This is undoubtedly the most common prayer used by Christians. The event where prayer was given to us by Christ is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew 6:9–13 as a section of the Sermon on the Mount, and in the Gospel of Luke 11:2–4. Nowhere before this time did anyone dare to pray to God as their own father. It was not the custom of any rabbis or spiritual teachers to address the Almighty as “Abba,” the way a child might use when speaking to their “Daddy”. Jesus used it as an intimate form of address, then taught His disciples to do the same. The use of the prayer is a mark of being Christian.
As an indication of its importance, it is the prayer we pray just before receiving Holy Communion in the Divine Liturgy. Before we recite it the priest says, ” And deem us worthy, O Master, that we may boldly, without condemnation dare to call upon thee, the Heavenly Father…” It is indeed most daring to address God as our father. It recognizes him above all else as our Creator and most loved Lord who will provide for and protect us. To say it requires a deep faith in God.
Download the Lords Prayer in English and Greek PDF versions HERE
The Lord's Prayer
Prayer in English
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Prayer in Greek:
Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς·
ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου·
ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου·
γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὡς ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς·
τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον·
καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν,
ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν·
καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς πειρασμόν,
ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ.