Martin Makes a Prostration

 

Jesus Christ, Conqueror! The small cross from the sign in front of our Church. Come and see!

 

Martin is going to teach us to do a prostration or a full reverence, great reverence, earthly reverence, "reverence down to the ground" or in Slavonic, "zemnoy poklon."  By the time you finish reading this little book, you will know how to do one, too.

Martin Begins By Standing Aright

  

Martin begins his prostration by standing up very straight.

 

A prostration starts by standing aright, because you will be standing in Church or at home and praying. You should stand up straight and do your very best when you say your prayers to focus on what they say and Who you are saying them to.

 

Martin Bows

 

Martin bows low touching his right hand to the ground.

 

Martin is now bowing down to touch the back of his right hand to the floor. If you can't quite reach the floor, that's OK. Do the best you can. You don't want to hurt yourself; but you do want to make your motions a prayer of humility before God.
 

Martin Begins to Make the Sign of the Cross

 

Martin begins to make the Sign of the Cross.

 

When Martin stands back up again, he begins to make the Sign of the Cross.

In the Name of the Father...

    

Martin Continues the Sign of the Cross

 

Martin continues making the Sign of the Cross.

 

and of the Son...

 

Martin Continues Still the Sign of the Cross

 

Martin prays to the Holy Spirit in the Sign of the Cross.

 

and of the Holy....

 

Martin Finishes the Sign of the Cross

 

Martin completes the Sign of the Cross.

 

Spirit. Amen.

 

Martin Falls to His Knees

 

Martin gently drops to his knees to continue his prostration.

 

When he finishes the Sign of the Cross, Martin will fall to his knees (carefully!). When you get to this point, though, you don't stop. In your little prayer of humility to God that you are making with your whole body, you still have a few steps left.
   

Martin Places His Hands on the Floor

 

Martin places his hands on the floor.

 

Next Martin places his hands about a shoulder width apart about a foot in front of his knees.

 

It's important to remember that we have to share the space in the Church with those around us. You need to have your hands far enough apart to be steady so that you don't fall over; but you need to be respectful of the space your friends need, too.

   

Martin Touches His Forehead to the Floor

 

Martin gently touches his forehead to the floor.

 

Now you can see that our friend Martin is touching his forehead to the floor.

   
He is telling God, "I am humble before you. I am obedient to what You ask. Speak and I shall listen. Lead and I will follow."
 

Martin Prepares to Stand

 

Martin prepares to stand up at the end of his prostration.

 

Martin then raises his head and hands from the floor as he prepares to stand up.

  

Martin Stands Aright Again

 

Martin is now finished with his prostration and is standing straight and tall again.

 

In the last step of the prostration, Martin stands back up straight. Sometimes, you will only do a single prostration. Maybe you will be saying your prayers at home and will want to do them there as practice. Sometimes, like in the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts, you will make three prostrations in a row! The practice makes this beautiful action easier and more graceful.

   

Two things to remember:  we never make prostrations on Sundays. We also don't make prostrations between Pascha (Easter) and Pentecost. Any other time is perfectly OK!