the holy angels, the saints, and the most holy Theotokos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Using a Christian prayer book like Orthodox Christian Prayers has been a deeply personal and spiritually enriching practice for us, helping us establish a consistent prayer routine. Here’s how we’ve made the most of it:
- Begin with the Basics: We start our day with morning prayers, as outlined in Orthodox Christian Prayers. This popular handy pocket-size book provides clear instructions, including when to make prostrations and how to incorporate the prayer of the heart. The book also includes prayers of preparation, guardian angel prayers, and communion prayers that align with the liturgical calendar.
- Follow the Daily Routine: The book is organized into sections that cover the standard daily personal prayers of Orthodox Christians. These include morning prayers, prayers at the table, evening prayers, and specific prayers for the paschal hours and other significant times, like the midnight service. The Thanksgiving prayers for the text of the divine liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and the prayers for holy week are also included, helping us stay connected with the rhythm of the Orthodox Church.
- Use the Red Text as a Guide: We’ve found the red text throughout the book incredibly helpful for spiritual watchfulness, as it guides us on how to perform each prayer properly. This is particularly useful for young adults and new converts, offering factual lists and structured prayers that are easy to follow.
- Incorporate Special Prayers: Depending on the day or season, we use prayers of preparation before communion, the akathist hymn, or the great supplicatory canons during fasting periods like the lenten triodion. The book’s comprehensive approach makes it easy to find the right prayer for every occasion.
- Carry It With You: We love that this beautiful prayer book, with its sturdy red paper cover and gold-tone stamping, is designed to be a travel edition. Whether at home or on the go, we can easily incorporate prayers into our day. The familiar translation of the St. Tikhon’s text ensures that the language resonates with our spiritual journey.
Jackie says
Hello! Thanks for this review. You said: >> The text of the divine liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and the prayers for holy week are also included<< However, I have this prayer book and I don't find this. The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is in Little Red but I don't see it in this one. Can you please tell me what page it's on? Thank you.
Thierry says
Hi Jackie,
Thank you for catching that, and I’m so glad you reached out! I meant to say that the prayers following the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom are included, not the full text itself. You can find these in the “Prayers of Thanksgiving After Holy Communion” section on page 171. I’ve also updated the post to clarify this.
If you’re looking for the full text of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, you can find it here: https://www.goarch.org/-/the-divine-liturgy-of-saint-john-chrysostom
Thanks again for pointing it out, and I hope you still find the review helpful!
Best,
Thierry
Daniel says
"The book is beautifully crafted, featuring a gold-tone stamping on a durable blue cloth cover" sounds more like the HTM or Newrome prayer books 🙂
Thierry says
Hi Daniel,
Thanks for the insight! It’s true that a lot of Orthodox prayer books share that classic, elegant look. I’ve personally used the version mentioned in the review, but it’s definitely possible that the HTM or Newrome books have a similar style. It’s always interesting to see how different publishers put their own twist on prayer books, even if the content remains similar. If you have a favorite edition, I’d love to hear about it. Thanks again for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!
Best,
Thierry