www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology "...a sinner"?

Is there a standard form of the Jesus Prayer? I know it's a prayer that evolved over a long period of time, but what's the most commonly practiced verison today? I've heard two different forms described as the 'standard' version:

1) "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me."

2) "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

Is the phrase, "a sinner", a later edition, and to what effect or purpose?

Thanks so much for the help. I'm just beginning to taste the spiritual richness of the Jesus Prayer, and I'm liking it more each day.

God bless,

Chris

I believe it is the melding of the Prayer of the Publican: "O God be merciful to me a sinner" with the original Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me. "a sinner" is defintely a later addition, how much later I do not know. The Philokalia was compiled in the 18th century and the text of the prayer as given by Nicephorus the Solitary, mentor of St. Gregory Palamas, is without "a sinner".

Fr. Deacon Lance

Thanks for the explanation, Fr. Deacon. Though I certainly appreciate the added penitential element evoked by "a sinner", I prefer the original for its tripartite structure. The prayer in itself is so deeply Trinitarian!

God bless,

Chris