Prayer and Trial

Συμβούλευσε μαθηταῖς τὰ τῷ καιρῷ πρέποντα εἰπών· Προσεύχεσθε ἵνα μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς πειρασμόν. Ἀλλ' ἵνα μὴ λόγοις αὐτοὺς ὠφελήσῃ μόνοις, παράδειξις δὲ καὶ αὐτοῦ τοῦ πράγματος εὑρεθῇ, βραχὺ προσελθὼν, πεσὼν ἐπὶ γόνυ, προσηύχετο. Καὶ τί δή ποτε τοῖς ἁγίοις σὺ συνηύχετο μαθηταῖς, ἀλλὰ καταμόνοας; Ἵνα μάθωμεν ἡμεῖς τῆς ἀρεσκούσης Θεῷ προσευχῆς τὸν τύπον. Ἔφη γὰρ ἑτέρωθι· Σὺ δὲ, ὅταν προσεύχῃ, εἴσελθε εἰς τὸ ταμιεῖον σου, ἀπόκλεισον τὴν θύραν, πρόσευξαι τῷ Πατρί σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυφαίῳ· καὶ ὁ Πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυφαίῳ, ἀποδώσει σοι ἐν τῷ φανερῷ. Πανταχοῦ γὰρ εὑρήσομεν καταμόνας εὑχόμενον, ἵνα καὶ σὺ μάθῃς, ὅτι σχολάζοντι νῷ καὶ γαληνιώσῃ καρδίᾳ διαλέγεσθαι χρὴ τῷ ἐπὶ πάντας Θεῷ. Καὶ οὐ δὴ που φαίη τις ἂν, εἴ γε νοῦν ἔχοι, ὅτι τῆς παρ' ἑτέρου χειρὸς ἢ ἐπικουρίας ἐν χρείᾳ καθεστηκὼς, ἐποιεῖτο τὰς λιτάς. Αὐτὸς γάρ ἐστιν ἡ πανσθενεστάτη χεὶρ καὶ δύναμις τοῦ Πατρός· ἀλλ' ἵνα ἡμεῖς διὰ τούτων μάθωμεν, μὴ νυστάζειν ἐν πειρασμοῖς, συντείνεσθαι δὲ μᾶλλον εἰς προσευχάς. Ἀμαθὲς δὲ λίαν, καὶ τὸ τῶν ἀγώνων καταθρασύνεσθαι· τῷ μετρίῳ δὲ φρονήματι χρῆναί φημι τὸ εὔτολμον καὶ τληπαθὲς ἀναπλέκειν, Ἴδωμεν δὲ καὶ προσευχῆς τὸν τρόπον. Ἅγιος Κύριλλος Ἀλεξανδρείας, Ἐξὴγησις Εἰς Τὸ Κατὰ Λούκαν Εὐάγγελιον, Κεφ. ΚΒ'

He counseled His disciples concerning things proper to the moment, saying, 'Pray that you may not enter into temptation.' 1 And not only with words did he aid them but He even made Himself an example of it, going off a little, and on his knees falling in prayer. Why does He not pray with the disciples but alone? That we may learn the type of prayer which is pleasing to God. He says in another place, 'But when you pray, enter into your chamber, and close the door, and prayer to your Father in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will give openly to you.' 2 Since everywhere we find him praying alone, so you should also learn that with unencumbered mind and tranquil heart you should speak always with the High God. Nor may someone say that he has prayed reasonably that lacks other hand or help. For He himself is the most strong hand and power of the Father. So through these things we  know that in trials we should not sleep, but rather take to prayer. It is extremely foolish to provoke struggle, but prudent to mix courage with endurance. Now indeed we may see the way of prayer. Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 22 1 Lk 22.40 2 Mt 6.4