Early Christian Beliefs About Standing in Prayer

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

31. Moreover, when we stand praying, beloved brothers, we ought to be watchful and earnest with our whole heart, fully focused on our prayers. Let all fleshly and worldly thoughts pass away, and at that time let the soul think of nothing except the very thing it is praying for. For this reason also the priest, as a preface before his prayer, prepares the minds of the brothers by saying, "Lift up your hearts," so that when the people answer, "We lift them up to the Lord," he may be reminded that he himself also ought to think of nothing but the Lord. Let the heart be closed to the adversary, and open to God alone. And let it not allow God's enemy to come near it at the time of prayer. For he often creeps upon us and enters within, and by clever deceit draws our prayers away from God, so that we may have one thing in our heart and another in our voice, when it is not the sound of the voice, but the soul and mind, that ought to be praying to the Lord with a sincere purpose. But what carelessness it is to be distracted and carried away by foolish and profane thoughts when you are praying to the Lord, as if there were anything you should rather think about than that you are speaking wit

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

After this let him stand up, and pray that prayer which the Lord taught us.

1 Kings 8:54 Supporting witness

And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.

1 Kings 8:38 Supporting witness

whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house,

Acts 3:1 Supporting witness

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

1 Kings 8:22 Supporting witness

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven,

2 Chronicles 6:3 Supporting witness

And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood.

1 Chronicles 23:30 Supporting witness

to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at evening;

Tertullian, On Prayer Supporting witness

But who would hesitate every day to prostrate himself before God, at least in the first prayer with which we enter on the daylight?

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Direct teaching

For who of you knows not that the prayer of one who accompanies it with lamentation and tears, with the body prostrate, or with bended knees, propitiates God most of all?

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

and this the faith of the sacred Scripture assures us, and in telling us how such as these prayed, gives an example which we ought to follow in our prayers, in order that we may be such as they were: Then these three, it says, as if from one mouth sang an hymn, and blessed the Lord.

Ignatius, The Martyrdom of Ignatius Supporting witness

...ading them not to resent him for hastening to the Lord. Then, after he prayed with all the brothers kneeling beside him, asking the Son of God to stop the persecution and that mutual love might continue among the brothers, he was quickly taken into the amphitheater. There, he was immediately thrown in, according to Caesar's earlier command, because the public spectacles were about to end (for it was considered a solemn day, the thirteenth in the Roman calendar, when more people than usual would gather). He was thus cast to the wild beasts near the temple, so that the desire of the holy martyr Ignatius would be fulfilled, according to what is written, “The desire of the righteous is acceptable [to God].” This was intended so he would not be a burden to any of the brothers by the gathering of his remains, just as he had wished in advance in his letter. Only the harder parts of his holy remains were left, which were taken to Antioch and wrapped in linen, regarded as an invaluable treasure left to the holy Church by the grace in the martyr.

Polycarp, The Martyrdom of Polycarp Supporting witness

And on their giving him leave, he stood and prayed, being full of the grace of God, so that he could not cease for two full hours, to the astonishment of them that heard him, insomuch that many began to repent that they had come forth against so godly and venerable an old man.

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

31. Moreover, when we stand praying, beloved brethren, we ought to be watchful and earnest with our whole heart, intent on our prayers.

2 Chronicles 20:13 Supporting witness

And all Judah was standing before the Lord, and their children, and their wives.

2 Chronicles 6:13 Direct teaching

Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the court, and he stood on it. Then he knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven,

2 Maccabees 10:26 Supporting witness

and fell down at the foot of the altar, and besought him to be merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law declareth.

Nehemiah 9:5 Supporting witness

And at the evening sacrifice I rose up from my humiliation; and when I had rent my garments, then I trembled, and I bow myself on my knees, and spread out my hands to the Lord God,

Acts 20:36 Supporting witness

And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

Luke 22:41 Supporting witness

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

So also we raise the head and lift the hands to heaven, and set the feet in motion at the closing utterance of the prayer, following the eagerness of the spirit directed towards the intellectual essence;

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Direct teaching

For we lift up pious minds, and stretch forth our hands in prayer, and do not refuse to draw near wherever you may have summoned us;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Rise up, and bow your heads to God through His Christ, and receive the blessings. Let the bishop then add this prayer:—

Arnobius, Against the Heathen Supporting witness

that it should throughout the whole of life fall on bended knee, and offer supplication with never-ceasing prayers.

Early Liturgies, Liturgy of Adaeus and Maris Supporting witness

And he then goes on to say this prayer quietly, while bowing:

Early Liturgies, Liturgy of Adaeus and Maris Supporting witness

And he proceeds, saying in secret this prayer, in a bowing posture:—

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Supporting witness

Let us stand properly. Let us stand reverently. Let us stand in the fear of God and with sorrow in our hearts. In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Supporting witness

Let us stand reverently, let us stand in the fear of God, and with contrition: let us attend to the holy communion service, to offer peace to God.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

After this let the sacrifice follow, the people standing, and praying silently;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Let us continue to pray to God through His Christ. Let us ask Him, concerning the gift that is offered to the Lord God, that the good God will accept it through the mediation of His Christ on His heavenly altar, as a sweet-smelling fragrance. Let us pray for this church and people. Let us pray for every bishopric, every presbytery, all the deacons and ministers in Christ, and for the whole congregation, that the Lord will keep and preserve them all. Let us pray for kings and those in authority, that they may be peaceable toward us, so that we may have and live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, 1 Timothy 2:2. Let us remember the holy martyrs, that we may be considered worthy to share in their trial. Let us pray for those who have departed in the faith. Let us pray for the good tempering of the air and the full ripening of the fruits. Let us pray for those who are newly enlightened, that they may be strengthened in the faith, and that all may be comforted by one another. Raise us up, O God, by Your grace. Let us stand up and dedicate ourselves to God through His Christ. And let the bishop say: O God, who are great, and whose name is great, who are great in coun

Psalms 141:2 Supporting witness

Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

1 Timothy 2:8 Supporting witness

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Tertullian, On Prayer Direct teaching

In the matter of kneeling also, prayer is subject to different practices, because a few people refuse to kneel on the Sabbath. Since this disagreement is especially being examined before the churches, the Lord will give His grace, so that those who disagree may either yield, or else keep their opinion without offending others. We, however, just as we have received, should avoid kneeling—and every posture and duty of anxious care—only on the day of the Lord's Resurrection. We even put off our business, lest we give any place to the devil. Ephesians 4:27 Likewise also in the period of Pentecost, which we mark by the same solemn rejoicing. But who would hesitate to bow down before God every day, at least in the first prayer with which we enter into daylight? Moreover, at fasts and Stations, no prayer should be made without kneeling, and the other customary signs of humility. For then we are not only praying, but also pleading, and making satisfaction to God our Lord. As for times of prayer, nothing at all has been prescribed, except clearly that we should pray at every time and in every place.

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Background

...n feast of Pentecost. That feast points to rest from labor and to joy. For that reason, fasting and kneeling are not appointed for those days. This is a symbol of the great assembly that is kept for future times. There was a shadow of those times in the land of Israel, in the year called Jobel, or Jubilee, among the Hebrews. This is the fiftieth year, and it brings freedom for the slave, release from debt, and similar things. The holy Gospel also knows the forgiveness connected with the number fifty, and with the number related to it and standing beside it, that is, five hundred. For it is not without purpose that we are given there the forgiveness of fifty pence and of five hundred. So then, it was also fitting that the hymns to God, because of the destruction of enemies and in thanksgiving for the goodness of God, should contain not just one group of fifty, but three such groups, for the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Tertullian, On Prayer Supporting witness

We, however (just as we have received), only on the day of the Lord's Resurrection ought to guard not only against kneeling, but every posture and office of solicitude;

Tertullian, On Prayer Supporting witness

At fasts, moreover, and Stations, no prayer should be made without kneeling, and the remaining customary marks of humility;

Tertullian, On Prayer Supporting witness

In the matter of kneeling also prayer is subject to diversity of observance, through the act of some few who abstain from kneeling on the Sabbath;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

But, of necessity, he who is risen again ought to stand up and pray, because he that is raised up stands upright.

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Supporting witness

XX. Let us stand well, let us stand reverently, let us stand in the fear of God, and with compunction of heart.

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Supporting witness

All erect: let us again pray to the Lord.