“The work of prayer is the first task in Christian life. Prayer is the breath of the spirit. If there is prayer, the spirit lives; if there is no prayer, there is no life in the spirit,” wrote Saint Theophan to his addressee. “Prayer itself is the emergence in our hearts of one after another reverent feelings for God—feelings of self-abasement, devotion, thanksgiving, glorification, petition, contrition.” , submission to the will of God, diligent prostration, etc.” “Prayer, or the aspiration of the heart to God, must be aroused and the aroused one strengthened, or—what is the same—you need to cultivate a prayerful spirit in yourself.” For this, the collection “Holy Fathers on Prayer and Sobriety or Attention in the Heart to God” that we publish will be an excellent help. The essence of the matter is to be established in the memory of God, or to walk in the presence of God. One technique is universally obligatory - to pay attention to the heart. Saint Theophan compiled this collection at the desire of many lovers of God to have in one book the instructions of various saints on this subject. It is useful for each person to be imbued with the wisdom of the saints who are rooted in the Holy Spirit and who teach us in their writings how to achieve the inner prayerful silence and presence of God.