The aim of this study was the comparison the effect of relaxation and praying on preoperative anxiety in patients who admitted in Ayatollah Kashani Hospital in Shahrekord. This study was a quasi-experimental, not-blinded study with simple random allocation. 116 patients who were candidate for abdominal surgery were allocated randomly into praying (n=54), relaxation(n=30), and control (n=32) groups. Inclusion criteria were age 18 to 65 years old, not treated with anxiolytic or sedative drugs during hospitalization, and candidate for abdominal surgery. Exclusion criteria were psychological disorders, hearing loss, and unwillingness to continue participation in the study. In relaxation group, Benson relaxation technique was educated for the patients by video tap, then in the day before surgery, the patients did relaxation two times( each time 15 minutes) every two hours. In praying group, in the day before surgery, the patients did praying two times( each time 15 minutes) every two hours. In the control group, the patients received preoperative routine care. Vital sign and anxiety level in each group were evaluated in two steps: before the intervention( the day before surgery) and immediately before the surgery.