12 Prostration Praying

The Gnostic Order of Nazorean Essenes recognizes that very pure forms of worship and prayer existed in Egypt during the first few centuries of the Christian era. One source for spirituality and prayer in the late fourth century is John Cassian. Although he is claimed by the mainstream camp of Christianity, the form of monasticism Cassian commented on in the deserts of Egypt about 400 A.D. was more a mix of both Gnostic and mainline currents, rather than one or the other.  Later so called "desert fathers", like Evagrius, also spoke of prayer practices in the desert regions, but often failed to give any concrete details.  The two monastic offices at dawn and dusk are as follows:

"During the performance of the psalms - in community this would be by one or at most three singers who remained standing while the others sat listening (Institutes 2.5.5) - all would arise to pray, cast themselves praying to the ground, then arise again to pray, standing in silence and with hands uplifted. (Institutes 2.7.2. and 2.8)" Gabriel Bunge summary

In Cassian’s report some monastic superiors are discussing the proper number of psalms to be sung at the worship services, but can come to no consensus. While worshipping together at the dusk office of Vespers, we read:

"And while all were sitting (as is still customary throughout the land Egypt), having fixed the whole focus of their hearts on the words of the one chanting the psalms, he sang eleven Psalms separated by prayers introduced between them: singing each succeeding verse with equal modulation, he completed the twelfth with the ‘alleluia’ response, and by suddenly withdrawing from the eyes of all, put an end to both their controversy and their ceremony."

"The twelve Psalms mentioned above are divided as follows: if there are two brothers, each sings sing six; if there are three, [each sings] four; and if four, [each sings] three. Less than this number is never sung in community; and so whatever the size of the gathering, not more than four sing at the synaxis."

Cassian also tells us that the interval of prayer must be substantial and not hurried, but that the prostration should not be prolonged. We also read that the Manichaean prostrators did not tarry in the bowed position either, but "immediately rise back up to their feet." Cassian writes:

"[…] before they bend their knees they pray for a little while, standing to spend the greater part of the time in supplication. And after this, for the briefest moment, they prostrate themselves on the ground as if adoring the divine compassion, and then arise as quickly as possible, standing upright with outstretched hands - just as they had previously prayed (oraverant) standing - [now] to linger in [supplicating] prayers (preces). For remaining prostrate on the ground for any length of time renders you open, they say, not only to the assault of [tempting] thoughts, but of sleep […] But when he who is to ‘collect’ the prayers rises from the ground they all stand up together: for no one would presume to bend the knee before he bows down, nor to delay when he has risen from the ground […]"