Unceasing PrayerJohn KotsonisThesis: Unceasing prayer, as defined in the New Testament, supported by the Fathers of theChurch, expanded and explained in Orthodox Literature, is an extremely significant aid and avery efficient accelerator for our personal spiritual growth. As it develops, it engenders a direct,clear and constant relationship with God, which is a necessary and sufficient condition for ourtheosis.This work focuseson the unceasing, continuous prayer, especially the Jesus Prayer, or PrayerOf The Heart- its origin, evolution, approach and results. The text mirrors the structure of theThesis statement.I. Unceasing prayer is defined in the New Testament, supported by the Fathers ofthe Church, expanded and explained in Orthodox LiteraturePrayer is our attempt to speak with God and establish a personal connection with Him. AsOrthodox Christians, we know that we are expected to maintain a powerful, direct and personalrelationship with God through prayer and receive the divine grace that flows from it. The unionthat follows is the ultimate gift from God and our birthright. In the words of St John Climacus:Prayer is by nature a dialog and a union of man and God.Its effect is to hold the world together.It achieves a reconciliation with God. (R14 p274).Ever since the Fall, humans have tried to keep their connection with God alive and functioningthrough prayer (1). However, an integrated prayer in Gods name could not be offered until HisIncarnation (including His Crucifixion and Resurrection) was complete. After that point, thefaithful can rely on His promise that He will make sure our legitimate, and properly placed,requests are fulfilled (2). Christ has pledged that He will act on our behalf, that He will be ourpersonal Intercessor (3,4) which is something the prophets of the Old Testament never had. Ourprayers are now blessed by the value of Christs human experience, including His sacrifice andvictory over death and He has promised to respond to our requests made in His Name. We alsoknow that prayer was a big part of Jesus life and that He prayed very frequently, as we readthroughout the New Testament. For example, the Gospel of Saint John, chapter 17, contains adeeply moving prayer that Jesus offered to His Father. This long prayer was tailored to thecircumstances He was facing at the time, but it can als