From the very first, the priest motivates the faithful and prays for many of their spiritual and material needs: for instance, he prays for their inner peace (i.e. the peace from above), for the salvation of the soul, as well as for the peace of the whole world. Having peace in their heart, the faithful, together with the priest, pray for: their Bishop; the people of their local Church; the welfare of God's Churches; the union of all Christians. They also pray on behalf of: those who enter the church with faith; the God-fearing Christians; the travellers; the sick; the suffering; the ones in captivity. Additionally they ask God for fair seasons and the abundance of the fruits of the earth, for the deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger and necessity. All the above petitions compose the Litany of Peace, which is called like that, because its first three petitions highlight inner peace as well as world peace as an absolute necessity.

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According to St Basil the Great 'the person who seeks peace seeks Christ'. Christ is our peace. The peace that He gave us is ensured through repentance. For to repent is to return to Christ, who is the peace of the soul. The tears of repentance mark the beginning of the road, the peace of the soul comes at a later stage. 'This Sacrament is a Sacrament of peace', notes St John Chrysostom in one of his Homilies, for the Divine Liturgy is our chance to meet the Lord, who is our peace.