{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_34981/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_34981","id":"gutenberg_34981","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34981","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Religion/Spirituality","Category: Russian Literature","Orthodox Eastern Church -- Liturgy -- Texts","Orthodox Eastern Church -- Prayers and devotions","Prayers"],"text":"</pre>\n\n\n\nORTHODOX DAILY PRAYERS\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSt. Tikhon's Seminary Press\n1982\n\nPrinted\nwith the blessings\nof\nHis Grace,\nthe Right Reverend\nHERMAN\nBishop of Philadelphia\nand\nEastern Pennsylvania\n\n\n\n\nTABLE OF CONTENTS\n\n\n  Introduction                                                          1\n  Morning Prayers                                                       5\n  Commemoration of the Living and the Dead                             25\n  Prayers at the Table                                                 33\n  The Order of Compline                                                38\n  Before Sleep                                                         68\n  The Three Canons                                                     89\n  Canon in Preparation for Holy Communion                             119\n  Prayers in Preparation for Holy Communion                           130\n  Prayers for Thanksgiving After Communion                            161\n\n\n\n\n                              INTRODUCTION\n\n\n\n\n                             THE PRAYERBOOK\n\n\nThe present Prayerbook contains the most basic daily prayers of the\nOrthodox Christian as they have been transmitted to us essentially by the\nRussian Church, although the other Orthodox Traditions in this matter are\nvery similar.\n\nIn this book, we will find the Psalms of the Holy Prophet King David, the\nprayer which Our Lord Himself taught His holy disciples, prayers of the\ndesert fathers, prayers of the great hierarchs and teachers of the\nChurch, as well as the prayers of more recent fathers.\n\nThe publication of such prayers does not limit the free expression of the\nChristian soul to the Creator, the Most-holy Theotokos and the Saints. On\nthe contrary, by reading these prayers we learn how to pray. They become\nmodels for our own, personal prayers. Often, we would like to pray but,\ndistracted by the bustling world around us, or troubled by fear or\nsorrow, we do not even know how to begin. We then begin with the\nPrayerbook and find that not only much of what we wanted to say is\nincluded in the prayers of the fathers, but that afterwards, we find\nwords of our own to continue the outpouring of our soul.\n\nThere is yet another gift in the Prayerbook. As Orthodox Christians we\nare all members of the same Body. We express and partake of that oneness\nin the services of the Church, especially in the Divine Liturgy. Through\nthe Prayerbook, this oneness is brought into our homes or any place that\nan Orthodox Christian reads it. Our own prayers are carried to the Throne\nof God on the wings of prayers that have been used by the People of God\nfor centuries. We no longer pray alone.\n\n\n\n\n                           THE RULE OF PRAYER\n\n\nMany rules of prayer have developed in the history of the Church. At no\nplace or time has there been a uniform rule. In 19th Century Russia, for\nexample, the rule varied considerably from one monastery to another,\nthough certain basic elements were found in all of them. Therefore, the\nterm \"Rule of Prayer\" should never be understood as a strait jacket,\nregulating and limiting our communion with God.\n\nWhat the Rules do teach us is the importance of regularity in our life of\nprayer. It is better to say a few prayers every day without fail than to\nsay a great number of prayers on an irregular, impulsive basis. Those of\nus who are fortunate enough to have a spiritual father should consult him\nbefore establishing our own Rule. Those of us who do not, should begin\nwith a modest Rule, increasing it only when it has become a regular and\nintegral part of our lives.\n\n\n\n\n                            THE TRANSLATION\n\n\nWe have attempted to use a contemporary but dignified form of the English\nlanguage throughout this present translation. Wherever possible, existing\ntranslations of the Orthodox Church in America have been used. For\nexample, the Prayers in Preparation for Holy Communion are taken from the\nofficial Divine Liturgy book (St. Tikhon's Seminary Press, 1977) with\nvery few changes. The Psalms, verses, troparia, and prayers not included\nin that edition have now been translated and included to complete the\ntraditional order.\n\nThe Psalms are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible with\nchanges made wherever significant differences with the Orthodox\nliturgical Psalter (based on the Septuagint) made it necessary. The\nnumbering of the Psalms follows the Septuagint throughout the Prayerbook.\nWe are leaving to Biblical scholars the study of the merits of the\nvarious texts of the Holy Scriptures. Our object here is to provide the\nEnglish-speaking Orthodox Christian with a Prayerbook as closely\nequivalent as possible to the Prayerbooks that Orthodox Christians of\nother nationalities have used for generations.\n\n\n\n\n                            MORNING PRAYERS\n\n\n_Having awakened, arise from your bed without laziness and, having\ngathered your thoughts, make the Sign of the Cross, saying:_\n\nIn the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.\n\n_Afterwards, stand in silence for a few moments until all your senses are\ncalmed. At that point, make three prostrations, saying:_\n\nLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.\n\n_Then, begin the Morning Prayers with these words:_\n\nLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure\nMother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.\n\nGlory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.\n\nO Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth Who art everywhere\nand fillest all things. Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life: Come and\nabide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O\nGood One.\n\nHoly God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us. _(3 times)_\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nO Most Holy Trinity! Have mercy on us! Lord, cleanse us from our sins!\nMaster, pardon our transgressions! Holy One, visit and heal our\ninfirmities for Thy name's sake.\n\nLord, have mercy! _(3 times)_\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nOur Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come.\nThy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily\nbread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass\nagainst us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.\n\n_(If there is a priest, he adds the usual exclamation)_\n\nHaving arisen from sleep, we fall down before Thee, O Blessed One, and\nsing to Thee, O Mighty One, the angelic hymn: Holy! Holy! Holy! art Thou,\nO God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:\n\nHaving raised me from my bed and from sleep, O Lord, enlighten my mind\nand heart, and open my lips that I may praise Thee, O Holy Trinity: Holy!\nHoly! Holy! art Thou, O God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.\n\nNow and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nThe Judge will come suddenly and the acts of every man will be revealed;\nbut in the middle of the night we cry with fear: Holy! Holy! Holy! art\nThou, O God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.\n\nLord, have mercy! _(12 times)_\n\nHaving risen from sleep, I thank Thee, the Holy Trinity. In the abundance\nof Thy kindness and long patience, Thou hast not been angry with me for\nmy laziness and sinfulness, nor hast Thou destroyed me in my lawlessness.\nInstead, in Thy usual love for mankind, Thou hast raised me as I lay in\ndespair, that I might rise early and glorify Thy Reign. Enlighten now the\neyes of my mind and open my lips, that I might learn of Thy words,\nunderstand Thy commandments, accomplish Thy will, hymn Thee in heart-felt\nconfession and praise Thine all-holy name, the Father and the Son, and\nthe Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nCome, let us worship God, our King!\n\nCome, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God!\n\nCome, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and\nour God!\n\n\n\n\n                                Psalm 50\n\n\n  Have mercy on me, O God,\n      according to Thy great mercy;\n  according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies,\n      blot out my transgressions.\n  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,\n      and cleanse me from my sin!\n\n  For I know my transgressions,\n      and my sin is ever before me.\n  Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned,\n      and done that which is evil in Thy sight,\n  so that Thou art justified in Thy sentence\n      and blameless in Thy judgment.\n  Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,\n      and in sins did my mother conceive me.\n\n  Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward being;\n      therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.\n  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;\n      wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.\n  Fill me with joy and gladness;\n      let the bones which Thou hast broken rejoice.\n  Hide Thy face from my sins,\n      and blot out all my iniquities.\n  Create in me a clean heart, O God,\n      and put a new and right spirit within me.\n  Cast me not away from Thy presence,\n      and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.\n  Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation,\n      and uphold me with a willing spirit.\n\n  Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways,\n      and sinners will return to Thee.\n  Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,\n      Thou God of my salvation,\n      and my tongue will sing aloud of Thy deliverance.\n\n  O Lord, open Thou my lips,\n      and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.\n  For Thou hast no delight in sacrifice;\n      were I to give a burnt offering, Thou wouldst not be pleased.\n  The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;\n      a broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.\n\n  Do good to Zion in Thy good pleasure;\n      rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,\n  Then wilt Thou delight in right sacrifices,\n      in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;\n      then bulls will be offered on Thy altar.\n\n\n\n\n                          The Symbol of Faith\n\n\nI believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and\nof all things visible and invisible.\n\nAnd in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten\nof the Father before all ages. Light of Light; true God of true God;\nbegotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things\nwere made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven,\nand was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man.\nAnd He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was\nburied. And the third day He arose again, according to the Scriptures,\nand ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and\nHe shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose\nKingdom shall have no end.\n\nAnd in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from\nthe Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and\nglorified; Who spoke by the prophets. In one Holy, Catholic, and\nApostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I\nlook for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.\nAmen.\n\n\n1st Prayer, by St. Macarius the Great.\n\nO God, cleanse me a sinner, for I have done nothing good before Thee.\nDeliver me from the evil one, and may Thy will be in me, that I might\nopen my unworthy lips without condemnation and praise Thy holy name,\nFather, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n2nd Prayer, by St. Macarius the Great.\n\nHaving risen from sleep, I offer Thee, O Savior, the midnight song.\nFalling down, I cry to Thee: let me not fall asleep in the death of sin.\nBe gracious to me, Thou Who wast willingly crucified. Raise me quickly as\nI lie in laziness, and save me as I stand in prayer. After the night's\nsleep, O Christ God, shine a sinless day on me and save me.\n\n\n3rd Prayer, by St. Macarius the Great.\n\nHaving risen from sleep, I run to Thee, O Master, for Thou lovest\nmankind, and I rush to accomplish Thy work. Help me, I pray Thee, at all\ntimes and in all things. Deliver me from every evil thing of this world\nand from works of the devil. Save me, and lead me into Thine eternal\nKingdom. Thou art my Maker, The Provider and Giver of everything good.\nAll my hope is in Thee and I glorify Thee, now and ever and unto ages of\nages. Amen.\n\n\n4th Prayer, by St. Macarius the Great.\n\nO Lord, through Thy abundant goodness and great generosity, Thou hast\nallowed me, Thy servant, to pass through the hours of this night\nuntempted by any evil of the enemy. Grant also, O Master and Creator of\nall, that I might accomplish Thy will in Thy true light and with an\nillumined heart, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n5th Prayer, by St. Macarius the Great.\n\nO Lord, the Almighty God, Who acceptest the thrice-holy hymn from Thy\nheavenly hosts: accept this song of the night even from me, Thine\nunworthy servant. Grant that at every year and hour of my life I might\nglorify Thee, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and\nunto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n6th Prayer, by St. Basil the Great.\n\nAlmighty Lord, the God of hosts and of all flesh, Thou livest in the\nheights, yet lookest down on the humble, proving the hearts and emotions,\nclearly foreknowing the secrets of men. Thou art the Light without\nbeginning, in Whom there is no variation nor shadow of change. O Immortal\nKing, accept the prayers which we now offer Thee from defiled lips. Free\nus from the sins we have committed in deed, word or thought, knowingly\nand unknowingly. Cleanse us from all defilement of flesh and spirit.\nGrant us to pass through the entire night of this present life with a\nwatchful heart and a sober mind, awaiting the coming of the bright and\nmanifest day of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord, God and Savior Jesus\nChrist, when the Judge of all will come with glory to reward each\naccording to his deeds. May we not be found fallen and lazy, but alert\nand roused to action, prepared to enter into His joy and the divine\nchamber of His glory, where the voice of those who feast is unceasing and\nindescribable is the delight of those who behold the inexpressible beauty\nof Thy countenance. For Thou art the true Light which enlightens and\nsanctifies all, and all creation hymns Thee unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n7th Prayer, also by St. Basil.\n\nWe bless Thee, most high God and Lord of mercies, Who ever doest great\nand unfathomable things for us--glorious and awesome things without\nnumber. Thou givest us sleep for the repose of our frailty, relieving the\nlabors of our over-burdened flesh. We thank Thee for not destroying us in\nour lawlessness. Instead, Thou hast shown Thy usual love for mankind, and\nraised us, as we lay in despair, to glorify Thy Reign. Therefore, we\nimplore Thy boundless goodness: enlighten our thoughts and eyes, and\nawaken our minds from the heavy sleep of laziness. Open our lips and fill\nthem with Thy praise, that we may unwaveringly hymn and confess Thee, the\nGod glorified in all and by all, Father without beginning, with Thine\nonly-begotten Son and Thine all-holy, and life-giving Spirit, now and\never and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n8th Prayer. A Midnight Song to the Most Holy Theotokos.\n\n  I hymn your Grace, O Lady,\n      and pray that you grace my mind.\n  Teach me to walk correctly\n      on the path of Christ's commandments.\n  Strengthen me to watch in song,\n      dispelling the despair of sleep.\n  I am bound by fetters of sin,\n      free me by your prayers, O Bride of God!\n  Keep me in the night and in the day,\n      delivering me from warring enemies.\n  As you bore the life-giving God,\n      give life to me, who am wounded by passions.\n  As you bore the unsetting Light,\n      enlighten my blinded soul.\n  O wondrous palace of the Master,\n      make me a home of the divine Spirit.\n  As you bore the Physician,\n      heal my soul of its passion-filled years.\n  I am tossed in the tempest of life:\n      direct me to the path of repentance.\n  Deliver me from the eternal flame,\n      from the evil worm, and from hell.\n  Make me not a joy for demons,\n      though I am guilty of many sins.\n  Make me new, most undefiled one,\n      for I am aged by senseless sins.\n  Estrange me from all torments,\n      and pray for me to the Master of all.\n  Grant that, with all the saints,\n      I may inherit the joys of heaven.\n  Hear, most holy Virgin,\n      the voice of your useless servant.\n  Grant me a torrent of tears, most pure one,\n      to wash the filth of my soul.\n  The groans of my heart I bring you unceasingly:\n      open your heart, O Lady!\n  Accept my prayerful service,\n      and take it to the compassionate God.\n  You who are far higher than the angels,\n      raise me above this world's confusion.\n  O light-bearing heavenly cloud,\n      direct spiritual grace into me.\n  I raise in praise, all-undefiled one,\n      hands and lips defiled by sin.\n  Deliver me from soul-corrupting harm,\n      praying fervently to Christ,\n  To Whom glory and worship are due,\n      now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n9th Prayer, to Our Lord Jesus Christ.\n\nMy most merciful and all-merciful God, O Lord Jesus Christ! In Thy great\nlove, Thou didst come down and become flesh in order to save all. Again,\nI pray Thee, save me by Grace! If Thou shouldst save me because of my\ndeeds, it would not be a gift, but merely a duty. Truly, Thou aboundest\nin graciousness and art inexpressibly merciful! Thou hast said, O my\nChrist: \"He who believes in me shall live and never see death\". If faith\nin Thee saves the desperate, behold: I believe! Save me, for Thou art my\nGod and my Maker. May my faith replace my deeds, O my God, for Thou wilt\nfind no deeds to justify me. May my faith be sufficient for all. May it\nanswer for me; may it justify me; may it make me a partaker of Thine\neternal glory; and may Satan not seize me, O Word, and boast that He has\ntorn me from Thy hand and fold. O Christ my Savior: save me whether I\nwant it or not! Come quickly, hurry, for I perish! Thou art my God from\nmy mother's womb. Grant, O Lord, that I may now love Thee as once I loved\nsin, and that I may labor for Thee without laziness as once I labored for\nSatan the deceiver. Even more, I will labor for Thee, my Lord and God\nJesus Christ, all the days of my life, now and ever and unto ages of\nages. Amen.\n\n\n10th Prayer, to the Angel, the guardian of human life.\n\nO Holy Angel, who stand by my wretched soul and my passionate life: do\nnot abandon me, a sinner, neither depart from me because of my lack of\nself-control. Leave no room for the evil demon to gain control of me\nthrough the violence of this mortal body. Strengthen my weak and feeble\nhand, and instruct me in the path of salvation. O holy Angel of God, the\nguardian and protector of my wretched soul and body: forgive all the\nsorrows I have caused you, every day of my life. If I have sinned in this\npast night, protect me during this day. Keep me from every adverse\ntemptation, that I may not anger God by any sin. Pray to the Lord for me,\nthat He may establish me in His fear and make me, His servant, worthy of\nHis goodness. Amen.\n\n\n11th Prayer, to the Most Holy Theotokos.\n\nO Most Holy Theotokos, my Lady: through your holy and all-powerful\nprayers, turn away from me, your humble and unworthy servant, despair,\nforgetfulness, unreasonableness, indifference, and all unclean, evil and\nblasphemous thoughts from my wretched heart and darkened mind. Extinguish\nthe flame of my passions, for I am poor and wretched. Deliver me from my\nnumerous and wicked memories and fantasies. Free me from all evil acts,\nfor you are blessed by all generations, and your most honorable name is\nglorified unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nRejoice, O Virgin Theotokos! Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with you.\nBlessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, for\nyou have borne the Savior of our souls!\n\nMost glorious Ever-Virgin Mother of Christ our God, bear our prayer to\nyour Son and our God, that through you He may save our souls.\n\nO heavenly hosts of holy Angels and Archangels, pray for us sinners.\n\nO glorious Apostles, Prophets, Martyrs, and all Saints, pray for us\nsinners.\n\nPray to God for me holy ________ (your Patron Saint), for with fervor I\nrun to you, swift helper and intercessor for my soul!\n\nO Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victories to\nthe Orthodox Christians over their adversaries; and by virtue of Thy\nCross, preserve Thy habitation.\n\nIt is truly meet to bless you, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure,\nand the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and more\nglorious beyond compare than the Seraphim: without defilement you gave\nbirth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify you.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand to ages of ages. Amen.\n\nLord, have mercy! _(3 times)_\n\nLord Jesus Christ Son of God, for the sake of Thy most pure Mother, our\nvenerable and God-bearing fathers, and all the saints, save me, a sinner.\nAmen.\n\n_Some pious Christians use the following \"Morning Prayer of the Last\nElders of Optina\" with their morning prayers._\n\nO Lord, grant that I may meet all that this coming day brings to me with\nspiritual tranquility. Grant that I may fully surrender myself to Thy\nholy Will.\n\nAt every hour of this day, direct and support me in all things.\nWhatsoever news may reach me in the course of the day, teach me to accept\nit with a calm soul and the firm conviction that all is subject to Thy\nholy Will.\n\nDirect my thoughts and feelings in all my words and actions. In all\nunexpected occurrences, do not let me forget that all is sent down from\nThee.\n\nGrant that I may deal straightforwardly and wisely with every member of\nmy family, neither embarrassing nor saddening anyone.\n\nO Lord, grant me the strength to endure the fatigue of the coming day and\nall the events that take place during it. Direct my will and teach me to\npray, to believe, to hope, to be patient, to forgive, and to love. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n                COMMEMORATION OF THE LIVING AND THE DEAD\n\n\n_To be read daily by every monastic and pious Christian at the end of his\nrule of prayer._\n\nRemember, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, Thine eternal mercies and\ncompassion, for whose sake Thou didst become man and willingly endured\ncrucifixion and death for the salvation of those who rightly believe in\nThee. Thou didst rise from the dead and ascend into Heaven and sittest at\nthe right hand of God the Father, looking down on the humble petitions of\nthose who call upon Thee with their whole heart. Bow down Thine ear and\nhear the prayer which I, Thy useless servant, offer Thee for all Thy\npeople as a spiritual fragrance. First of all, remember Thy Holy,\nCatholic, and Apostolic Church which Thou didst obtain through Thy\nprecious Blood. Establish, strengthen, broaden, and multiply her. Give\nher peace and keep her eternally unassailable by the gates of hell. Calm\nthe quarrels of the churches, put out the arrogance of the heathen, and\nswiftly destroy and uproot the rebellions of heresies, turning them into\nnothing through the power of Thy Holy Spirit.\n\n_Prostration._\n\nSave, Lord, and have mercy on the Holy Orthodox Patriarchs, our Lord, the\nMost Blessed ________, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All\nAmerica and Canada; on our Lord, the Right Reverend ________, Bishop of\n________; on priests, deacons and all the clergy whom Thou hast installed\nto tend Thy reason endowed flock. Through their prayers, save me also, a\nsinner, and have mercy on me.\n\n_Prostration._\n\nSave, Lord, and have mercy on the President of our country, on all our\ncivil authorities and armed forces. Surround them with peace, and speak\npeace and goodness into their hearts for Thy Holy Church and all Thy\npeople. In their calm may we live a calm and silent life in the True\nFaith and in all piety and purity.\n\n_Prostration._\n\nSave, Lord, and have mercy on our father (the name and title of the abbot\nof your monastery or of your parish priest) with all our brethren in\nChrist, and have mercy on me, who am wretched, through their prayers.\n\n_Prostration._\n\nSave, Lord, and have mercy on my spiritual father ________, and forgive\nmy transgressions through his holy prayers.\n\n_Prostration.\n(In Monasteries)_\n\nSave, Lord, and have mercy on all our brethren who labor in this holy\ncommunity--the laborers, the lay workers, and those who work the land for\nthis monastery, and all Christians.\n\n_(In Parishes)_\n\nSave, Lord, and have mercy on all our brethren who serve this holy\nChurch--the parish council, the choir, the teachers, the custodians and\ncleaners, and all who work for our parish, and all Christians.\n\n_Prostration._\n\n_(Any inapplicable terms in the following petition are simply omitted.)_\n\nSave, Lord, and have mercy on my parents ________(if they are still\nliving), my wife/husband ________, my children ________, my brothers and\nsisters and all my relatives according to the flesh, those who are close\nto my family, and my friends. Grant them Thy worldly and heavenly good\nthings.\n\n_Prostration._\n\nSave, Lord, and have mercy on our fathers, brothers, and sisters who live\nwith patient faith in the monasteries of the Holy Mountain, Russia,\nAmerica, and any other place. Through their prayers, have mercy on me a\nsinner.\n\n_Prostration._\n\nSave, Lord, and have mercy, according to the multitude of Thy\ncompassions, on all hieromonks, monks, and nuns, and on all who in\nvirginity, reverence, and fasting live in monasteries, in deserts and\ncaves, on mountains and pillars, in hermitages and cleft rocks, on\nislands in the sea, and who live in the True Faith in every place of Thy\ndominion, serving Thee piously and praying to Thee. Lighten their burden\nand console them in sorrow. Grant them strength and resolution in their\nstruggles, and grant me remission of sins through their prayers.\n\n_Prostration._\n\nSave, Lord, and have mercy on the old and the young, the poor, the\norphans and widows, and on those who are in sickness and in sadness, in\nmisfortunes and in sorrow, in war and in captivity, in prison and in\nexile--especially those who, being Thy servants, are persecuted for Thy\nsake and the Orthodox Faith by godless heathens, apostates, and heretics.\nRemember, visit, strengthen, and comfort them, giving them early release,\nfreedom, and deliverance by Thy might.\n\n_Prostration._\n\nSave, Lord, and have mercy on our benefactors who have mercy on us and\nfeed us, giving us alms and security, and ask us to pray for them,\ndespite our unworthiness. Be Thou merciful to them and grant their every\npetition for salvation and the reward of eternal good things.\n\n_Prostration._\n\nSave, Lord, and have mercy on all our fathers, brothers, and sisters and\nall Orthodox Christians who are travelling in Thy service.\n\n_Prostration._\n\nSave, Lord, and have mercy on those whom I have caused to stumble,\nturning them away from the path of salvation and leading them to evil and\nunseemly deeds. Return them to the path of salvation by Thy Divine\nProvidence.\n\n_Prostration._\n\nSave, Lord, and have mercy on those who hate and offend me, and do me\nharm. Do not let them perish because of me, a sinner.\n\n_Prostration._\n\nEnlighten with the light of Thy knowledge those who have left the\nOrthodox Faith and have been blinded by devastating heresies, reuniting\nthem to Thy Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.\n\n_Prostration._\n\n\n                            For the Departed\n\nRemember, Lord, all Orthodox Patriarchs and Metropolitans; archbishops\nand bishops; priests and those who serve in holy orders; those who serve\nThee in monastic ranks and the blessed founder of our holy community (or\nChurch). Grant them rest with the saints in Thine eternal dwellings.\n\n_Prostration._\n\nRemember, Lord, the souls of Thy departed servants, my parents\n________(if they are already dead), and all my relatives according to the\nflesh. Forgive all their sins, both voluntary and involuntary. Grant them\nparticipation in Thine eternal good things and the enjoyment of the\neternal and blessed life.\n\n_Prostration._\n\nRemember, Lord, all our departed fathers, brothers, and sisters, the\nOrthodox Christians who lie here and everywhere in the hope of the\nResurrection and eternal life. Grant them to live with Thy saints under\nthe Light of Thy countenance. Have mercy on us also, for Thou art good\nand lovest mankind. Amen.\n\n_Prostration._\n\n_The following is said three times, each with a prostration._\n\nGrant remission of sins, Lord, to all our fathers, brothers, and sisters\nwho have departed before us in faith and the hope of the Resurrection,\nand make their memory eternal.\n\n\n\n\n                          PRAYERS AT THE TABLE\n\n\nBefore Breakfast\n\nO Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us! Lord, cleanse us from our sins!\nMaster, pardon our transgressions! Holy One, visit and heal our\ninfirmities for Thy name's sake.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nLord, have mercy! _(3 times)_\n\nO Christ God, bless the food and drink of Thy servants, for Thou art\nholy, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\nAfter Breakfast\n\nMore honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than\nthe Seraphim: without defilement you gave birth to God the Word: true\nTheotokos, we magnify you.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nLord, have mercy! _(3 times)_\n\nGod is with us, through His Grace and love for mankind, always now and\never, and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\nBefore Lunch\n\nOur Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come.\nThy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily\nbread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass\nagainst us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nLord, have mercy! _(3 times)_\n\nO Christ God, bless the food and drink of Thy servants, for Thou art\nholy, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\nAfter Lunch\n\nWe thank Thee, Christ our God, for Thou hast satisfied us with Thine\nearthly gifts. Deprive us not of Thy Heavenly Kingdom, but as Thou camest\namong Thy disciples, O Savior, giving them peace, so come to us and save\nus!\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nLord, have mercy! _(3 times)_\n\nBlessed is God, Who has had mercy on us and fed us from His rich gifts,\nthrough His Grace and love for mankind, always, now and ever and unto\nages of ages. Amen.\n\n\nBefore Supper\n\nThe poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the Lord shall\npraise Him; their hearts shall live forever!\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nLord, have mercy! _(3 times)_\n\nO Christ God, bless the food and drink of Thy servants, for Thou art\nHoly, always, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\nAfter Supper\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nYour womb became a Heavenly Table, bearing the Heavenly Bread--Christ our\nGod. Whoever eats of him shall not die, O Birth-giver of God, according\nto the word of the Nourisher of all.\n\nMore honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than\nthe Seraphim: without defilement you gave birth to God the Word: true\nTheotokos, we magnify you!\n\nThou, O Lord, hast made us glad by Thy works; in the works of Thy hands\nshall we rejoice. Lift up the Light of Thy countenance upon us, O Lord!\nThou hast put joy in my heart. With the fruit of wheat, wine and oil have\nwe been satisfied. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for Thou\nalone, O Lord, makest me to dwell in hope.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nLord, have mercy! _(3 times)_\n\nGod is with us through His Grace and love for mankind, always, now and\never and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n                        _The Order of Compline_\n\n\n_The priest gives the blessing:_\n\nBlessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages!\n\n_NOTE: In the absence of a priest, laymen begin with:_\n\nThrough the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have\nmercy on us!\n\n_The Reader continues:_\n\nAmen! Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee!\n\nO Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere\nand fillest all things. Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life: Come\nand abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls,\nO Good One.\n\nHoly God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us! _(3 times)_\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and\never, and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nO Most Holy Trinity have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins.\nMaster, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our\ninfirmities, for Thy name's sake.\n\nLord, have mercy! _(3 times)_\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and\never, and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nOur Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy\nwill be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily\nbread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass\nagainst us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.\n\n_The priest exclaims:_\n\nFor Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father,\nand of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of\nages.\n\n_The Reader continues:_\n\nAmen! Lord, have mercy! _(12 times)_\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and\never, and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nCome, let us worship God, our King!\n\nCome, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God!\n\nCome, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and\nour God!\n\n\n\n\n                                Psalm 50\n\n\n  Have mercy on me, O God,\n      according to Thy great mercy;\n  according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies,\n      blot out my transgressions.\n  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,\n      and cleanse me from my sin!\n\n  For I know my transgressions,\n      and my sin is ever before me.\n  Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned,\n      and done that which is evil in Thy sight,\n  so that Thou art justified in Thy sentence\n      and blameless in Thy judgment.\n  Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,\n      and in sins did my mother conceive me.\n\n  Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward being;\n      therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.\n  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;\n      wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.\n  Fill me with joy and gladness;\n      let the bones which Thou hast broken rejoice.\n  Hide Thy face from my sins,\n      and blot out all my iniquities.\n  Create in me a clean heart, O God,\n      and put a new and right spirit within me.\n  Cast me not away from Thy presence,\n      and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.\n  Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation,\n      and uphold me with a willing spirit.\n\n  Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways,\n      and sinners will return to Thee.\n  Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,\n      Thou God of my salvation,\n      and my tongue will sing aloud of Thy deliverance.\n\n  O Lord, open Thou my lips,\n      and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.\n  For Thou hast no delight in sacrifice;\n      were I to give a burnt offering, Thou wouldst not be pleased.\n  The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;\n      a broken and contrite heart, O God,\n      Thou wilt not despise.\n\n  Do good to Zion in Thy good pleasure;\n      rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,\n  Then wilt Thou delight in right sacrifices,\n      in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;\n      then bulls will be offered on Thy altar.\n\n\n\n\n                                Psalm 69\n\n\n  O God, attend to helping me!\n      O Lord, make haste to help me!\n  Let them be put to shame and confusion\n      who seek my life!\n  Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor\n      who desire my hurt!\n  Let them be turned back in their shame\n      who jeer saying: \"Well done! Well done!\"\n  May all who seek Thee\n      rejoice and be glad in Thee!\n  May those who love Thy salvation\n      say evermore, \"God is great!\"\n  But I am poor and needy;\n      hasten to me, O God!\n  Thou art my help and my deliverer;\n      O Lord, do not tarry!\n\n\n\n\n                               Psalm 142\n\n\n  Hear my prayer, O Lord;\n      give ear to my supplications!\n  In Thy faithfulness answer me,\n      in Thy righteousness!\n  Enter not into judgment with Thy servant;\n      for no man living is righteous before Thee.\n  For the enemy has pursued my soul;\n      he has crushed my life to the ground;\n      he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.\n  Therefore my spirit faints within me;\n      my heart within me is appalled.\n  I remember the days of old,\n      I meditate on all Thou hast done;\n      I muse on what Thy hands have wrought.\n  I stretch out my hands to Thee;\n      my soul thirsts for Thee like a parched land.\n  Make haste to answer me, O Lord!\n      My spirit fails!\n  Hide not Thy face from me,\n      lest I be like those who go down to the Pit.\n  Let me hear in the morning of Thy steadfast love,\n      for in Thee I put my trust.\n  Teach me the way I should go,\n      for to Thee I lift up my soul.\n  Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies!\n      I have fled to Thee for refuge!\n  Teach me to do Thy will,\n      for Thou art my God!\n  Let Thy Good Spirit lead me\n      on a level path!\n  For Thy name's sake, O Lord, give me life!\n      in Thy righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!\n  And in Thy steadfast love cut off my enemies\n      and destroy all those who afflict my soul,\n      for I am Thy servant.\n\n\n\n\n                              The Doxology\n\n\n  Glory to God in the Highest,\n      and on earth peace,\n      good will towards men.\n  We praise Thee! We bless Thee! We worship Thee! We glorify Thee!\n      We give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory!\n  O Lord, heavenly King,\n      God the Father Almighty!\n  O Lord, the only-begotten Son Jesus Christ\n      and the Holy Spirit!\n  O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,\n      Who takest away the sins of the world,\n      have mercy on us!\n  Thou that takest away the sins of the world,\n      receive our prayer.\n  Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father\n      have mercy on us!\n  For Thou alone art holy, Thou only art Lord,\n      Thou only, O Jesus Christ, art most high\n      in the glory of God the Father. Amen!\n  Every night will I give thanks to Thee\n      and praise Thy name for ever and ever!\n  Lord, Thou hast been our refuge\n      from generation to generation!\n  I said, Lord be merciful to me,\n      heal my soul for I have sinned against Thee.\n  Lord, I flee unto Thee.\n      Teach me to do Thy will,\n      for Thou art my God.\n  For with Thee is the fountain of life,\n      and in Thy light shall we see light.\n  O continue forth Thy mercy\n      upon those who know Thee!\n  Grant, Lord, that we may be kept this night\n      without sin!\n  Blessed art Thou, Lord God of our fathers,\n      and praised and glorified\n      be Thy name forever. Amen!\n  Let Thy mercy, Lord, be upon us,\n      as we have set our hope on Thee.\n  Blessed art Thou, Lord,\n      teach me Thy statutes!\n  Blessed art Thou, Master,\n      make me to understand Thy commandments!\n  Blessed art Thou, Holy One,\n      enlighten me with Thy precepts!\n  Thy mercy, Lord, endures forever!\n      O despise not the works of Thy hands!\n  To Thee belongs worship! To Thee belongs praise!\n      To Thee belongs glory:\n  To the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,\n      now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen!\n\n\n\n\n                          The Symbol of Faith\n\n\nI believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and\nof all things visible and invisible.\n\nAnd in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten\nof the Father before all ages. Light of Light; true God of true God;\nbegotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things\nwere made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven,\nand was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man.\nAnd He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was\nburied. And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures, and\nascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He\nshall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose\nKingdom shall have no end.\n\nAnd in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from\nthe Father; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and\nglorified; who spoke by the prophets. In one Holy, Catholic, and\nApostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I\nlook for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.\nAmen.\n\n_NOTE: In churches, the appointed Compline Canon to the Theotokos is sung\nfrom the Octoechos at this point._\n\n_When Compline is read privately, one or more Canons and/or an Akathist\nHymn is sung instead._\n\n_It is the tradition of the Russian Church that those preparing to\nreceive the Holy Mysteries (Communion) read at least three Canons and one\nAkathist Hymn the evening before (See page 89). Some read the Canon of\nPreparation at this point (See page 119)._\n\n_Whenever a Canon is sung, the following is sung to the same melody as\nthe Irmos of the Canon. If there is no Canon, it is either read or sung\nto the 8th Tone._\n\nIt is truly meet to bless you, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure,\nand the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and more\nglorious beyond compare than the Seraphim: without defilement you gave\nbirth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify you.\n\n_The Reader continues:_\n\n  Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us! _(3 times)_\n  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,\n      now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n  O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us!\n  Lord, cleanse us from our sins! Master, pardon our transgressions! Holy\n            One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake!\n  Lord, have mercy! _(3 times)_\n  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,\n      now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nOur Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy\nwill be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily\nbread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass\nagainst us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.\n\n_If there is a priest, he gives the usual exclamation._\n\n_After saying AMEN!, the Reader reads the appropriate TROPARIA:_\n\n\n\n\n                             Sunday Evening\n\n\nWe, the unworthy, ever pray to you, Supreme Commanders of the Heavenly\nHosts: shelter us, through your prayers, with the protective wings of\nyour glory. Keep us who fall down with fervor and cry: deliver us from\nmisfortunes, for you command the powers on high.\n\nO God of our fathers, Who dealest ever with us according to Thy meekness:\ntake not Thy mercy from us, but direct our lives in peace through their\nprayers.\n\nThy Church has been adorned with a robe of fine purple linen--the blood\nof Thy Martyrs throughout the world, O Christ God. She therefore cries to\nThee: send Thy mercies upon Thy people, give peace to Thy community and\ngreat mercy to our souls.\n\n  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:\n\nO Christ, give rest to the souls of Thy servants with the saints, where\nthere is no sickness, sorrow or sighing, but everlasting life.\n\n  Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nGrant us Thy peace, O Lord, through the prayers of all the saints and the\nTheotokos. Have mercy on us, for Thou alone art compassionate.\n\n\n\n\n                             Monday Evening\n\n\nThe just man is remembered with praises. For you, O Forerunner, the\nwitness of the Lord is sufficient. You truly showed yourself more\nhonorable than the prophets, for you were made worthy to baptize in the\nstreams the One Whom you proclaimed. Having gladly suffered for the\ntruth, you proclaimed to those in Hades the true God Who has revealed\nHimself in the flesh, taken away the sin of the world and given us great\nmercy.\n\nO God of our Fathers ...\n\nThy Church has been adorned ...\n\n  Glory to the Father ...\n\nO Christ, give rest ...\n\n  Now and ever ...\n\nGrant us Thy peace, O Lord, ...\n\n\n\n\n                            Tuesday Evening\n\n\nO Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victories to\nthe Orthodox Christians over their adversaries; and by the virtue of Thy\nCross, preserve Thy habitation.\n\nO God of our Fathers ...\n\nThy Church has been adorned ...\n\n  Glory to the Father ...\n\nO Christ, give rest ...\n\n  Now and ever ...\n\nGrant us Thy peace, O Lord, ...\n\n\n\n\n                           Wednesday Evening\n\n\nO holy Apostles, pray to our merciful God, that He grant remission of\nsins to our souls.\n\nThe truth of things revealed you to your flock as a rule of faith, an\nIcon of meekness and a teacher of abstinence. You thus reached the\nheights through humility and wealth through poverty. O holy hierarch,\nfather Nicholas, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.\n\nO God of our Fathers ...\n\nThy Church has been adorned ...\n\n  Glory to the Father ...\n\nO Christ, give rest ...\n\n  Now and ever ...\n\nGrant us Thy peace, O Lord, ...\n\n\n\n\n                            Thursday Evening\n\n\n_The same as Tuesday evening._\n\n\n\n\n                             Friday Evening\n\n\nWe pray to you, apostles, martyrs and prophets, hierarchs, venerable and\nrighteous ones, who have fought the good fight and kept the faith: having\nboldness before the Savior, pray to Him Who is good for the salvation of\nour souls.\n\n  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:\n      now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nTo Thee, Lord, the Planter of Creation, the universe offers the\nGod-bearing Martyrs as the first-fruits of nature. Through their prayers\nand the Theotokos, Most Merciful One, keep Thy Church and Thy people in\nprofound peace.\n\n\n\n\n                            Saturday Evening\n\n\n_The Sunday Troparia and Kontakia are read, according to the Tone of the\nweek._\n\n\nTone 1\n\nWhen the stone had been sealed by the Jews; while the soldiers were\nguarding Thy most pure Body; Thou didst rise on the third day, O Savior,\ngranting life to the world. The powers of heaven therefore cried to Thee,\nO Giver of Life: Glory to Thy resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Thy\nKingdom! Glory to Thy dispensation, O Thou who lovest mankind.\n\n  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,\n      now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nAs God, Thou didst rise from the tomb in glory, raising the world with\nThyself. Human nature praises Thee as God, for death has vanished! Adam\nexults, O Master! Eve rejoices, for she is freed from bondage, and cries\nto Thee: Thou art the Giver of Resurrection to all, O Christ!\n\n\nTone 2\n\nWhen Thou didst descend to death, O Life Immortal, Thou didst slay hell\nwith the splendor of Thy Godhead! And when from the depths Thou didst\nraise the dead, all the powers of heaven cried out: O Giver of Life!\nChrist our God! Glory to Thee!\n\n  Glory to the Father.... Now and ever....\n\nHell became afraid, O Almighty Savior, seeing the miracle of Thy\nresurrection from the tomb! The dead arose! Creation, with Adam, beheld\nthis and rejoiced with Thee! And the world, O my Savior, praises Thee\nforever.\n\n\nTone 3\n\nLet the heavens rejoice! Let the earth be glad! For the Lord has shown\nstrength with His arm! He has trampled down death by death! He has become\nthe firstborn of the dead! He has delivered us from the depths of hell,\nand has granted the world great mercy!\n\n  Glory to the Father.... Now and ever....\n\nOn this day Thou didst rise from the tomb, O Merciful One, leading us\nfrom the gates of death. On this day Adam exults as Eve rejoices; with\nthe prophets and patriarchs they unceasingly praise the divine majesty of\nThy power!\n\n\nTone 4\n\nWhen the women disciples of the Lord learned from the angel the joyous\nmessage of Thy Resurrection; they cast away the ancestral curse and\nelatedly told the apostles: Death is overthrown! Christ God is risen,\ngranting the world great mercy.\n\n  Glory to the Father.... Now and ever....\n\nMy Savior and Redeemer as God rose from the tomb and delivered the\nearthborn from their chains. He has shattered the gates of hell, and as\nMaster, He has risen on the third day!\n\n\nTone 5\n\nLet us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, coeternal with the\nFather and the Spirit, born for our salvation from the Virgin; for He\nwilled to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh, to endure death, and to\nraise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.\n\n  Glory to the Father.... Now and ever....\n\nThou didst descend into hell, O my Savior, shattering its gates as\nAlmighty; resurrecting the dead as Creator, and destroying the sting of\ndeath. Thou hast delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Man, and we\nall cry to Thee: O Lord, save us!\n\n\nTone 6\n\nThe angelic powers were at Thy tomb; the guards became as dead men. Mary\nstood by Thy grave, seeking Thy most pure Body. Thou didst capture hell,\nnot being tempted by it. Thou didst come to the Virgin, granting life. O\nLord who didst rise from the dead: glory to Thee!\n\n  Glory to the Father.... Now and ever....\n\nWhen Christ God, the Giver of Life, raised all of the dead from the\nvalleys of misery with His mighty hand, He bestowed resurrection on the\nhuman race. He is the Savior of all, the Resurrection, the Life, and the\nGod of all.\n\n\nTone 7\n\nBy Thy Cross, Thou didst destroy death! To the thief, Thou didst open\nParadise! For the myrrhbearers, Thou didst change weeping into joy! And\nThou didst command Thy disciples, O Christ God, to proclaim that Thou art\nrisen, granting the world great mercy!\n\n  Glory to the Father.... Now and ever....\n\nThe dominion of death can no longer hold men captive, for Christ\ndescended, shattering and destroying its powers! Hell is bound, while the\nprophets rejoice and cry: The Savior has come to those in faith! Enter,\nyou faithful, into the Resurrection!\n\n\nTone 8\n\nThou didst descend from on high, O Merciful One! Thou didst accept the\nthree-day burial to free us from our sufferings! O Lord, our Life and\nResurrection: glory to Thee!\n\n  Glory to the Father.... Now and ever....\n\nBy rising from the tomb, Thou didst raise the dead and resurrect Adam.\nEve exults in Thy Resurrection, and the world celebrates Thy rising from\nthe dead, O greatly Merciful One!\n\n_NOTE: On the eve of Great Feasts of the Lord or the Theotokos, the\nTroparion and Kontakion of the Feast are read._\n\n_After the Troparia, the Reader continues:_\n\nLord, have mercy! _(40 times)_\n\n\n\n\n                    A Prayer of St. Basil the Great\n\n\nO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time;\nWho art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the\nrighteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with\nthe promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now\noffer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our\nsouls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and\ndeliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy\nholy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach\nunity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for\nblessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nLord, have mercy! _(3 times)_\n\n  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,\n      now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nMore honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than\nthe Seraphim: without defilement you gave birth to God the Word: true\nTheotokos, we magnify you!\n\n_When a priest is serving, the Reader concludes:_\n\nBless, father, in the name of the Lord!\n\n_The priest exclaims:_\n\nO God, be gracious to us and bless us! Shine Thy countenance upon us, and\nhave mercy on us!\n\n_In the absence of a priest, a layman says:_\n\n\"Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God,\nhave mercy on us. Amen\".\n\n_In either case, the Reader, after saying_ \"Amen\", _continues with the\nfollowing:_\n\n_NOTE: During Great Lent the Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim is said at this\npoint of most services during the week (not on Saturday or Sunday). It is\nalso appropriate for Morning Prayers and the Prayers Before Sleep on the\nsame days._\n\n\nPrayer of St. Ephraim\n\nO Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of sloth, despair,\nlust of power and idle talk. _(Prostration)_\n\nBut give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to\nThy servant. _(Prostration)_\n\nYea, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own transgressions and not to\njudge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages.\n_(Prostration)_\n\nO God, cleanse me a sinner. _(12 times)_\n\n_(Then the entire Prayer of St. Ephraim is read and a single prostration\nis made at the end.)_\n\n\n\n\n                   Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos\n                            by the Monk Paul\n\n\nO undefiled, immaculate, incorrupt and most pure Lady, the pure Virgin\nBride of God! Through your most glorious birth-giving, you united God the\nWord to mankind and joined our fallen human nature to the heavenly. You\nare the only hope of the hopeless, the aid of the embattled a ready help\nto those who run to you and a refuge for all Christians. Do not turn away\nfrom me who am sinful and vile, even though I have made myself totally\nuseless through defiled thoughts, words and deeds, and my mind has become\nenslaved to the lazy pleasures of this life. As Mother of the God Who\nloves mankind, have pity on me, a prodigal sinner, in that same love for\nmankind. Receive the prayer I offer to you with defiled lips and pray to\nyour Son, our Master and Lord, with your maternal boldness. May He open\neven to me the goodness of His deep love for mankind. May He overlook my\ncountless transgressions, turn me to repentance and make me an\nexperienced accomplisher of His commandments. Stand by me always in your\nmercy, compassion and love of good. Be my fervent intercessor and help in\nthis life, driving off the assaults of enemies and guiding me to\nsalvation. Guard my wretched soul at the time of my death, driving away\nthe dark forms of the evil demons. Deliver me from eternal torments at\nthe Day of Judgment and reveal me an heir of the inexpressible glory of\nyour Son and our God. May I receive this, my Lady most glorious\nTheotokos, through your help and intercession: through the Grace and love\nfor mankind of your only-begotten Son, our Lord, God and Savior Jesus\nChrist, to Whom belong all glory, honor and worship, with His Father Who\nis without beginning, and His most holy, good and life-creating Spirit,\nnow and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n                   A Prayer to Our Lord Jesus Christ\n                         by the Monk Antiochus\n\n\nAs we prepare for sleep, Master, grant rest to our bodies and souls. Keep\nus from the dark sleep of sin and from every dark and passionate pleasure\nof the night. Still the impulses of passions and put out the flaming\narrows which the Evil One looses deceitfully against us. Still the\nrebellions of the flesh and put to sleep our worldly and material\nreasonings. O God, grant us an alert mind, chaste thoughts, a sober\nheart, and a light sleep, free of every satanic dream. Raise us at the\ntime of prayer confirmed in Thy commandments--the memory of Thy judgments\nfirmly in us. Grant that we may glorify Thee throughout this night,\nsinging, blessing and glorifying Thy most honorable and majestic name:\nthe Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of\nages. Amen.\n\n_NOTE: In churches, Compline concludes at this point with brief prayers\nand a Litany. (See the BOOK OF HOURS)_\n\n_When read privately, Compline moves into PRAYERS BEFORE SLEEP, beginning\nwith the Troparia: \"Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us....\" (page\n68)._\n\n\n\n\n                              BEFORE SLEEP\n\n\nLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure\nMother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.\n\nGlory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee!\n\nO Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere\nand fillest all things. Treasury of blessings and Giver of life: come and\nabide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O\nGood One.\n\nHoly God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us! _(3 times)_\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nO Most Holy Trinity: have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins.\nMaster, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our\ninfirmities for Thy Name's sake.\n\nLord, have mercy! _(3 times)_\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nOur Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy\nwill be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily\nbread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass\nagainst us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.\n\n_(If there is a priest, he adds the usual exclamation)_\n\n_After the AMEN, the following Troparia are sung (Tone 6) or read:_\n\nHave mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for laying aside all excuse,\nwe sinners offer to Thee, as to our Master, this supplication: have mercy\non us.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:\n\nO Lord, have mercy on us, for in Thee have we put our trust. Do not be\nangry with us, nor remember our iniquities, but look down on us even now,\nsince Thou art compassionate, and deliver us from our enemies; for Thou\nart our God and we are Thy people; we are all the work of Thy hands, and\nwe call on Thy name.\n\nNow and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nO blessed Theotokos, open the doors of compassion to us whose hope is in\nyou, that we may not perish but be delivered from adversity through you,\nwho are the salvation of the Christian people.\n\nLord, have mercy! _(12 times)_\n\n\n1st Prayer, to God the Father,\nby St. Macarius the Great\n\nO Eternal God and King of all Creation, Who hast granted me to reach this\nhour: forgive the sins I have committed this day in deed, word and\nthought. Cleanse, O Lord, my humble soul from every defilement of flesh\nand spirit. Grant, Lord, that I may pass through this night in peace.\nWhen I rise from my humble bed, may I please Thy most holy Name all the\ndays of my life and trample under foot the physical and bodiless enemies\nthat wage war against me. Deliver me, Lord, from vain thoughts which\ndefile me and from evil lusts. For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and\nthe Glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and\never and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n2nd Prayer, to Our Lord Jesus Christ\nby St. Antiochus\n\nAlmighty Word of the Father, Jesus Christ, Who art perfect: never abandon\nme, Thy servant, for Thy great mercy's sake, but ever abide in me. O\nJesus, Good Shepherd of Thy sheep, do not deliver me to the serpent's\nrebellion! Do not abandon me to Satan's will, for the seed of corruption\nis within me! Instead, O Lord God the Adored, Holy King Jesus Christ,\nkeep me while I sleep by Thy unwavering Light, Thy Holy Spirit by Whom\nThou didst sanctify Thy disciples. O Lord, grant to me, Thine unworthy\nservant, salvation on my bed. Enlighten my mind with the light of\nunderstanding Thy Holy Gospel; my soul with the love of Thy Cross; my\nheart with the purity of Thy Word; my body with Thy passionless Passion.\nKeep my thoughts with Thy humility and raise me at the right time to\nglorify Thee. For Thou art most glorified, with Thine unoriginate Father\nand Thy most Holy Spirit forever. Amen.\n\n\n3rd Prayer, to the Holy Spirit\n\nO Lord, the Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth: have\ncompassion and mercy on me, Thy sinful servant! Absolve me, who am\nunworthy. Forgive all the sins I have committed this day both in my\nhumanity and my inhumanity, behaving worse than beasts in sins voluntary\nand involuntary, known and unknown, from my youth, from evil suggestions,\nhaste and despondency. If I have sworn by Thy name or blasphemed it in\nthought; if I have reproached anyone or become angered by something; or\nslandered or saddened anyone in my anger; or have lied, or slept\nunnecessarily; or a beggar has come to me and I have despised him; or\nhave saddened my brother or quarrelled with him; or have judged someone;\nor have allowed myself to become haughty, proud or angry; or, when\nstanding in prayer, my mind has been shaken by the wickedness of this\nworld; or have entertained depraved thoughts; or have over-eaten,\nover-drunk or laughed mindlessly; or have had evil thoughts or seen the\nbeauty of someone and been wounded by it in my heart; or have spoken\ninappropriately; or have laughed at my brother's sins when my own\ntransgressions are countless; or have been indifferent to prayer; or have\ndone any other evil that I can not remember--for I have done all this and\nmore: have mercy, O Master, my Creator, on me, Thy despondent and\nunworthy servant! Absolve, remit and forgive me, in Thy goodness and love\nfor mankind, that I, who am prodigal, sinful and wretched, may lie down\nin peace and find sleep and rest. May I worship, hymn and praise Thy most\nhonorable Name, with the Father and His only-begotten Son, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n4th Prayer, of St. Macarius the Great\n\nWhat can I bring Thee? With what can I repay Thee, O Immortal King, the\nbestower of great gifts, O generous Lord, the Lover of mankind? Though I\nhave been lazy in pleasing Thee and have done no good, Thou hast brought\nme to the end of this day, ordering the conversion and salvation of my\nsoul. Be merciful towards me, a sinner devoid of any good deeds. Raise up\nmy fallen soul, defiled by immeasurable sins. Remove from me every evil\nthought of this visible life. Forgive, O only Sinless One, all the sins I\nhave committed against Thee this day, in knowledge or in ignorance, in\nword, deed or thought or through any of my senses. Covering me Thyself,\nprotect me from every assault of the enemy through Thy divine Power,\ninexpressible Love for mankind and Strength. Cleanse, O God, cleanse the\nmultitude of my sins. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me from the snares\nof the Evil One, and save my passionate soul. When Thou comest in glory,\nillumine me with the light of Thy countenance. May I fall uncondemned\ninto a sleep free of apparitions. Keep the thoughts of Thy servant\nuntroubled, and keep far from me every satanic activity. Enlighten the\nreason-endowed eyes of my heart, that I fall not into the sleep of death.\nSend to me an angel of peace, the guide and guardian of my soul and body,\nthat he may deliver me from my enemies. Then, when I arise from my bed, I\nshall offer Thee prayers of thanksgiving. Yea, Lord, hear me, Thy sinful\nservant, impoverished in will and conscience. Grant that I may learn from\nThy words when I arise. Cause Thy Angels to drive demonic despondency far\nfrom me. May I bless Thy holy Name and praise and glorify Mary, the most\npure Theotokos, whom Thou hast given to us sinners as an intercessor.\nReceive her as she prays for us. We know that she imitates Thy love for\nmankind and never ceases to pray. Through her intercessions, the Sign of\nthe Precious Cross and for the sake of all Thy saints, O Jesus Christ our\nGod, have mercy on my wretched soul, for Thou art Holy and most glorified\nunto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n5th Prayer\n\nO Lord our God, forgive all the sins I have committed this day in word,\ndeed and thought, for Thou art good and lovest mankind. Grant me a\npeaceful sleep, free of restlessness. Send Thy Guardian Angel to protect\nand keep me from all harm. For Thou art the Guardian of our souls and\nbodies, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and\nto the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n6th Prayer\n\nO Lord our God, in Whom we believe and upon Whose Name we call more than\nany other name: grant relief to our souls and bodies as we go to sleep.\nKeep us from every fantasy and dark pleasure. Halt the rushing of\npassions and quench the fiery arousals of the flesh. Grant us to live\nchastely in word and deed. Having embraced a virtuous life, may we not\nfall away from Thy promised blessings, for blessed art Thou for ever.\nAmen.\n\n\n7th Prayer, by St. John Chrysostom\n\n_Prayers of Supplication, corresponding to the twenty-four hours of day\nand night._\n\n\n                              For the Day\n\n  Lord, exclude me not from Thy heavenly blessings.\n  Lord, deliver me from eternal torments.\n  Lord, whether I have sinned in mind or thought, word or deed, forgive\n            me.\n  Lord, deliver me from all ignorance, forgetfulness, cowardice, and\n            stone-like insensitivity.\n  Lord, deliver me from every temptation.\n  Lord, enlighten my heart which evil desires have darkened.\n  Lord, as a man I have sinned: as a gracious God, have mercy on me,\n            seeing the weakness of my soul.\n  Lord, send Thy Grace to my aid, that I may glorify Thy holy name.\n  Lord Jesus Christ, inscribe me, Thy servant, in the book of life, and\n            grant me a good end.\n  Lord, my God, even though I have done nothing good before Thee, grant\n            by Thy Grace that I may make a good beginning.\n  Lord, sprinkle the dew of Thy Grace into my heart.\n  Lord of Heaven and earth, remember me, Thy sinful, shameful and impure\n            servant, in Thy Kingdom. Amen.\n\n\n                             For the Night\n\n  Lord, accept me in penitence.\n  Lord, abandon me not.\n  Lord, lead me not into temptation.\n  Lord, grant me good thoughts.\n  Lord, grant me tears, the remembrance of death and compunction.\n  Lord, grant me the thought of confessing my sins.\n  Lord, grant me humility, chastity and obedience.\n  Lord, grant me patience, courage and meekness.\n  Lord, cause the root of good to dwell in me--Thy fear in my heart.\n  Lord, grant that I may love Thee with all my soul and mind and to do\n            Thy will in all things.\n  Lord, protect me from certain people, demons and passions, and from any\n            other unseemly thing.\n  Lord, I know that Thou doest as Thou wilt: may Thy will be in me, a\n            sinner, for blessed art Thou for ever. Amen.\n\n\n8th Prayer, to our Lord Jesus Christ\n\nO Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, for the sake of Thy most honorable\nMother, Thy bodiless Angels, Thy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, the\nDivinely inspired Apostles, the bright and victorious Martyrs, the\nvenerable and God-bearing Fathers and all the Saints: deliver me from\nthis present assault of the devil. Yea, O Lord my Creator, Who desirest\nnot the death of the sinner, but that he should return to Thee and live:\ngrant repentance to me, wretched and unworthy. Snatch me from the jaws of\nthe consuming serpent, its mouth opened to devour me and take me down to\nhell alive. Yea, my Lord and my Comfort, Who didst put on corruptible\nflesh for my wretched sake: deliver me from wretchedness and bring\ncomfort to my wretched soul. Implant in my heart the accomplishment of\nThy precepts, the abandonment of evil deeds and the obtainment of Thy\nblessings. In Thee, O Lord, have I trusted: save me!\n\n\n9th Prayer, to the Most Holy Theotokos,\nby Peter, the Studite monk\n\nBefore you, the Most Pure Mother of God, I who am wretched fall down and\npray: you know, O Queen that I sin constantly and anger your Son and my\nGod. No matter how often I repent, I appear a liar before God, and repent\nwith trembling. Can God shake me and I do those same things again an hour\nlater? Knowing this, my Mistress, O Lady Theotokos, I pray: have mercy on\nme, strengthen me and grant that I may do good. You know, my Lady\nTheotokos, that I abhor my evil deeds and love the Law of my God with all\nmy mind. But, most pure Lady, I do not know how I can love what I abhor\nand turn away from what is good. Do not allow my will to be done, Most\nPure One, for it is not appropriate. May the will of your Son and my God\nbe done. May He save and enlighten me, and give me the Grace of His Holy\nSpirit, in order that I might stop sinning from this time on and live the\nremainder of my life in obedience to your Son, to Whom belongs all glory,\nhonor and majesty, with His Father Who is without beginning, and His Most\nHoly, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.\nAmen.\n\n\n10th Prayer, to the Most Holy Theotokos\n\nO Good Mother of the Good King, most pure and blessed Mary the Theotokos:\npour out the mercy of your Son and our God on my passionate soul. Direct\nme towards good deeds through your prayers, that I may pass through the\nremainder of my life without stain, and find Paradise through you, O\nVirgin Theotokos who alone are pure and blessed.\n\n\n11th Prayer, to the Holy Guardian Angel\n\nAngel of Christ, my holy guardian, the protector of my soul and body:\nforgive me for all the sins I have committed this day. Deliver me from\nall the evil of my militant Enemy, that I may not anger my God by any\nsin. Pray for me, your sinful and unworthy servant, that you may show me\nworthy of the goodness and mercy of the All-Holy Trinity, the Mother of\nmy Lord Jesus Christ and all the Saints. Amen.\n\n\nThen this Kontakion to the Theotokos\n\nO victorious leader of triumphant hosts! We your servants, delivered from\nevil, sing our grateful thanks to you, O Theotokos! As you possess\ninvincible might, set us free from every calamity so that we may sing:\nRejoice, O unwedded Bride!\n\nMost glorious ever-Virgin Mother of Christ our God, bear our prayer to\nyour Son and our God, that through you He may save our souls!\n\nAll my hope I place in you, O Mother of God: keep me under your\nprotection!\n\nVirgin Theotokos, do not despise me a sinner who craves your help and\nintercession. My soul hopes in you, have mercy on me!\n\n\nAlso the Prayer of St. Ioannikios\n\nMy Hope is the Father; my Refuge is the Son; my Protection is the Holy\nSpirit: O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee!\n\nIt is truly meet to bless you, O Theotokos, ever blessed and most pure,\nand the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and more\nglorious beyond compare than the Seraphim: without defilement you gave\nbirth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify you!\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nLord, have mercy! _(3 times)_\n\nLord, bless!\n\nLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy most\npure Mother, our venerable and God-bearing fathers and all the saints,\nsave me, a sinner. Amen.\n\n\nA Prayer of St. John of Damascus,\nsaid pointing at the bed\n\nO Master Who lovest mankind, is this bed to be my coffin? Or wilt Thou\nenlighten my wretched soul with another day? Behold: before me lies the\ncoffin, before me stands death! O Lord, I fear Thy judgment and the\nendless torments, yet I cease not to do evil. I always anger Thee, my\nLord God, and Thy most pure Mother, all the heavenly hosts and my holy\nGuardian Angel. I know, Lord, that I am unworthy of Thy love for mankind.\nIndeed, I am worthy of every condemnation and torment. Yet, Lord, save me\nwhether I want it or not! When Thou savest the righteous, it is no great\nthing. When Thou hast mercy on the pure, it causes no wonder, for they\nare worthy of Thy mercy. Astound us with Thy mercy towards me, a sinner.\nReveal in this manner Thy love for mankind, that my wickedness may not\novercome Thine inexpressible goodness and mercy. As Thou wilt, order my\nlife!\n\n_Wishing to lie down on your bed, say:_\n\nEnlighten my eyes, Christ--God, that I fall not asleep to death and that\nmy enemy may not say of me: I have overcome him.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:\n\nBe the Helper of my soul, O God, for I walk among many snares. Deliver me\nfrom them, O Good One, and save me, for Thou lovest mankind.\n\nNow and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nLet us ever hymn the most glorious Mother of God, who is holier than the\nHoly Angels. With heart and lips let us confess that she is the\nTheotokos, for she truly bore God incarnate for us and prays ceaselessly\nfor our souls.\n\n_Kiss your Cross. Then, make the Sign of the Cross over your bed, from\nhead to foot and either side, saying the Prayer to the Precious Cross:_\n\nLet God arise and let His enemies be scattered! Let those who hate Him\nflee from before His face! As smoke vanishes, so let them vanish. As wax\nmelts before the fire, so let sinners perish before the face of those who\nlove God and sign themselves with the Sign of the Cross and say joyfully:\nrejoice, most precious and life-creating Cross of the Lord, which chases\ndemons away through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ Who was nailed to\nyou, descended into hell and, having trampled down the power of the\ndevil, gave to us His precious Cross for the routing of all enemies. Help\nme for ever, most precious and life-creating Cross of the Lord, with the\nHoly Lady Virgin Theotokos and all the Saints. Amen.\n\nRemit, absolve and forgive, O God, all our voluntary and involuntary\nsins, in word and in deed, in knowledge and in ignorance, in the day or\nin the night, in mind and in thought! Forgive us everything, for Thou art\ngood and lovest mankind.\n\nO Lord Who lovest mankind, forgive those who hate and wrong us. Do good\nto those who do good. Grant to our brethren and relatives all petitions\nfor salvation and eternal life. Visit the afflicted and heal them. Guide\nthose at sea. Travel with travellers. Join the Orthodox Christians in\nbattle. Grant remission of sins to those who serve us and are kind to us.\nHave mercy, according to Thy great mercy, on those who have asked us to\npray for them, unworthy though we be. Remember, Lord, our fathers and\nbrethren who have fallen asleep before us, and give them rest under the\nlight of Thy countenance. Remember, Lord, our captive brethren, and\ndeliver them from every misfortune. Remember, Lord, those who bear fruit\nand do good works in Thy holy churches, and grant them all their\npetitions for salvation and eternal life. Remember us also, Lord, Thy\nhumble, sinful, and unworthy servants. Enlighten our minds with the light\nof Thy reason and direct us onto the path of Thy commandments, through\nthe prayers of our most Pure Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary and\nall Thy Saints, for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n                            THE THREE CANONS\n\n\n_A tradition has developed in the Church of reading three (sometimes\nfour) Canons the evening before receiving Holy Communion. Many monastic\nRules of Prayer prescribe this reading daily. Many Canons have been\ncomposed over the years, and certain Canons are prescribed for specific\ndays of the week. We have not attempted to publish a large selection of\nCanons in the limited space of what is, essentially, a \"pocket\" Prayer\nBook. We have provided three of the most commonly used Canons and printed\nthem in the order in which they are traditionally read. This order can\nalso serve as a model for combining other Canons. If these Canons are not\nread during Compline (p. 37), they are preceded by the Opening Prayers\nand Psalm 50 (pp. 37 to 41)._\n\n\n\n\n                            THE THREE CANONS\n                             ODE 1 (Tone 6)\n\n\nIrmos: Treading over the floor of the sea as over dry land, and seeing\n       their pursuer Pharaoh drown, Israel cried out: Let us sing to God\n       a song of victory!\n\n\n\n\n                          Canon of Repentance\n\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nSinful and burdened, I now approach Thee, my Master and my God. I dare\nnot look up towards heaven, but simply pray, saying: grant me, Lord, the\nsense to weep bitterly over my deeds.\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nO woe is me, a sinner! I am the most wretched of men! There is no\nrepentance in me! Grant me tears, Lord, that I may weep bitterly over my\ndeeds.\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nO senseless and wretched man, you are destroying your life in laziness!\nThink about your life and turn to the Lord God, weeping bitterly over\nyour deeds.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nO most pure Mother of God, look on me, a sinner, and deliver me from the\nsnares of the devil. Direct me onto the path of repentance, that I may\nweep bitterly over my deeds.\n\n\n\n\n                         Canon to the Theotokos\n\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nBeset by many temptations, I run to you, seeking salvation. Save me from\nburdens and evils, O Virgin Mother of the Word.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nThe increase of passions troubles me, filling my soul with great\ndespondency. Still it, O Maiden, with the stillness of your Son and God,\nO All-Undefiled One.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nI pray you, O Virgin who bore our Savior and God, deliver me from\nterrors! I run to you now, laying before you my soul and my thoughts.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nO only Mother of God, grant me, who am afflicted in body and soul, divine\nvisitation and your own concern, for you are good and gave birth to the\nGood One.\n\n\n\n\n                      Canon to the Guardian Angel\n\n\nLord Jesus Christ, my God, have mercy on me!\n\nGrant, O Savior, that Thy servant may worthily hymn and praise the\nbodiless Angel who is my instructor and guardian.\n\nHoly Angel of the Lord, my guardian, pray to God for me, a sinner!\n\nI lie alone in folly and laziness, O my instructor and Guardian. Do not\nleave me to perish!\n\nGlory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:\n\nDirect my mind, through your prayers, to accomplish the commandments of\nGod, that I may receive from God the remission of my sins. Teach me to\nhate evil, I pray you.\n\nNow and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nWith my Guardian Angel, O Virgin, pray to the Benefactor for your\nservant. Teach me to accomplish the commandments of your Son and my\nCreator.\n\n\n\n\n                                 ODE 3\n\n\nIrmos: None is holy as Thou, O Lord my God! Thou hast raised the strength\n       of Thy faithful, O Good One, and made us stand firmly on the rock\n       of Thy confession.\n\n\n\n\n                          Canon of Repentance\n\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nWhen the thrones will be set up for the dread Judgment, the deeds of all\nmen will be recalled. Alas for the sinners who will be sent to torment!\nKnowing this, my soul, repent of your evil deeds!\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nThe righteous shall rejoice, but sinners shall lament. No one will be\nable to help us at that moment--our deeds will condemn us! Before the end\ncomes, repent of your evil deeds!\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nWoe is me, a great sinner! I have defiled myself in deed and thought and\ncannot even shed a single tear in my hard-heartedness. Free yourself from\nthe earth, my soul, and repent of your evil deeds.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nYour Son calls, O Lady, and teaches us what is good. Yet I, a sinner,\nalways flee from good. Have mercy on me, nevertheless, O merciful one,\nthat I may repent of my evil deeds.\n\n\n\n\n                         Canon to the Theotokos\n\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nI hold you as the Intercessor and Protection of my life, O Virgin\nBirth-Giver of God. Pilot me to your haven, O Cause of good things, O\nonly all-hymned Support of the faithful.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nI pray, O Virgin: dispel the storm of my sorrows and spiritual turmoil.\nYou are the Bride of God who bore the Origin of stillness and alone are\nmost pure.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nPour a wealth of generosity for all, O you who bore the Benefactor, the\nCause of all good. You can do anything, for God has blessed you, the\nBearer of Christ Who is mighty in strength.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nHelp me, O Virgin, for I am cruelly tried by severe illness and painful\nafflictions. I know, Ever-Undefiled One, that you are an inexhaustible\nand generous treasury of healings.\n\n\n\n\n                      Canon to the Guardian Angel\n\n\nHoly Angel of the Lord, my Guardian, pray to God for me, a sinner!\n\nI have laid all my thoughts and my soul before you, my Guardian. Deliver\nme from every assault of the Enemy.\n\nHoly Angel of the Lord, my Guardian, pray to God for me, a sinner!\n\nThe Enemy humiliates and oppresses me and teaches me always to do his\nwill. But you, my Instructor, leave me not to perish!\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:\n\nGrant me with thanksgiving and fervor to sing a hymn to my Creator and\nGod and to you my good Guardian Angel. Free me from my oppressive\nenemies, O my Deliverer.\n\nNow and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nHeal, Most Pure One, the most painful wounds of my soul and drive off the\nenemies that are constantly warring against me.\n\nLord have mercy! (3 times)\n\n\nSessional Hymn, Tone 6\n\nI think of the Dread Day and weep over my evil deeds. How shall I answer\nthe immortal King? Or how shall a prodigal like me dare to look up at the\njudge? O compassionate Father, only-begotten Son, and Holy Spirit: have\nmercy on me!\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:\n\n\nSessional Hymn, Tone 2\n\nIn fervent love I cry to you, O Guardian of my soul, my all-holy Angel:\nprotect me and keep me always from the entrapment of the evil one. Direct\nme to the heavenly life, enlightening, illumining, and strengthening me.\n\nNow and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\nKontakion, Tone 6\n\nSteadfast protectress of Christians, constant advocate before the\nCreator: do not despise the cry of us sinners, but in your goodness come\nspeedily to help us who call on you in faith. Hasten to hear our petition\nand to intercede for us, O Theotokos, for you always protect those who\nhonor you.\n\n\n\n\n                                 ODE 4\n\n\nIrmos: \"Christ is my strength, my God and my Lord\"--the sacred Church\n       reverently sings with a mighty voice, rejoicing in the Lord.\n\n\n\n\n                          Canon of Repentance\n\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nOur present path is wide and conducive to pleasures, but bitter will the\nLast Day be when the soul will part from the body. O man, beware of those\npleasures, for the sake of the Kingdom of God.\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nWhy do you mistreat the poor? Why do you withhold the worker's pay? Why\ndo you not love your brother? Why do you pursue lust and pride? Abandon\nall that, my soul, and repent for the sake of the Kingdom of God.\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nO foolish man! How long will you bustle like a bee, gathering your\nwealth? It will soon perish like dust and ashes. Seek rather the Kingdom\nof God.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nHave mercy on me a sinner, O Lady Theotokos, and strengthen me in\nvirtues. Protect me, so that insolent death may not seize me unprepared,\nand bring me, O Virgin, to the Kingdom of God.\n\n\n\n\n                         Canon to the Theotokos\n\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nO Bride of God, who bore the Lord Pilot, still the tumult of my passions\nand the storm of my transgressions.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nGrant me the abyss of your kindness, upon which I call, O you who gave\nbirth to the Compassionate One, the Savior of those who hymn you.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nEnjoying your gifts, O Pure One, we sing a hymn of thanksgiving to you\nwhom we know to be the Mother of God.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nAs you love good, O Theotokos, the only ever-Virgin, help me as I lie on\nmy bed of illness and infirmity.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nWe are delivered from every difficulty, O All-Hymned One, for we have you\nas our hope, our confirmation, and immovable wall.\n\n\n\n\n                      Canon to the Guardian Angel\n\n\nHoly Angel of the Lord, my Guardian, pray to God for me, a sinner!\n\nPray to God Who loves mankind, my Guardian, and do not abandon me! Keep\nmy life in peace and grant me invincible salvation.\n\nHoly Angel of the Lord, my Guardian, pray to God for me, a sinner!\n\nI received you from God, holy Angel, as a helper and guardian of my life.\nFree me from all harm, I pray you!\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:\n\nCleanse my vileness with your holiness, my Guardian! May I be excluded\nfrom the left side through your prayers and become a partaker of glory.\n\nNow and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nI am bewildered by the evils that surround me, Most Pure One. Deliver me\nfrom them quickly, for I run only to you.\n\n\n\n\n                                 ODE 5\n\n\nIrmos: I pray Thee, O Good One: Enlighten with Thy Divine Light the souls\n       which look to Thee from early dawn, that they may know Thee, O\n       Word of God, as the True God Who calls them out from the darkness\n       of sin.\n\n\n\n\n                          Canon of Repentance\n\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nRemember, wretched man, how you have been enslaved to lies, slander,\ncrime, infirmities, and wild beasts because of your sins. Is this what\nyou wanted, my sinful soul?\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nMy members tremble, for I have been guilty through all of them: my eyes\nby seeing, my ears by hearing, my tongue by speaking evil, surrendering\nmy whole self to Gehenna. Is this what you wanted, my sinful soul?\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nThou didst receive the Prodigal and the thief who repented, O Savior. I\nalone have been weighed down by sinful laziness and submitted to evil\ndeeds. Is this what you wanted my sinful soul?\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nO Mother of God, the wondrous and swift helper of all mankind, help me,\nthe unworthy, for this is what my sinful soul wants!\n\n\n\n\n                         Canon to the Theotokos\n\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nFill my heart with joy, O Pure One who bore the Cause of Joy, by giving\nus your incorruptible joy.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nDeliver us from harm, Pure Theotokos who bore the Eternal Redemption and\nthe Peace which passes all understanding.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nLessen the gloom of my transgressions with the enlightenment of your\nbrightness, O Bride of God who bore the divine and eternal Light.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nHeal the infirmity of my soul by granting me your visitation, O Pure One,\nand grant me wholeness by your prayers.\n\n\n\n\n                      Canon to the Guardian Angel\n\n\nHoly Angel of the Lord, my Guardian, pray to God for me, a sinner!\n\nSince you have boldness before God, my holy Guardian, pray to Him for my\ndeliverance from the evils that harm me.\n\nHoly Angel of the Lord, my Guardian, pray to God for me, a sinner!\n\nBrightly illumine my soul, O bright Light, the Angel given to me by God,\nmy instructor and guardian.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:\n\nThough I sleep in the evil weight of sin, protect me as one who keeps\nvigil, O Angel of God, and rouse me to praise through your prayers.\n\nNow and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nO Lady Mary, the unwedded Theotokos and hope of the faithful: Cast down\nthe arrogance of the Enemy and give joy to those who hymn you.\n\n\n\n\n                                 ODE 6\n\n\nIrmos: Beholding the Sea of Life raging with the storm of temptations, I\n       have fled to Thy calm haven and cry to Thee: Deliver my life from\n       destruction, O Most-merciful One!\n\n\n\n\n                          Canon of Repentance\n\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nI have lived my life on earth prodigally and committed my soul to\ndarkness. Now, O Merciful Master, I pray: free me from the Enemy's labor\nand give me the intelligence to do Thy will.\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nWho does what I do? As a pig wallows in mud, so do I serve sin! Pull me\nout of this mire, Lord, and give me the heart to accomplish Thy\ncommandments.\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nLift yourself towards God, wretched man, recalling your transgressions!\nFall down before the Creator with tears and groans! Being merciful, He\nwill give you the mind to know His will.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nKeep us from both visible and invisible harm, O Virgin Theotokos! Receive\nmy prayers, Most Pure One, and bear them to your Son, that He may give me\nthe mind to do His will.\n\n\n\n\n                         Canon to the Theotokos\n\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nMy nature was captive of death and corruption, O Virgin, but your Son and\nLord saved it from both by surrendering Himself to death. Pray to Him for\nmy deliverance from the evil deeds of my enemies.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nI know that you are the Intercessor of my life, O Virgin, my firm\nProtectress, healing the rebellions of temptations and dispelling the\nwiles of demons. I pray constantly that you will deliver me from my\ndestructive passions.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nWe have obtained you, O Maiden, as a wall of refuge and a most thorough\nsalvation of souls. The multitude of human sorrows is not too great for\nyou, and we ever rejoice in your illumination. Save us now, O Lady, from\npassions and misfortunes.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nI am lying on a bed of infirmity and there is no cure for my flesh. But I\npray to you, the Good One who bore the God and Savior of the world: raise\nme from the destruction of illnesses.\n\n\n\n\n                      Canon to the Guardian Angel\n\n\nHoly Angel of the Lord, my Guardian, pray to God for me, a sinner!\n\nI pray to you, holy Angel whom God has give to me as my good guardian:\nfree me from every temptation!\n\nHoly Angel of the Lord, my Guardian, pray to God for me, a sinner!\n\nShine light on my mind, O good one, and enlighten me! I pray you, holy\nAngel: teach me always to have wholesome thoughts.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:\n\nDeliver my heart from this present noise, O my Guardian, and strengthen\nme to keep a good vigil, wondrously instructing me towards life-giving\nstillness.\n\nNow and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nThe Word of God dwelt in you, O Theotokos, and showed you to mankind as a\nLadder to Heaven. Through you, He Who is on high came down to us.\n\nLord, have mercy! (3 times)\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nunto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\nKontakion, Tone 6\n\nO my soul, why do you enrich yourself with sins? Why do you do the\nDevil's will? In what have you put your hope? Cease all this and turn to\nGod, weeping and crying: O compassionate Lord, have mercy on me, a\nsinner!\n\n\nIkos\n\nContemplate, my soul, the bitter hour of death and the dread judgment of\nyour Creator and God. Threatening angels will seize you, my soul, and\nlead you to eternal flames. Repent before your death, therefore, crying:\nO Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner!\n\n\n\n\n                                 ODE 7\n\n\nIrmos: The Angel made the furnace a source of dew for the pious youths,\n       and the Will of God, which burned the Chaldeans, made the\n       persecutor call out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!\n\n\n\n\n                          Canon of Repentance\n\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nPut not your hope in corruptible wealth, my soul, nor in things unjustly\ngathered. You do not know to whom you will leave it all. Instead, cry\nout: O Christ God, have mercy on me, the unworthy!\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nRemember, my soul, both the eternal life and the Heavenly Kingdom\nprepared for the saints and the outer darkness and divine wrath prepared\nfor the wicked. Then cry out: O Christ God, have mercy on me, the\nunworthy!\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nDo not count on physical health, my soul, nor on fleeting beauty. You see\nhow both the strong and the young die. Instead, cry out: O Christ God,\nhave mercy on me, the unworthy!\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nFall down before the Mother of God, my soul, and pray to her, for she is\nthe swift helper of penitents. She will entreat her Son, Christ God, and\nHe will have mercy on me, the unworthy!\n\n\n\n\n                         Canon to the Theotokos\n\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nDesiring to establish our salvation, O Savior, Thou didst enter the\nVirgin's womb, showing her as the Intercessor for the world. Blessed art\nThou, O God of our Fathers!\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nPray to Him Who is mercifully disposed and Whom you bore, O Pure Mother,\nthat we may be delivered from transgressions and defilement of soul, who\ncry out with faith: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nThou didst show her who gave birth to Thee as a source of healing, a\nstrong pillar, and a gate of repentance for those who cry out: Blessed\nart Thou, O God of our fathers!\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nGrant healing from physical weakness and spiritual infirmities to those\nwho draw near to your Protection with love, O Virgin Birthgiver of God,\nwho bore Christ the Savior for us.\n\n\n\n\n                      Canon to the Guardian Angel\n\n\nHoly Angel of the Lord, my Guardian, pray to God for me, a sinner!\n\nHave pity on me, Angel of the Lord, and pray to God for me, for He has\ngiven you to me forever as a helper, instructor, and guardian throughout\nmy life.\n\nHoly Angel of the Lord, my Guardian, pray to God for me, a sinner!\n\nGod entrusted my wretched soul to you undefiled, Holy Angel. Do not let\nit be killed by thieves on its journey, but direct it rather to the path\nof repentance.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:\n\nI bring my soul, completely shamed by my evil thoughts and deeds. Hasten\nto me, my Instructor, and grant me the healing of good thoughts which\nlead me forever on the right path.\n\nNow and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nFor the sake of the Theotokos, O Personal Wisdom of the Most High, fill\nwith wisdom and divine strength those who cry out: Blessed art Thou, O\nGod of our fathers!\n\n\n\n\n                                 ODE 8\n\n\nIrmos: Thou didst cause dew to pour from the flames over the pious\n       youths, and didst burn the sacrifice of a righteous man with\n       water--for Thou doest all things, O Christ, by Thy Will alone. We\n       exalt Thee throughout all ages.\n\n\n\n\n                          Canon of Repentance\n\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nHow can I not weep when I think of death? I have seen my brother lying in\nthe tomb without glory and without form. What can I expect? What can I\nhope? Only grant me, Lord, repentance before the end. _(twice)_\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nI believe that Thou wilt come to judge the living and the dead, and that\neveryone will stand in his rank: the old and the young; masters and\nprinces; virgins and priests. Where will I find myself? Therefore, I cry\nout: grant me, Lord, repentance before the end.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nReceive my unworthy prayer, Most Pure Theotokos. Keep me from sudden\ndeath, and grant me repentance before the end.\n\n\n\n\n                         Canon to the Theotokos\n\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nO Virgin, do not disdain those who need your help, hymning and exalting\nyou forever.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nYou heal the infirmities of my soul and the illnesses of my body, O\nVirgin, that I may glorify you, O Pure One, forever.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nYou pour an abundance of healing, O Virgin, on those who hymn you with\nfaith and exalt your inexpressible birth-giving.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nYou chase away the wiles of temptation and the onsets of passions, O\nVirgin. We therefore hymn you forever.\n\n\n\n\n                      Canon to the Guardian Angel\n\n\nHoly Angel of the Lord, my Guardian, pray to God for me, a sinner!\n\nMost good Angel, sent from God: strengthen my life and never abandon me.\n\nHoly Angel of the Lord, my Guardian, pray to God for me, a sinner!\n\nI hymn you forever, most blessed and good Angel, the Instructor and\nGuardian of my soul.\n\nWe bless the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Lord:\n\nBe my protection and rampart on the day when all mankind will be tried\nand all deeds will be tested, both the good and the bad.\n\nNow and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nBe the help and stillness of your servant, Ever-Virgin Theotokos, and\nnever release me from your service.\n\n\n\n\n                                 ODE 9\n\n\nIrmos: No man can see God, upon Whom the Angelic ranks dare not gaze. But\n       through you, O Pure One, the Incarnate Word was revealed to\n       mankind. Magnifying Him with the heavenly hosts, we call you\n       blessed.\n\n\n\n\n                          Canon of Repentance\n\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nI now turn to you, angels, archangels, and all the heavenly host who\nstand by the throne of God: pray to your Creator that He deliver my soul\nfrom eternal torments.\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nI now weep before you, holy patriarchs, kings and prophets, apostles and\nhierarchs, and all the elect of Christ: help me at the Judgment, that my\nsoul be saved from the strength of the Enemy.\n\nHave mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!\n\nI now lift up my hands to you, holy martyrs, desert-dwellers, virgins,\nrighteous ones, and all saints who pray to the Lord for the whole world:\nmay He have mercy on me at the hour of my death.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nHelp me, Mother of God, for I have great hope in you! Pray to your Son,\nthat when He sits to judge the living and the dead, He may place me at\nHis right hand, even though I am unworthy.\n\n\n\n\n                         Canon to the Theotokos\n\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nO Virgin who bore Christ and wipes away every tear from every face: turn\nnot away from my flowing tears.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nO Virgin who received the fullness of joy which destroyed the sorrow of\nsin: fill my heart with joy!\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nBe a haven and intercession, an indestructible wall, a refuge, protection\nand rejoicing for those who run to you, O Virgin.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nEnlighten with the rays of your light those who in the True Faith confess\nyou to be the Theotokos, O Virgin, dispelling the darkness of ignorance.\n\nMost Holy Theotokos, save us!\n\nHeal me, O Virgin, as I lie humbled on the place of misfortune, bringing\nme from illness to health.\n\n\n\n\n                      Canon to the Guardian Angel\n\n\nLord Jesus Christ, my God, have mercy on me!\n\nHave mercy on me, my only Savior, since Thou art merciful and\ncompassionate, and join me to the choir of the Just.\n\nHoly Angel of the Lord, my Guardian, pray to God for me, a sinner!\n\nGrant that I may always think and do what is good and useful, O Angel of\nthe Lord, and show me to be strong and spotless in weakness.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:\n\nSince you are bold before the Heavenly King, pray to Him with all the\nbodiless powers, that He may have mercy on me, a wretch.\n\nNow and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nYou have great boldness before the One Who took flesh from you, O Virgin.\nRemove me from my fetters and grant me freedom and salvation through your\nprayers.\n\n\n\n\n                CANON IN PREPARATION FOR HOLY COMMUNION\n\n\n\n\n                             ODE 1 (Tone 2)\n\n\nIrmos: Come, O People, let us sing a hymn to Christ God, Who divided the\n       sea and guided the people Whom He led out of the bondage of Egypt,\n       for He has glorified Himself.\n\nCreate in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within\nme.\n\nMay Thy Holy Body and Precious Blood, O Lord, be my Bread of everlasting\nlife, healing me of various afflictions.\n\nCast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.\n\nMake me worthy to partake of Thy most pure Body and Divine Blood, O\nChrist, for I am unworthy and accursed, defiled by unseemly deeds.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nYou are the good soil, blessed Bride of God, which bore the ear of grain,\nthe Savior of the world, which sprang from your untilled field. Grant\nthat I may be saved by eating it.\n\n\n\n\n                                 ODE 3\n\n\nIrmos: Having established me on the rock of faith, Thou hast strengthened\n       me against my enemies. My spirit rejoices when I sing: There is\n       none holy as our God, and none more righteous than Thou, O Lord!\n\nCreate in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within\nme.\n\nGive me tears, O Christ, to cleanse the filth from my heart. Then,\ncleansed and with a good conscience, may I come with fear and faith to\npartake of Thy Divine Gifts, O Master.\n\nCast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.\n\nO Lover of mankind, may Thy most pure Body and Divine Blood be for the\nremission of my sins, the communion of the Holy Spirit, life everlasting,\nand estrangement from passions and sorrows.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nMost holy Table of the Heavenly Bread which mercifully came down from on\nhigh, giving new life to the world; grant that I, who am unworthy, may\nnow taste of Him in fear and live!\n\n\n\n\n                                 ODE 4\n\n\nIrmos: Thou didst not come as an emissary or an angel, Lord, but from a\n       Virgin, taking flesh and saving the fulness of my humanity. I\n       therefore call out to Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!\n\nCreate in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within\nme.\n\nBecause of human sins, Thou didst will to be slaughtered like a lamb,\nMost Merciful One Who wast incarnate for us. I pray, therefore: cleanse\nmy sins as well.\n\nCast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.\n\nHeal the wounds of my soul, Lord, and fully sanctify me. Grant, Master,\nthat I, who am wretched, may partake of Thy Divine Mystical Supper.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nIncline towards me, O Lady, the One Who came from your womb. Keep me,\nyour servant, undefiled and spotless, that I may be sanctified by\nreceiving the spiritual pearl.\n\n\n\n\n                                 ODE 5\n\n\nIrmos: Guide us in the light of Thy commandments, O Lord, the Giver of\n       Light and Creator of the Universe. For we know no other God than\n       Thee.\n\nCreate in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within\nme.\n\nAs Thou didst foretell, O Christ, so may it be with Thine inadequate\nservant, and abide in me according to Thy promise: for behold, I eat Thy\nFlesh and drink Thy Blood.\n\nCast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.\n\nMay the burning coal of Thy Body, O God and Word of God, be a light in my\ndarkness, and may Thy Blood be the cleansing of my defiled soul.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nO Mary, Mother of God, precious Tabernacle of the divine Fragrance: make\nme a chosen vessel, by your prayers, that I may partake of the\nconsecrated elements of your Son.\n\n\n\n\n                                 ODE 6\n\n\nIrmos: Sunk in the depths of sin, I call on the unfathomable abyss of Thy\n       compassion: Deliver me from destruction, O God!\n\nCreate in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within\nme.\n\nSanctify my mind, soul, heart, and body, O Savior! Grant, Master, that I\nmay draw near, uncondemned, to the dread Mysteries.\n\nCast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.\n\nBy partaking of Thy Holy Mysteries, O Christ, may I be estranged from\npassions, joined to Thy Grace, and confirmed in life.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nThrough the prayers of Thy holy Mother, O God, the Holy Word of God,\nsanctify me wholly as I come to Thy divine Mysteries.\n\nLord, have mercy! (3 times)\n\nGlory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\nKontakion, Tone 2:\n\nDo not judge me unworthy to receive Thy Body and Divine Blood at this\ntime. May the communion of Thy most pure and dread Mysteries not be to my\ncondemnation, though I am wretched. Be it rather for eternal and\neverlasting life.\n\n\n\n\n                                 ODE 7\n\n\nIrmos: The most wise youths would not serve the golden idol, but walked\n       into the flames themselves, scorning the pagan gods. They sang\n       amid the flames and an Angel bedewed them with the words: The\n       prayer of your lips has been heard.\n\nCreate in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within\nme.\n\nMay this communion of Thine immortal Mysteries, the fountain of good, O\nChrist, be my light, my life, and my dispassion. May it lead to progress\nand the increase of divine virtues, only Good One, that I may glorify\nThee.\n\nCast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.\n\nAs I draw near to Thine immortal and divine Mysteries with love and\ntrembling, may I be delivered from passions, enemies, want, and every\nsorrow. Grant that I may sing to Thee: blessed art Thou, Lord God of our\nfathers.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nTo you who are full of the Grace of God and bore Christ the Savior beyond\nunderstanding, I your servant pray--the impure praying to the Pure One:\ncleanse me, who now wish to draw near to the most pure Mysteries, from\nall defilement of flesh and spirit.\n\n\n\n\n                                 ODE 8\n\n\nIrmos: God came down upon the Hebrew youths in the fiery furnace and\n       changed the flames into dew. Praise the acts of the Lord, and\n       exalt Him throughout all ages!\n\nCreate in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within\nme.\n\nO God, my Savior, allow me in my present despair to be a partaker of Thy\nheavenly, awesome, and holy Mysteries and of Thy divine and mystical\nsupper, O Christ.\n\nCast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.\n\nHaving run to Thy kindness, O Good One, I cry out to Thee in fear: be in\nme and I in Thee, as Thou didst say, O Savior! Behold: emboldened by Thy\nmercy, I eat Thy Flesh and drink Thy Blood.\n\nLet us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Lord; now\nand ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nI tremble when I partake of fire, for fear that I might burn like wax or\ngrass. O the awesome Mysteries! O the kind-heartedness of God! How can I,\nwho am clay, commune of the Divine Body and Blood and become\nincorruptible?\n\n\n\n\n                                 ODE 9\n\n\nIrmos: Our God and Lord, the Son of the Eternal Father, revealed Himself\n       to us. He was incarnate of a Virgin that He might enlighten those\n       in darkness and gather those who were scattered. We therefore\n       magnify the all-hymned Theotokos.\n\nCreate in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within\nme.\n\nTaste and see that this is Christ, the Lord Who of old became like us for\nus and Who, having once offered Himself as an offering to His Father, is\nforever immolated, sanctifying communicants.\n\nCast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.\n\nMay I be sanctified in soul and body, Master! May I be enlightened! May I\nbe saved! May I become Thy dwelling through communion of the Sacred\nMysteries, having Thee living in me with the Father and the Spirit, O\nMost Merciful Benefactor!\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.\n\nMay Thy Body and Most Pure Blood, my Savior, be to me as fire and light.\nMay they set flame to my sinful matter, burning the thorns of passions\nand fully enlightening me to worship Thy Divinity.\n\nNow and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nGod took flesh of your pure blood. Every race therefore hymns you, O\nTheotokos, and the intelligent multitudes glorify you, for through you we\nbeheld the Ruler of all becoming substance in humanity.\n\n\n\n\n               PRAYERS IN PREPARATION FOR HOLY COMMUNION\n\n\nLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure\nMother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.\n\n_A priest uses the following:_\n\nBlessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nGlory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.\n\nO Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth Who art everywhere\nand fillest all things. Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life: Come and\nabide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O\nGood One.\n\nHoly God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us. _(3 times)_\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nO Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us! Lord, cleanse us from our sins!\nMaster, pardon our transgressions! Holy One, visit and heal our\ninfirmities for Thy name's sake.\n\nLord, have mercy! _(3 times)_\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nOur Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come.\nThy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily\nbread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass\nagainst us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.\n\n_(If there is a priest, he adds the usual exclamation)_\n\nLord, have mercy! _(12 times)_\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n_NOTE: When the Prayers in Preparation for Holy Communion are read\nimmediately after Morning Prayers, we begin the former at this point._\n\nCome, let us worship God our King!\n\nCome, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God!\n\nCome, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and\nour God!\n\n\n\n\n                                Psalm 22\n\n\n  The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;\n      He makes me lie down in green pastures.\n  He leads me beside still waters;\n      He restores my soul.\n  He leads me in paths of righteousness\n      for His name's sake.\n  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death\n      I fear no evil;\n  for Thou art with me;\n      Thy rod and Thy staff,\n      they comfort me.\n  Thou preparest a Table before me\n      in the presence of my enemies;\n  Thou anointest my head with oil,\n      and most excellent is Thy Cup\n      which brings me joy!\n  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me\n      all the days of my life;\n  and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord\n      for ever.\n\n\n\n\n                                Psalm 23\n\n\n  The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof,\n      the world and those who dwell therein;\n  for He has founded it upon the seas,\n      and established it upon the rivers.\n  Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?\n      And who shall stand in His holy place?\n  He who has clean hands and a pure heart,\n      who does not lift up his soul to what is false,\n      and does not swear deceitfully.\n  He will receive blessing from the Lord,\n      and vindication from the God of his salvation.\n  Such is the generation of those who seek Him,\n      who seek the face of the God of Jacob.\n  Lift up your heads, O gates!\n      and be lifted up, O ancient doors!\n      that the King of glory may come in.\n  Who is the King of glory?\n      The Lord, strong and mighty,\n      the Lord, mighty in battle!\n  Lift up your heads, O gates!\n      and be lifted up, O ancient doors!\n      that the King of glory may come in.\n  Who is this King of glory?\n      The Lord of hosts,\n      He is the King of glory!\n\n\n\n\n                               Psalm 115\n\n\n  I kept my faith, even when I said,\n      \"I am greatly afflicted\";\n  I said in my consternation,\n      \"Every man is a liar.\"\n  What shall I render to the Lord\n      for all His bounty to me?\n  I will lift up the Cup of Salvation\n      and call on the name of the Lord,\n  I will pay my vows to the Lord\n      in the presence of all His people.\n  Precious in the sight of the Lord\n      is the death of His saints.\n  O Lord, I am Thy servant;\n      I am Thy servant, the son of Thy handmaid.\n      Thou hast loosed my bonds.\n  I will offer to Thee the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving\n      and call on the name of the Lord.\n  I will pay my vows to the Lord\n      in the presence of all His people,\n  in the courts of the house of the Lord,\n      in your midst, O Jerusalem.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and\never, and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nAlleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to Thee, O God! _(3 times)_\n\n_And the following TROPARIA, TONE 8:_\n\nDisregard my iniquities, O Lord Who wast born of a Virgin! Cleanse my\nheart and make it a temple of Thy most pure Body and Blood. Turn me not\naway from Thy countenance, for Thy great mercy is immeasurable.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:\n\nHow dare I partake of Thy Holiness in my unworthiness? Even if I dare to\napproach Thee with the worthy, my garment accuses me, for it is not a\nwedding-garment, and I secure the condemnation of my most sinful soul.\nCleanse, O Lord, the defilement of my soul and save me, for Thou lovest\nmankind.\n\nNow and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nGreat is the multitude of my sins, O Theotokos! I come to you, O Pure\nOne, in need of salvation. Visit my ailing soul, O You who alone are\nblessed, and pray to your Son and our God that He absolve the evil I have\ndone.\n\n_NOTE: On Great and Holy Thursday, the following TROPARION is used, in\nTONE 8:_\n\nWhen the glorious disciples were enlightened at the washing of their feet\nbefore the supper, then the impious Judas was darkened, ailing with\navarice, and to the lawless judges he betrayed Thee, the Righteous Judge.\nBehold, O lover of money, this man who because of money hanged himself.\nFlee from the greedy soul which dared such things against the Master. O\nLord Who art good towards all men, glory to Thee!\n\n_If the Canon of Preparation for Holy Communion has not been read the\npreceding evening, it may be read here._\n\n  Lord, have mercy! _(40 times, with as many prostrations as desired)_\n\n_Then, we read the following Verses of Instruction:_\n\n  When you intend, O man, to eat the Master's Body,\n      Approach with fear, lest you be burned--for It is fire!\n  Before drinking the Divine Blood in Communion,\n      Make peace with those who have grieved you.\n  Only then may you dare\n      To eat the Mystical Food.\n\n_We also add the following verses:_\n\n  Before partaking of the Dread Sacrifice,\n      The life-giving Body of the Master,\n  Pray, trembling, in this manner:\n\n\n1st Prayer, of Saint Basil the Great.\n\nO Lord and Master, Jesus Christ our God, the Fountain of life and\nimmortality, the Creator of everything visible and invisible, the eternal\nand everlasting Son of the eternal Father: Thou hast come in these latter\ndays because of the abundance of Thy goodness. Thou hast put on our human\nflesh and wast crucified and buried for us thankless and graceless men,\nand through Thine own blood Thou hast renewed our human nature which is\ncorrupted by sin. And now, O Immortal King, accept the repentance of me a\nsinner, and incline Thine ear to me and listen to my words:\n\nI have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned before heaven and before Thy face,\nand I am not worthy to look upon the height of Thy Glory.\n\nI have provoked Thy goodness, I have transgressed Thy commandments, I\nhave not obeyed Thy statutes.\n\nBut, O Lord, since Thou dost not remember evil, but art long-suffering\nand of great mercy, Thou hast not given me over to destruction for my\nlawlessness, but hast ever awaited my conversion.\n\nO Lover of mankind, Thou hast said by Thy prophets: \"I have no pleasure\nin the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and\nlive.\"\n\nFor Thou dost not wish, O Master, that the work of Thy hands should\nperish, neither dost Thou take pleasure in the destruction of men, but\nThou desirest that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of\nthe truth.\n\nTherefore, although I am unworthy both of heaven and of earth and of this\npassing life, having wholly yielded myself to sin and defiled Thine\nimage, yet being Thy creature and of Thy making, I do not despair of my\nsalvation in my wickedness. But made bold by Thine infinite compassion, I\ndraw near.\n\nReceive me, O Christ Who lovest mankind, as Thou didst receive the\nprostitute, the thief, the tax-collector and the prodigal. Take away the\nheavy burden of my sins, for Thou takest away the sins of the world, Thou\nhealest the infirmities of mankind, Thou callest to Thyself and givest\nrest to those who labor and are heavy laden.\n\nThou hast not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.\nCleanse me from every stain of flesh and spirit. Teach me to fulfill\nholiness in fear of Thee, that having the testimony of my own conscience\nclean, and having communion of Thy holy things, I may be united with Thy\nBody and Blood and may have Thee to dwell and abide in me, with the\nFather and Thy Holy Spirit.\n\nO Lord Jesus Christ my God, may the communion of Thy most pure and\nlife-creating mysteries not bring me into judgment, nor may I become weak\nin soul and body by partaking in an unworthy manner, but grant me to\nreceive communion of Thy holy things without condemnation even to my very\nlast breath, and by them to receive communion of the Holy Spirit,\nprovision for the journey of eternal life, and an acceptable answer at\nThy dread judgment seat; that I, together with all Thy chosen ones, may\nalso be a partaker of the incorruptible blessings which Thou hast\nprepared for those who love thee, O Lord, in whom Thou art glorified\nforever. Amen.\n\n\n2nd Prayer, of St. John Chrysostom\n\nO Lord my God, I know that I am not worthy nor sufficiently pleasing that\nThou shouldst come under the roof of the house of my soul for it is\nentirely desolate and fallen in ruin, and Thou wilt not find in me a\nplace worthy to lay Thy head. But as Thou didst humble Thyself from on\nhigh for our sake, so now humble Thyself to my lowliness.\n\nAs Thou didst deign to lie in a cavern, in a manger of dumb beasts, so\nnow deign to enter into the manger of my beastly soul, and into my soiled\nbody.\n\nAs Thou didst not disdain to enter and to eat with sinners in the house\nof Simon the leper, so now be pleased to enter into the house of my soul,\nhumble and leprous and sinful.\n\nAs Thou didst not cast away the sinful woman who came to touch Thee, so\nhave compassion on me a sinner who comes to touch Thee.\n\nAs Thou didst not abhor the kiss of her sin-stained and unclean mouth, do\nnot abhor my mouth, worse stained and more unclean than hers, nor my\nstained and shamed and unclean lips, nor my still more impure tongue.\n\nBut let the fiery coal of Thy most pure Body and Thy most precious Blood\nbring me sanctification, enlightenment and strengthening of my lowly soul\nand body, relief from the burden of my many transgressions, protection\nagainst every action of the devil, repulsion and victory over my wicked\nand evil habits, mortification of my passions, accomplishment of Thy\ncommandments, increase of Thy divine grace, and inheritance of Thy\nKingdom.\n\nFor I do not come to Thee in presumption, O Christ my God, but made bold\nby Thine inexpressible goodness, lest I stray far away from Thy flock, O\nMaster, and become caught by the wolf of souls.\n\nTherefore, I pray Thee, O Master, for Thou alone art holy: sanctify my\nsoul and body, my mind and heart, my muscles and bones. Renew me\nentirely. Implant Thy fear in my fleshly members and let Thy\nsanctification never be removed from me.\n\nBe my helper and defender, guide my life in peace and make me worthy to\nstand at Thy right hand with all Thy saints.\n\nBy the prayers and supplications of Thy most pure Mother, of Thy\nspiritual servants, the most pure angelic powers, and of all the saints\nwho have been well-pleasing to Thee. Amen.\n\n\n3rd Prayer, of St. Simeon Metaphrastes\n\nO only pure and incorruptible Lord! Because of the inexpressible mercy of\nThy love for mankind, Thou didst take to Thyself our entire human\ncomposition from the pure blood of the Virgin who gave birth to Thee\nbeyond nature, by the descent of the Holy Spirit and the good-will of the\never-existing Father.\n\nO Christ Jesus, Wisdom of God and Peace and Power, through the human\nnature which Thou didst take to Thyself, Thou didst suffer the\nlife-creating and saving passion: the Cross, the nails, the spear--death\nitself. Put to death in me the soul-destroying passions of the body.\n\nThrough Thy burial Thou didst capture the kingdom of death. Bury in me\nthe evil devices of the devil with good thoughts, and destroy the spirits\nof evil.\n\nThrough Thy life-bringing Resurrection Thou didst raise up the first\nfather who had fallen. Raise me up who am sunk down in sin and give me\nthe image of repentance.\n\nThrough Thy glorious Ascension Thou didst deify the flesh which Thou\ndidst assume, and placed it on the throne at the Father's right hand.\nGrant me to receive a place at the right hand with the saved through\ncommunion of Thy holy mysteries.\n\nThrough the coming of Thy Spirit, the Comforter, Thou didst make Thy\nconsecrated disciples to be honorable vessels. Show me also to be the\nreceptacle of His coming.\n\nThou hast promised to come again to judge the world in righteousness.\nGrant that I may go to meet Thee in the clouds, my Judge and Creator,\nwith all Thy saints; that I may glorify and praise Thee without end,\ntogether with Thy Father Who is without beginning, and Thy most holy and\ngood and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n4th Prayer, of St. John of Damascus\n\nO Lord and Master Jesus Christ our God, Who alone hast power to absolve\nmen from their sins, for Thou art good and lovest mankind: forgive all my\ntransgressions done in knowledge or in ignorance, and make me worthy\nwithout condemnation to have communion of Thy divine and glorious and\npure and life-creating mysteries. Let them not be for my punishment, or\nfor the increase of my sins. But let them be for my purification and\nsanctification, as a promise of the life and Kingdom to come, a defense\nand a help and a repulsion of every attacker and the removal of my many\ntransgressions. For Thou art a God of mercy and generosity and love for\nmankind, and to Thee we ascribe glory, with the Father and the Holy\nSpirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n5th Prayer, of St. Basil the Great\n\nI know, O Lord, that I have communion unworthily of Thy most pure Body\nand Thy most precious Blood, and that I am guilty and drink condemnation\nto myself not discerning Thy Body and Blood, O my Christ and God. But\ndaring upon Thy generous loving-kindness I come to Thee Who hast said:\n\"He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him.\" Be\nmerciful, therefore, O Lord, and do not rebuke me, a sinner, but deal\nwith me according to Thy mercy, and let Thy holy things be for my\npurification and healing, for enlightenment and protection, for the\nrepulsion of every tempting thought and action of the devil which works\nspiritually in my fleshly members. Let them be for boldness and love for\nThee, for the correction and grounding of my life, for the increase of\nvirtue and perfection, for the fulfillment of Thy commandments, for the\ncommunion of the Holy Spirit, for the journey of eternal life, for a good\nand acceptable answer at Thy dread judgment, but not for judgment or\ncondemnation. Amen.\n\n\n6th Prayer, of St. Simeon the New Theologian\n\n  From lips defiled\n  and a vile heart,\n  from an impure tongue\n  and a soul defiled,\n  receive my prayer, O my Christ,\n  and do not despise\n  my words, my appearance,\n  nor my shamelessness.\n  Grant me the boldness, my Christ,\n  to say what I desire\n  Even more--teach me\n  what to do and say.\n  I have sinned more than the harlot\n  who, on learning where Thou wast,\n  bought myrrh and came boldly\n  to anoint thy feet, my God,\n  my Master and my Christ.\n  As Thou didst not turn her away\n  when she came with her heart,\n  so, O Word, turn me not away,\n  but give me Thy feet\n  to hold, to kiss,\n  and to anoint boldly\n  with a stream of tears\n  as a precious ointment.\n  Wash me with my tears, O Word,\n  and cleanse me with them!\n  Remit my transgressions\n  and grant me forgiveness.\n  Thou knowest the multitude of my evil:\n  Thou knowest also my wounds!\n  Thou seest my scars:\n  Thou knowest also my faith!\n  Thou seest my intentions\n  and hearest my sighs.\n  Nothing is hidden from Thee,\n  my God, my Maker, my Redeemer--\n  not even a tear-drop\n  or part of that drop.\n  Thine eyes have seen\n  that which I have not yet done.\n  Thou hast inscribed in Thy book\n  things yet to happen.\n  See my humility!\n  See each of my labors and all of my sins!\n  Absolve me, O God of all,\n  that with a pure heart,\n  trembling thoughts\n  and a contrite soul\n  I may partake of Thine undefiled\n  and most holy Mysteries\n  which enliven and deify\n  all who partake of them\n  with a pure heart.\n  Thou hast said, O Master:\n  \"Whoever eats my Body\n  and drinks my Blood\n  abides in me\n  and I in him!\"\n  True is every word\n  of my Master and God!\n  When I partake of Thy divine\n  and deifying Grace,\n  I am no longer alone--\n  I am with Thee, my Christ,\n  the Light of the Triple Sun\n  which enlightens the world.\n  May I not remain alone--\n  without Thee, O Life-Giver,\n  My Breath, my Life and my Joy,\n  the salvation of the world.\n  I approach Thee, therefore,\n  with tears, as Thou seest,\n  and a contrite soul.\n  I beg to receive\n  deliverance from my sins.\n  May I partake uncondemned\n  of Thy life-giving\n  and spotless Mysteries,\n  that Thou mayest abide,\n  as Thou hast said,\n  with me, the thrice-wretched.\n  May the Tempter not find me\n  without Thy Grace\n  and seize me deceitfully\n  and lead me, deceived,\n  from Thy deifying words.\n  Therefore, I fall down before Thee\n  and fervently cry:\n  as Thou didst receive the Prodigal\n  and the harlot who came to Thee,\n  O Gracious One, receive me,\n  prodigal and defiled.\n  With a contrite soul\n  I approach Thee now:\n  I know, O Savior, that no-one has sinned\n  against Thee as I have,\n  nor done the deeds\n  that I have done.\n  But I also know\n  that neither the greatness of my\n  transgressions\n  nor the multitude of my sins\n  surpass the great patience of my God\n  and His extreme love for mankind.\n  Through Thy merciful compassion\n  Thou dost cleanse and brighten\n  those who repent with fervor,\n  making them partakers of Light\n  and full communicants\n  of Thy Divinity.\n  To the astonishment of angels\n  and human minds,\n  Thou dost converse with them often\n  as with Thy true friends.\n  This makes me bold, my Christ,\n  this gives me wings!\n  Emboldened by the wealth\n  of Thy generosity towards us,\n  with both joy and trepidation,\n  I who am grass\n  partake of fire.\n  O strange wonder!\n  I am sprinkled with dew\n  and am not burned,\n  as the bush burned of old\n  without being consumed.\n  With grateful thoughts\n  and a grateful heart,\n  with my grateful members,\n  my soul and my body,\n  I now fall down and worship\n  and glorify Thee, my God,\n  for blessed art Thou,\n  now and for ever.\n\n\n7th Prayer, of St. John Chrysostom\n\nO God, absolve, remit and pardon me my transgressions--as many sins as I\nhave committed by word or action or thought, willingly or unwillingly,\nconsciously or unconsciously; forgive me everything since Thou art good\nand lovest mankind. And by the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, of Thy\nspiritual servants, the holy angelic powers and all the saints, who from\nall ages have been well-pleasing to Thee, be pleased to allow me to\nreceive Thy most pure Body and Thy most precious Blood for the healing of\nmy soul and body, and the purification of my evil thoughts. For Thine is\nthe Kingdom and the power and the glory with the Father and the Holy\nSpirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n8th Prayer, of St. John Chrysostom\n\nI am not worthy, Master and Lord, that Thou shouldst enter under the roof\nof my soul; yet inasmuch as Thou desirest to live in me as the Lover of\nmankind, I approach with boldness. Thou hast commanded: Let the doors be\nopened which Thou alone hast made and Thou shalt enter with Thy love for\nmankind just as Thou art. Thou shalt enter and enlighten my darkened\nreasoning. I believe that Thou wilt do this. For Thou didst not cast away\nthe prostitute who came to Thee with tears, neither didst Thou turn away\nthe tax-collector who repented, nor didst Thou reject the thief who\nacknowledged Thy Kingdom, nor didst Thou forsake the repentant\npersecutor, the Apostle Paul, even as he was. But all who came to Thee in\nrepentance Thou didst unite to the ranks of Thy friends, Who alone art\nblessed forever, now and unto the endless ages. Amen.\n\n\n9th Prayer, of St. John Chrysostom\n\nO Lord Jesus Christ my God, absolve, loose, cleanse and forgive me Thy\nsinful and useless and unworthy servant my errors, transgressions and\nsinful failing as many as I have committed from my youth up to this\npresent day and hour, consciously and unconsciously, in words or actions\nor reasonings, thoughts, pursuits and in all my senses. By the prayers of\nThy Mother the most pure and ever-virgin Mary who gave birth to Thee\nwithout human seed, my only hope which will not put me to shame, my\nintercessor and salvation, grant me to have communion without\ncondemnation of Thy most pure, immortal, life-creating and awesome\nmysteries; for the remission of sins and unto life everlasting; for\nsanctification, enlightenment, strength, healing and health of soul and\nbody; for the most perfect removal and destruction of my evil thoughts\nand reasonings and intentions, fantasies by night, brought by dark and\nevil spirits; for Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory and\nthe honor and the worship with the Father and Thy Holy Spirit, now and\never and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n10th Prayer, of St. John of Damascus\n\nI stand before the doors of Thy temple, and I do not forsake my wicked\nthoughts. But, O Christ my God, as Thou hast justified the tax-collector,\nand hast had mercy on the woman of Canaan and hast opened the gates of\nparadise to the thief, open to me the interior depths of Thy love for\nmankind and receive me as I come and repent before Thee. Receive me as\nThou didst receive the sinful woman and the woman with the flow of blood.\nFor the first embraced Thy most pure feet and received the forgiveness of\nher sins, and the second just touched the hem of Thy garment and received\nhealing. But I who am lost, daring to receive Thy whole Body, may I not\nbe burned; but receive me as Thou hast received them, and enlighten my\nspiritual senses, burning up my spiritual faults by the prayers of her\nwho gave birth to Thee without human seed, and of the heavenly angelic\npowers, for Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\nAnother Prayer of St. John Chrysostom\n\nI believe, O Lord, and I confess that Thou art truly the Christ, the Son\nof the living God Who camest into the world to save sinners, of whom I\nam first. I believe also that this is truly Thine own most pure Body, and\nthat this is truly Thine own precious Blood. Therefore, I pray Thee: have\nmercy upon me and forgive my transgressions both voluntary and\ninvoluntary, of word and of deed, committed in knowledge or in ignorance.\nAnd make me worthy to partake without condemnation of Thy most pure\nMysteries, for the remission of my sins, and unto life everlasting. Amen.\n\n_As you approach to partake, say silently the following verses of\nMetaphrastes:_\n\n  Behold: I draw near to the Divine Communion.\n      Burn me not as I partake, O Creator,\n  For Thou art a Fire which burns the unworthy.\n      Rather, cleanse me of all defilement.\n\n_Then say:_\n\nOf Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me this day as a\ncommunicant; for I will not speak of Thy Mystery to Thine enemies,\nneither like Judas will I give Thee a kiss; but like the thief will I\nconfess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom.\n\n_And the following verses:_\n\n  Be awed, O man, when you see the deifying Blood!\n      It is a fire which burns the unworthy!\n  The Divine Body both deifies and nourishes me.\n      It deifies the spirit and wondrously nourishes the mind.\n\n_Then, the following Troparia:_\n\nWith love hast Thou drawn me, O Christ, and with Thy divine love hast\nThou changed me. Burn away my sins with a spiritual fire and satisfy me\nwith joy in Thee, that I may joyfully magnify Thy two comings, O Good\nOne.\n\nHow shall I, who am unworthy, enter into the radiance of Thy saints? If I\ndare to enter the bridal-chamber, my garment accuses me, for it is not a\nwedding garment, and the angels will bind me and cast me out. Cleanse, O\nLord, the filth of my soul and save me, for Thou lovest mankind.\n\n_And this prayer:_\n\nO Master Who lovest mankind! O Lord Jesus Christ my God! May these holy\nthings not be to my condemnation, though I am unworthy of them. May they\nbe for the cleansing and sanctification of my soul and body and a pledge\nof the life and Kingdom that are to come.\n\nIt is good for me to cleave to God and to place in the Lord the hope of\nmy salvation\n\n_Then repeat:_\n\nOf Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, accept me this day as a\ncommunicant; for I will not speak of Thy Mystery to Thine enemies,\nneither like Judas will I give Thee a kiss; but like the thief will I\nconfess Thee: remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom.\n\n\n\n\n                PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AFTER COMMUNION\n\n\nGlory to Thee, O God! Glory to Thee, O God! Glory to Thee, O God!\n\nI thank Thee, O Lord my God, for Thou hast not rejected me, a sinner, but\nhast made me worthy to be a partaker of Thy holy things. I thank Thee,\nfor Thou hast permitted me, the unworthy, to commune of Thy most pure and\nheavenly Gifts. But, O Master, Who lovest mankind, Who for our sakes\ndidst die and rise again, and gavest us these awesome and life-creating\nMysteries for the good and sanctification of our souls and bodies; let\nthem be for the healing of soul and body, the repelling of every\nadversary, the illumining of the eyes of my heart, the peace of my\nspiritual powers, a faith unashamed, a love unfeigned, the fulfilling of\nwisdom, the observing of Thy commandments, the receiving of Thy Divine\nGrace, and the attaining of Thy Kingdom. Preserved by them in Thy\nholiness, may I always remember Thy Grace and live not for myself alone,\nbut for Thee, our Master and Benefactor. May I pass from this life in the\nhope of eternal life, and so attain to the everlasting rest, where the\nvoice of those who feast is unceasing, and the gladness of those who\nbehold the goodness of Thy countenance is unending. For Thou art the true\ndesire and the ineffable joy of those who love Thee, O Christ our God,\nand all creation sings of Thy praise forever. Amen.\n\n\nA Prayer of Saint Basil the Great\n\nO Master Christ our God, King of the Ages, Maker of all things: I thank\nThee for all the good things Thou hast given me, especially for the\ncommunion with Thy most pure and life-creating Mysteries. I pray Thee, O\ngracious Lover of Man: preserve me under Thy protection, beneath the\nshadow of Thy wings. Enable me even to my last breath, to partake\nworthily and with a pure conscience of Thy holy things, for the remission\nof sins and unto life eternal. For Thou art the Bread of Life, the\nFountain of Holiness, the Giver of all Good; to Thee we ascribe glory,\nwith the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.\nAmen.\n\n\nA Prayer by Saint Simeon Metaphrastes\n\nFreely Thou hast given me Thy Body for my food, O Thou Who art a fire\nconsuming the unworthy. Consume me not, O my Creator, but instead enter\ninto my members, my veins, my heart. Consume the thorns of my\ntransgressions. Cleanse my soul and sanctify my reasonings. Make firm my\nknees and body. Illumine my five senses. Nail me to the fear of Thee.\nAlways protect, guard, and keep me from soul-destroying words and deeds.\nCleanse me, purify me, and adorn me. Give me understanding and\nillumination. Show me to be a temple of Thy One Spirit and not the home\nof many sins. May every evil thing, every carnal passion flee from me as\nfrom a fire as I become Thy tabernacle through communion. I offer Thee as\nintercessors all the saints: the leaders of the bodiless hosts, Thy\nForerunner, the wise apostles, and Thy pure and blameless Mother. Accept\ntheir prayers in Thy love, O my Christ, and make me, Thy servant, a child\nof light. For Thou art the only Sanctification and Light of our souls, O\nGood One, and to Thee, our Master and God, we ascribe glory day by day.\n\n\nAnother Prayer\n\nO Lord Jesus Christ our God: let Thy holy Body be my eternal life; Thy\nprecious Blood, my remission of sins. Let this Eucharist be my joy,\nhealth, and gladness. Make me, a sinner, worthy to stand on the right\nhand of Thy glory at Thine awesome second Coming, through the prayers of\nThy most pure Mother and of all the saints.\n\n\nA Prayer to the Theotokos\n\nO most holy Lady Theotokos, the light of my darkened soul, my hope, my\nprotection, my refuge, my rest, and my joy: I thank you, for you have\npermitted me, the unworthy, to be a partaker of the most pure Body and\nprecious Blood of your Son. Give the light of understanding to the eyes\nof my heart, you that gave birth to the True Light. Enliven me who am\ndeadened by sin, you that gave birth to the Fountain of Immortality. Have\nmercy on me, O loving Mother of the merciful God. Grant me compunction\nand contrition of heart, humility in my thoughts, and a release from the\nslavery of my own reasonings. And enable me, even to my last breath, to\nreceive the sanctification of the most pure Mysteries, for the healing of\nsoul and body. Grant me tears of repentance and confession, that I may\nglorify you all the days of my life, for you are blessed and greatly\nglorified forever. Amen.\n\nLord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy\nword. For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared\nbefore the face of all people: a light to enlighten the Gentiles and to\nbe the glory of Thy people, Israel.\n\nHoly God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us. _(3 times)_\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nO most-holy Trinity, have mercy on us! O Lord, cleanse us from our sins!\nO Master, pardon our transgressions! O Holy One, visit and heal our\ninfirmities, for Thy name's sake.\n\nLord, have mercy! _(3 times)_\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nOur Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come.\nThy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily\nbread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass\nagainst us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.\n\n_(If there is a priest, he adds the usual exclamation.)_\n\n\nAt the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom\n\nGrace shining forth from your lips like a beacon has enlightened the\nuniverse. It has shown to the world the riches of poverty. It has\nrevealed to us the heights of humility. Teaching us by your words, O\nFather John Chrysostom, intercede before the Word, Christ our God, to\nsave our souls.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:\n\nYou received Divine Grace from Heaven, all blessed and venerable John\nChrysostom, and taught all by your mouth to worship one God in the\nTrinity. We praise you worthily, for you are an instructor who reveals\nthings divine.\n\n                            * * * * * * * *\n\n\nAt the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great\n\nYour proclamation has gone out into all the earth, for it was divinely\ntaught by hearing your voice. You expounded the nature of creatures and\nennobled the manners of men. O holy father of royal priesthood, entreat\nChrist God that our souls may be saved.\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:\n\nYou were revealed as the sure foundation of the Church, granting all men\na lord-ship which cannot be taken away, sealing it with your precepts, O\nvenerable and heavenly father.\n\n                            * * * * * * * *\n\n\nAt the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts\nTroparion of Saint Gregory the Dialogist\n\nThe truth of things revealed you to your flock as a rule of faith, an\nIcon of meekness, and a teacher of abstinence. You thus reached the\nheights through humility and wealth through poverty. O holy hierarch,\nfather Gregory, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.\n\n                            * * * * * * * *\n\nNow and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nSteadfast protectress of Christians, constant advocate before the\nCreator: do not despise the cry of us sinners, but in your goodness come\nspeedily to help us who call on you in faith. Hasten to hear our petition\nand to intercede for us, O Theotokos, for you always protect those who\nhonor you.\n\nLord, have mercy! _(12 times)_\n\nGlory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever\nand unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\nMore honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than\nthe Seraphim: without defilement you gave birth to God the Word. True\nTheotokos, we magnify you.\n\n_The priest pronounces the dismissal._\n\n\nST. TIKHON'S SEMINARY PRESS\n1982\n\n\n\n\n<pre id=\"pg-footer\">","title":"Orthodox Daily Prayers","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":25093}