Prayer for health

What Is the Strongest Prayer for Health?

Is there a single strongest prayer for health? The source of all blessings is the Lord, but often, a sick person’s natural desire to be healed quickly leads them down the wrong path—treating a prayer like a mere incantation, without understanding its true spiritual meaning.

In reality, prayer is a conversation with God and the saint to whom the prayer is directed. The saint, in turn, prays to the Lord and, through God’s power, grants healing.

In Orthodox tradition, prayers for health are composed in honor of various saints and come in different forms. However, according to the testimonies of hundreds of thousands of believers worldwide, the most effective prayer for healing is the Akathist to Saint Panteleimon the Healer. This prayer is most powerful when offered as a collective prayer (prayer by agreement), uniting many faithful in supplication (see prayer schedule for details).

Prayer to the Great Martyr Panteleimon for Healing

The Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon (also spelled Panteleimon, Panteleimon the Healer) was a saint of the early Christian centuries (275–305 AD). His name translates to "All-Merciful" in Russian. During his earthly life, Saint Panteleimon was a physician, and after receiving the Sacrament of Baptism, he continued to heal people, but now through God's power and without charging any fee. This selfless healing provoked envy among the pagans, and due to false accusations, he suffered martyrdom, remaining faithful to the Lord until the end.

The Akathist to Panteleimon the Healer is a prayer for health, containing elements from his life story and accounts of his miraculous healings, including cases of resurrection from the dead. A collective prayer for healing through this Akathist is not difficult to read and takes only about 20 minutes per week, recited on Saturdays at 2:00, 8:00, 14:00, or 20:00 Moscow time. The most important aspect is to pray sincerely and have faith in the Lord’s mercy.

Why Is a Prayer for the Sick Necessary?

A prayer for the sick is never in vain. God’s plans and the full picture of a person’s life—for whom the prayer is offered—are often hidden from us. For some, immediate healing is beneficial, while for others, healing comes later. There are also those who, through illness, grow stronger in faith, experience true repentance, and undergo inner transformation, receiving partial physical healing or relief from emotional suffering instead. However, in every case, those who turn to Saint Panteleimon through this Akathist receive help. The suffering soul is purified and renewed, the Lord’s mercy is invoked, and the Holy Spirit is given room to act.

How Correctly Pray for Healing?

A prayer by agreement, performed in the form of the Akathist to Panteleimon the Healer, means reciting this Akathist on the same day and at the same hour with many others who share the same need—praying for the gift of health. Every Saturday at 2:00, 8:00, 14:00, or 20:00 Moscow time, believers in Bulgaria pray specifically for healing from illness, and anyone can choose a convenient hour from the scheduled times to join this collective prayer from home.

The greatest value and central power of prayer by agreement is the presence of Christ Himself, for “where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). And for God, nothing is impossible. Additionally, it is important that the name of the sick person is commemorated in the central prayer location (Bulgaria).

Is It Necessary to Pray for the Health of Loved Ones (Mother, Father, Daughter, Son, Family, Parents)?

A prayer for the health of loved ones, such as a mother or husband, is always pleasing to the Lord because it fulfills God’s commandment to love one another. The Holy Fathers unanimously affirm the special power of a mother’s prayer, as it is rooted in the authority God gives parents over their children. A prayer for the health of parents can also be offered in the form of an Akathist for healing, either individually or collectively. Praying for the well-being of a loved one is a form of spiritual charity and support during difficult times—even from a distance!