Kata Stichon Hymnography in the East Slavic Tradition

The kata stichon hymns are a peculiar genre of hymnography occurring as part of nocturnal prayer in early sources for the Byzantine Liturgy of the Hours. The use of these hymns in traditions on the Byzantine periphery remains in need of study. In this paper, the authors identify kata stichon hymns translated into Church Slavonic found in early East Slavic Horologia as well as in later Slavonic collections of private prayer used in Russia up to the 17th century. The authors also identify hymns with no known Greek analogs, as well as hymns reflecting the kata stichon genre composed in Church Slavonic. The liturgical function of these hymns is studied and hypotheses are proposed for their origin and continued popularity in Russian nocturnal worship and private cell prayer.

Are Religiosity and Spirituality Related to Self-Reported Health Expectancy? An Analysis of the European Values Survey

Research on religiosity and health has generally focussed on the United States, and outcomes of health or mortality but not both. Using the European Values Survey 2008, we examined cross-sectional associations between four dimensions of religiosity/spirituality: attendance, private prayer, importance of religion, belief in God; and healthy life expectancy (HLE) based on self-reported health across 47 European countries (n = 65,303 individuals). Greater levels of private prayer, importance of religion and belief in God, at a country level, were associated with lower HLE at age 20, after adjustment for confounders, but only in women. The findings may explain HLE inequalities between European countries.

The Sociology of Prayer: Dimensions and Mechanisms

The sociology of prayer has a long history and routinely stresses the centrality of prayer to religious belief and ritual solidarity. Still, we have struggled to clearly define the parameters of prayer and the various components of this ubiquitous practice. Drawing from a comprehensive literature review of prayer research, we propose that there are four conceptually distinct dimensions of the private prayer experience which vary across religious cultures and traditions; they are (1) the quantity of prayer, (2) the style of prayer, (3) the purpose of prayer, and (4) prayer targets. Our proposed measures of these dimensions offer researchers a framework to better theorize and investigate the social mechanisms which produce variation in prayer as well as the individual and social outcomes of prayer. In particular, we discuss how each prayer dimension fits within specific theoretical framings to better test the extent to which the emotional, rational, and behavioral elements matter to prayer outcomes.

The Relationship Between Religious Attendance, Private Prayer, Religious Coping, Social Support, and Caregiver Burden in Dementia Caregivers

Living longer increases the risk of cognitive decline, which can cause individuals to become dependent on caregivers. Due to the stressful nature of caregiving, caregiver burden often negatively impacts the quality of life of caregivers and can even cause premature death. In the present study, we examined the relationships between caregiver burden and social support, religious coping, religious attendance, and participation in private prayer. We hypothesized that each variable would contribute uniquely to caregiver burden, such that greater caregiver burden would be associated with lower religious attendance, private prayer, religious coping, and social support. Fifty-nine dementia/Alzheimer’s caregivers (72% women) completed surveys. In a multiple linear regression analysis, variables explained 24.4% of the variance in caregiver burden, R2 = .24, Adj. R2 = .14, F(7, 49) = 2.26, p = .04. Further examination revealed that lower family support was related to greater caregiver burden (β = −.28, p = .04), consistent with predictions. Counter to our hypothesis, greater participation in private prayer was related to higher levels of caregiver burden, but only at the trend level (β = .39, p = .06). Our data suggest that social support, particularly from family members, can help caregivers burdened from the stressful nature of caregiving.

Strategies to Cope with Phases of Spiritual Dryness in Seventh-Day Adventists

In Adventists (n = 603) 45% were less effective and 55% more effective in coping with phases of spiritual dryness, particularly those with leading roles in the church. Strategies such as devotion/trust in God, private prayer/meditation/scripture reading, openness, talks with close others, and self-care were most often utilized. Their ability to cope was predicted best by low Acedia, Living from the Faith, low emotional exhaustion, well-being and having a duty in the church (R2 = .24). When these phases were overcome, several perceived spiritual depth and were able to help others all the more. Helpful strategies should be made available to support persons struggling with spiritual dryness.

Disclosure to God as a Mediator Between Private Prayer and Psychological Well-Being in a Christian Sample

Although a number of studies have reported the psychological and physical benefits of prayer, only a few have examined the means by which prayer affects health. Winkeljohn Black et al. (J Relig Health 54(2):540–553, 2015. 10.1007/s10943-014-9840-4) found disclosure to God as a mediator in the relationship between prayer and mental health. In their study, the authors used Poloma and Pendleton’s (Rev Relig Res 31(1):46–53, 1989. https://doi.org/10.2307/3511023, ) model of prayer. This study examined whether disclosure to God as a mediator can be upheld with Laird et al.’s (Int J Psychol Relig 14(4):251–272, 2004) prayer model. The study included 285 Polish adults (50.2% of women), aged between 18 and 60 years. The Multidimensional Prayer Inventory, the Revised Distress Disclosure Index, and the Psychological Well-Being Scale were applied to the research. The results showed that the prayer of thanksgiving correlated positively and the prayer of supplication negatively with well-being. Two indirect effects were significant, indicating disclosure to God as a mediator of the confession—well-being link and the supplication—well-being link.

Spirituality and Prayer in the Eastern Traditions

This chapter examines the practice of prayer, both public and private, in the Eastern Churches, principally in the Byzantine and Slav traditions. It begins with the earliest reflections on prayer and the life of prayer by St Basil the Great and, behind him, by pre-Nicene thinkers such as Tertullian and Origen. Continuities with classical culture are evident in Basil’s writing, as is a strikingly cosmic dimension. The chapter then considers the corporate worship of the Church—the Divine Liturgy and the Divine Office—in the contexts of both space and time. Here there is a notable eschatological dimension. It addresses, finally, the modalities of private prayer, never completely separate from public prayer.