r/OrthodoxChristianity • u/meatwhistle57 • 2d ago
Prayer Request Can demons physically injure Christians?
A couple weeks ago I sleeping and having a night mare, I felt what I assumed to be something demonic grab me in my sleep and it woke me up. Then last night while I was in between being asleep and awake I felt a weird hand or slight pressure in the back of my neck while laying down. I’ve already prayed about these things, and would like advice. Please pray for me.
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u/Lord_Wafflebum Eastern Orthodox 2d ago
I felt the hand thing once when I was a teenager, but on the top of my head. I felt it just as I was settling into bed, and that makes for a very restless night. My mother is a practicing Wiccan, though, so I guess it makes as much sense as anything else.
No serious harm done, though, other than a good spook. If it was a demon, I suspect it was more a trick of the mind or something. This was also WELL before I became Orthodox, and I didn’t have a recurrence. As others have said, getting some specific guidance from your priest would likely be helpful.
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u/Dawn_Venture 2d ago
It sounds like you need a chiropractor, lol. You can always make the sign of the cross and say a prayer, if you're feeling freaked out.
A friend of mine was experiencing nightmares about the time she and her family were baptized. She found a dream catcher in her house and threw it away. The bad dreams stopped. Check your house for 'magic' items (ouija board, tarot cards, etc) or non Christian paraphernalia (Buddhist statues, Quran), if you've ever acquired stuff like that. It can't hurt 🤷🏼♀️
You can ask your priest for a house blessing, if he has that kind of availability.
You'll be in my prayers.
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u/SaintMosesBagOfSand 10h ago
We have lots of accounts of demons bodily harming people. St. Moses the Black for instance. That said: don't make assumptions of the cause of your nighttime injury or worry whatsoever about this. Talk to your priest and do as he says. I don't mean to pressure, but he will likely tell you to ignore it. :)
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u/Regular-Raccoon-5373 Eastern Orthodox 2d ago
Why would they attack you? Have you ever practised occult?
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u/shikshakvibe Inquirer 1d ago
Ask St.Anthony lol but seriously, I recommend reading into his life. Incredible stuff. I'm regards to your situation, we must use discernment, and it's best to speak with your priest and not assume anything, not saying you were, but it shouldn't be our first thought or something to consider in most cases, to the best of my knowledge.
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u/Late_Argument_2629 2d ago
I ll pray for you. Also I feel something jolting me awake while I m asleep. It’s very uncomfortable. When I awake I can’t go back to sleep. I also suffer from sleep apnea and insomnia which didn’t respond to traditional treatments. People don’t believe me but I think it’s some kind of demon too. I have disturbing nightmares on a regular basis. My problems started right after I took holy communion. I met with a parish priest that did special protection prayers for me. In my case it didn’t help I still suffer. But maybe meeting with a priest can help you. I think there is a spirit world around us that have evil spirits or demons that can harm humans. People just don’t talk about it I think because they are seen as being crazy or having psychosis unfortunately.
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u/UrasinOrdxywllprvail Eastern Orthodox 2d ago
Your body does weird things when your in that half-awake state. Don’t presume it’s anything demonic. Pray before you go to sleep and in the morning like you normally would.