Introduction

Prayer, according to the definition given by Saint Filaret of Moscow (Orthodox Catechism, Part II, 2), “is the lifting up of the mind and heart to God, expressed through a person’s reverent words to God.” It is precisely in prayer that our soul, entering into communion with its Creator, begins to live according to the laws of the Kingdom of Heaven, partaking of that eternal life whose essence lies in communion with God and the knowledge of God (John 17:3). It is clear how important it is for a Christian to acquire a genuine experience of prayer, the ultimate goal of which is the fulfillment of the apostolic commandment: “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17).

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself gave His disciples not only instructions on prayer but also a model of prayer—what the Church calls “the prayer of prayers”—which encompasses everything we can and should pray for. (Matt. 6:9–13; Luke 11:2–4). The Lord’s Prayer also became the first prayer rule known to us: in the 1st–2nd-century CE text *The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles* (*Didache*, Chapter VIII), this prayer is recommended to be recited three times a day. Over time, the Church began to record the prayerful experiences of the saints so that those less advanced in the practice of prayer might have examples of perfect prayer before their eyes. Especially with the rise of monastic life (4th century), not only were numerous exemplary models of prayer compiled, but also rules defining the order of both liturgical worship and private (i.e., domestic) prayer. Over the course of many centuries and right up to the present day, a multitude of such rules and prayer guidelines have emerged. Some of them are known only from written sources, while others remain in general ecclesiastical use to this day. One need only recall the rule printed at the end of the liturgical Psalter, given by an angel to St. Pachomius the Great (+c. 348), or the rule of St. Seraphim of Sarov (+1833), which he prescribed for the sisters of the Diveyevo Convent.

In our time, when only a few members of the Church have the opportunity to participate regularly in daily church services, the importance of prayer at home has grown significantly. Here, the Orthodox Church—without in any way denying the possibility for everyone to pray in their own words that come from the heart—nevertheless recommends that its members, first and foremost, adhere to a specific prayer rule—that is, a known and established number and order of prayers for each person.

The specific content and scope of the prayer rule are determined individually, usually on the advice of a spiritual father, in accordance with the Christian’s spiritual “maturity” and life circumstances.

Currently, laypeople generally recite morning prayers and prayers before going to sleep daily—either in full or in an abridged form. As part of the prayerful preparation for Holy Communion, it is usually recommended to read three canons on the day before Communion: the Penitential Canon to Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Supplicatory Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos, and the Canon to the Guardian Angel. Also, after the evening service, the Rule for Holy Communion (excluding the prayers) is read, along with the usual evening rule. In the morning, before the Divine Liturgy, the morning prayers and the prayers before Holy Communion are recited. After the Liturgy, either in church or at home, the prayers of thanksgiving after Holy Communion are recited.

The Orthodox Church, while emphasizing the need to follow the “rule” and thereby learn from the saints’ experience of prayer, assumes that the meaning of the prayers is clear to the person praying. This is precisely why the possibility—and at times the necessity—of translating the Holy Scriptures and liturgical texts into various languages has always been recognized. And the Russian language can be no exception here.

Of course, difficulties in understanding the meaning of prayers arise primarily among people who have recently joined the Church and lack a background in philology. For them, reading prayers in Russian significantly facilitates “building bridges” between modern secular culture and the patristic prayer practice and the Church’s liturgical tradition. However, it is no secret that even for those who are quite familiar with church life, many passages and phrases in the prayers remain incomprehensible or, worse still, are misunderstood.

We hope this edition will help such people not only to understand the meaning of the prayers but also to become more deeply attuned to the treasury of Orthodox prayer. It includes a brief prayer book containing all the prayers listed above, which are essential for every Orthodox Christian. The prayers have been translated partly from the original Greek (when it was available to us) and partly from Slavonic, in cases where these texts are used exclusively in the Slavonic liturgical tradition. Thus, from the Greek have been translated the beginning of the morning prayers, up to and including the Creed, as well as Morning Prayers 7 and 8; from the evening service—the penitential troparia, the kondak to the Mother of God, and the four subsequent brief prayers; the supplicatory canon to the Most Holy Theotokos, the service for Holy Communion (with the exception of the 7th prayer), and the prayers of thanksgiving. We have endeavored to ensure that our translation, in terms of vocabulary and syntax, does not stray too far from the familiar Church Slavonic text and is rhythmically similar to it. Words added by the translator for clarity of meaning are given in italics. Words present in the Greek text but absent from the Slavonic are given in square brackets, while words found only in the Slavonic text are given in round brackets.

The second part of this edition consists of the Psalter—a book of Holy Scripture that occupies a truly exceptional place in the liturgical life of the Church and is truly a “school of prayer.”

The Psalter (from the Greek Yalt»rion—a stringed instrument resembling a lyre or harp) is one of the books of the Old Testament. In Hebrew, it is called the Book of Praises and consists of a collection of 150 psalms (Psalm 151 is known only in Greek)—poetic works intended for performance with musical accompaniment—a reference to this is preserved in the titles of the psalms.

Tradition attributes most of the Psalms to King David, the psalmist (c. 1000 B.C.). In the Hebrew text, 73 psalms bear his name, while in the Greek text, 84 do. However, there are psalms attributed to the sons of Korah—a dynasty of temple singers (10 psalms)—as well as to David’s contemporaries, the Levites Asaph (12 psalms), his brother Heman (Psalm 87), and another singer, Ephan (Psalm 88). Psalm 89 is attributed to Moses, and Psalms 71 and 126 to Solomon. The authors of the remaining psalms are unknown.

The content of the psalms is very diverse. The psalmists were inspired by both historical events and the vicissitudes of personal life, which direct a person toward the one source of hope; by the soul’s longing for God, imbued with repentance; by its gratitude for God’s inexhaustible goodness; and by its rapture at the Creator’s majesty, His omnipotence and wisdom, and the perfection of His creation. And these quiet sighs and triumphant hymns of praise are heard at times as if in solitude, and at other times taken up by the choir of the praying people. And above all this longing for God, above all personal and worldly sorrow and spiritual joy, one cherished thought reigns supreme, one eager expectation—the coming Messiah, at the thought of whom the psalmist’s spirit is filled with prophetic power.

For Christians, the hope for the coming of the Messiah was fulfilled with the coming of Jesus Christ. Texts from the Book of Psalms are constantly quoted in the New Testament, most frequently Psalm 109. The New Testament and Christian tradition attribute Psalms 2, 8, 15, 21, 39, 40, 44, 67, 68, 97, and individual verses from many other psalms to Christ. The Christian Church has incorporated the psalms into its worship without alteration—without changing the words, but with a significant enrichment of their meaning: the teachings of Christ, the Last Supper, the Passion, and the Resurrection deepened the understanding of the psalms, confirmed their prophetic insights, and fulfilled to the full all the hopes of Old Testament humanity.

Both in the early Christian and patristic eras, the Psalter served as an excellent guide to prayer and the glorification of God. In the early centuries, Christians inspired themselves to acts of piety by singing the psalms; the psalms sustained them during persecutions and gave them the strength to bear their sufferings courageously; and the psalms served as edification for them during their rest and amid their various labors and occupations.

The Book of Psalms was translated into Greek along with other books of Holy Scripture, according to tradition, by 72 scholars in Alexandria around 285–246 B.C. or somewhat later. This translation is called the Septuagint (from the Latin Septuaginta—70, abbreviated LXX). It enjoyed great authority among Greek-speaking Jews and later became the officially accepted version of the Old Testament in the Christian Church. The Old Testament is quoted in the New Testament based on the LXX; the Church Fathers of the early centuries used this translation.

The Slavic apostles Constantine (Cyril) and Methodius were among the first to translate the Psalter, rendering the Greek translation of the LXX literally into Slavonic. As Christianity took root in Rus’, the Book of Psalms became the people’s favorite book. People learn to read and write using the Psalter; no devout book lover can do without the Psalter; the Psalter is read over the deceased. All Old Russian literature is replete with references to the Psalter.

In the church, the Psalter is read at every morning and evening service and is read in its entirety over the course of a week and twice a week during Great Lent. Numerous direct and indirect quotations from the Psalms are found in the liturgical texts of the Orthodox Church.

Unfortunately, at present, the Church Slavonic text of the Psalter is largely incomprehensible to most Christians. This gap cannot be filled by the existing Synodal translation of the Bible into Russian, for it was made from the ancient Hebrew Masoretic text and therefore differs in many places from the Church Slavonic text, which goes back to the LXX. Furthermore, as a text intended for home reading, it is essentially a prosaic, line-by-line rendering of the poetic text of the Psalms. The same applies to the recently republished translation by P. A. Yungerov (1915), which was also based on the LXX text.

This translation seeks, to some extent, to overcome these shortcomings. The Greek text of the LXX is rendered literally where this does not detract from the clarity of meaning. Passages where a literal translation does not convey a satisfactory meaning are paraphrased in accordance with the understanding of the Church Fathers and with the greatest possible fidelity to the original.

In cases of textual variations in the Greek text, the versions corresponding to the Church Slavonic Psalter were adopted. The verse numbering also differs in places from the Synodal Translation of the Bible. Words added for the sake of coherence and clarity of meaning—as in the prayer book—are set in italics.

The primary goal of the translation was to convey the meaning, rather than to produce a literary or poetic translation that reflects the stylistic features of the original. However, the rhythm of the text has been brought as close as possible to that of the Church Slavonic version.

In accordance with the liturgical regulations of the Orthodox Church, the text of the Psalter in this edition is divided into kathismas and “glories.”

The psalms are accompanied by troparia and prayers intended for home recitation of the psalms, as found in the Church Slavonic Psalter. These texts have been translated from Church Slavonic.

At the end, there is a liturgical order for reading the Psalter for the departed and for the health of the living, with the corresponding prayers.

Hieromonk Ambrose (Timrot).

To the Table of Contents.

MORNING PRAYERS

Upon rising from sleep, before doing anything else, stand reverently, presenting yourself before the All-Seeing God, and, making the sign of the cross, say: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Then wait a moment until all your senses have settled into stillness and your thoughts have turned away from all earthly matters; then recite the prescribed brief prayers with bows, without haste and with heartfelt attention.

Next, read the opening prayers, and after the Lord’s Prayer:

Troparia to the Most Holy Trinity

Having risen from sleep, we fall down before You, O Good One, / and we sing the angelic hymn to You, O Mighty One: / “Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O God, / through the prayers of the Mother of God, have mercy on us!”

Glory: You have raised me from my bed and from sleep, O Lord! / Enlighten my mind and my heart, / and open my lips, / that I may sing Your praises, Holy Trinity: / “Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O God, / through the prayers of the Mother of God, have mercy on us!”

And now: The Judge will come suddenly, / and the deeds of each person will be revealed. / But in fear we will cry out at midnight: / “Holy, Holy, Holy are You, O God, / through the prayers of the Mother of God, have mercy on us!”

Lord, have mercy. (12)

Prayer to the Holy Trinity

Having awakened from sleep, I thank You, Holy Trinity, that through Your great goodness and long-suffering, You, O God, have not been angry with me, lazy and sinful as I am, nor have You destroyed me for my transgressions, but have shown me Your customary love for mankind and raised me up from my slumber so that I might turn to You early in the morning and glorify Your power. And , enlighten now the eyes of my mind, open my lips, that I may learn Your word, understand Your commandments, do Your will, and sing, glorifying You from my heart, and extol Your all-holy name, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.1

Come, let us worship our King, our God.

Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ, our King and God.

Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ Himself, our King and God.

Psalm 50

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions; wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You alone have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight—so that You may be justified in Your words and prevail when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and my mother bore me in sin. For behold, You have loved truth; You have revealed to me the hidden and secret things of Your wisdom. You will sprinkle me with hyssop—and I will be cleansed; You will wash me—and I will be whiter than snow; You will let me hear joy and gladness—and my humbled bones will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your mighty Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your ways, and the ungodly will turn to You. Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, O God of my salvation; then my tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. Lord, You will open my lips, and my lips will proclaim Your praise. For if You had desired sacrifices, I would have offered them—but You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. O Lord, in Your favor , be gracious to Zion, and may the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt—then You will accept with favor the sacrifice of righteousness, the offering and the burnt offerings; then they will lay young bulls upon Your altar.

The Creed

1. I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-Begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father, through whom all things were made.

3. Who, for our sake, mankind, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man.

4. Who was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried.

5. And He rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures.

6. And ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

7. And who will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.

8. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father, who is worshiped and glorified together with the Father and the Son, who spoke through the prophets.

9. In the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

10. I acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

11. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead

12. and life in the world to come. Amen.

Prayer 1, St. Macarius the Great*

O God, purify me, a sinner, for I have never done anything good before You, but deliver me from evil, and may Your will be done in me, so that I may not open my unworthy lips to my own condemnation, but to praise Your holy name, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 2, by the same author*

Rising from sleep, I offer You the midnight hymn, Savior, and falling at Your feet, I cry out to You: do not let me fall asleep in sinful death, but have mercy on me, You who willingly endured the crucifixion, and quickly lift me up, as I lie carelessly, and save me as I stand before You in prayer. And after the night’s sleep, grant me a clear, sinless day, Christ our God, and save me.

Prayer 3, by the same author*

To You, O Lord, Lover of mankind, I hasten after rising from sleep, and I set about works pleasing to You, through Your mercy, and I pray to You: help me at all times, in every deed, and deliver me from every evil vicissitude in this world and from the devil’s interference, and save me, and bring me into Your eternal Kingdom. For You are my Creator and the Provider and Giver of every good thing. In You is all my hope, and to You I send up glory, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 4, by the same author*

Lord, by Your great goodness and Your abundant mercy, You have granted me, Your servant, to pass through the night without harm from any evil of the enemy. You Yourself, O Lord, Creator of all things, grant me Your true light and an enlightened heart to do Your will, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 5, St. Basil the Great

O Lord Almighty, God of the incorporeal Powers and of all flesh, dwelling in the heights of heaven and looking down upon the valleys of the earth, who tests both hearts and inner feelings and clearly knows the secrets of men, the beginningless and eternal Light, in Whom there is no change nor shadow of turning! You Yourself, O immortal King, accept our prayers, which we, boldly trusting in Your many mercies, now [at night] offer to You from our impure lips, and forgive us our sins—in deed, word, and in thought, whether committed knowingly or in ignorance, and purify us from every defilement of flesh and spirit, [making us temples of Your Holy Spirit]. And grant that we may pass through the entire night of our present life with watchful hearts and sober minds, awaiting the coming of the bright day of the manifestation of Your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, when He, the Judge of all, will come to earth in glory to reward each person according to his deeds; may He find us not fallen or slothful, but watchful and uplifted, fulfilling His commandments, and ready to enter with Him into the joy and divine palace of His glory, where there is unceasing rejoicing and inexpressible delight as we contemplate the unspeakable beauty of Your face. For You are the true Light, enlightening and sanctifying all things, and all creation sings Your praises forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 6, by the same author

We bless You, Most High God and Lord of mercy, who always works great and incomprehensible deeds among us—glorious and awesome deeds beyond number—and who has granted us sleep for the repose of our weakness and for rest from the labors of our weary flesh. We give You thanks, for You have not destroyed us because of our iniquities, but have shown Your love for mankind, as You always do, and have roused us, who lie in the insensibility of sleep, to glorify Your might. Therefore, we beseech Your boundless goodness: enlighten the eyes of our minds and rouse our minds from the heavy sleep of carelessness. Open our mouths and fill them with praise to You, so that we may sing unshakably, [praise] and glorify You, O God, glorified in all and by all, the Father without beginning, together with Your only-begotten Son and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 7. Midnight Hymn
to the Most Holy Theotokos*

I sing of Your grace, O Lady; I pray to You, grace my mind. Guide me to walk the straight path of Christ’s commandments. Strengthen me, that I may remain vigilant in song, driving away the sleep of despondency. O Bride of God, free me from the bonds of sin through Your prayers. Keep me safe by day and night, delivering me from the attacks of my enemies. You who gave birth to God, the Giver of Life, revive me, who am deadened by passions. You who gave birth to the Unwaning Light, enlighten my blinded soul. O wondrous Palace of the Lord, make me a dwelling place for the divine Spirit. You who gave birth to the Healer, heal the long-standing passions of my soul. As I am tossed about by the waves of life’s storm, guide me onto the path of repentance. Deliver me from eternal fire, the evil worm, and Hades. May I not become a source of joy to the demons, guilty of many sins. Renew me, O Immaculate One, who has grown feeble from imperceptible sins. Keep me free from every torment and intercede for me before the Lord. Grant that I may share in the heavenly joy with all the saints. Most Holy Virgin, hear the voice of Your unworthy servant! Grant me streams of tears, Most Pure One, to cleanse the defilement of my soul. I offer You constant groans from my heart—be zealous, O Lady! Accept my prayerful service and bring it before the merciful God. You who are exalted above the angels, lift me up above worldly turmoil. Light-bearing Heavenly Tabernacle, direct spiritual grace within me. I lift up my hands and lips in praise, though defiled by impurity, O All-Pure One. Deliver me from soul-destroying abominations, earnestly interceding with Christ—to Him be honor and worship now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 8,
to our Lord Jesus Christ*

My most merciful and all-merciful God, Lord Jesus Christ, out of great love You came down and became incarnate to save all. And again, Savior, I beseech You: save me by Your grace! For if You could save me by my works, it would not be grace and a gift, but rather a duty. So, O You who are rich in compassion and inexpressible in mercy—for You have said, O my Christ: “Whoever believes in Me will live and never see death”—if faith in You saves those who have lost hope, then behold, I believe; save me, for You are my God and my Creator. May my faith be counted in my favor instead of my deeds, my God, for You will find no deeds that justify me. But let this faith of mine be sufficient in place of all of them—let it answer for me, let it justify me, let it show me to be a partaker of Your eternal glory. May Satan not snatch me away, nor boast that he has torn me away from Your hand and protection, O Word of God. But whether I want to or not, save me, Christ, my Savior; come quickly to my aid, hasten—I am perishing—for You are my God from my mother’s womb! Grant me, O Lord, to love You now, just as I once loved that very sin, and to serve You anew without laziness, zealously, just as I once served Satan—the deceiver. I will serve You, Lord and my God Jesus Christ, constantly throughout all the days of my life, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 9, to the Angel,
Guardian of Human Life*

Holy Angel, appointed to guard my poor soul and wretched life, do not forsake me, a sinner, and do not turn away from me because of my intemperance. Do not allow the evil demon to rule over me through this mortal body. Take firmly my wretched and fallen hand and lead me onto the path of salvation. O Holy Angel of God, guardian and protector of my poor soul and body! Forgive me for all the ways I have offended You throughout my life, and if I have sinned in this past night, defend me today and preserve me from every temptation of the enemy, so that I may not provoke God to anger by any sin, and pray for me to the Lord, that He may strengthen me in His fear and show me to be a servant worthy of His goodness. Amen.

Prayer 10.
Closing Morning Prayer
to the Most Holy Mother of God*

Most Holy Lady, Mother of God, through Your holy and all-powerful intercessions, drive away from me, Your humble and wretched servant, despondency, forgetfulness, foolishness, sloth, and all evil, deceitful, and blasphemous thoughts from my poor heart and my clouded mind, and quench the flame of my passions, for I am wretched and miserable. And deliver me from many and pernicious memories and intentions, and free me from all evil deeds, for all generations bless You, and Your most honored name is glorified forever and ever. Amen.

A Prayer of Invocation to the Saint,
whose name you bear

Pray to God for me, holy servant of God (or: holy servantess of God) (name)*, for I earnestly turn to you, swift helper and intercessor (or: swift helperess and intercessoress) for my soul.

*or: Holy Apostle (Martyr, Saint, etc.) (name)

Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos

Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God; / O grace-filled Mary, the Lord is with you! / Blessed are you among women, / and blessed is the Fruit of your womb, / for you have given birth to the Savior of our souls.

Troparion to the Cross
and a prayer for the Fatherland

Save, O Lord, Your people / and bless Your inheritance, / granting victory to Orthodox Christians* over foreign nations / and preserving Your people through Your Cross.

*Greek: to the kings

Prayer for the Living

Save, O Lord, and have mercy on my spiritual father (name), my parents (names), my relatives (names), my superiors, mentors, benefactors (their names), and all Orthodox Christians.

For the departed

Grant rest, O Lord, to the souls of Your departed servants: my parents (names), relatives, benefactors (their names), and all Orthodox Christians; forgive them all their sins, both voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven.

If possible, read the memorial service instead of the brief prayers for the living and the departed.

After this, the closing prayers are recited.

Note

1 If you are reciting the morning prayers together with the Midnight Office, then after the prayer to the Most Holy Trinity, recite prayers 1 through 4, followed by the entire sequence of the Midnight Office, including prayers 5 and 6; after the concluding prayer of the second part of Matins, “Remember, O Lord:,” recite prayers 7 through 10, followed by “O Glorious Ever-Virgin:” and the conclusion of Matins.

Back to Table of Contents.

PRAYERS BEFORE SLEEP

Priest: Blessed be our God always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Reader: Amen. Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Heavenly King: The Holy Trinity. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:

Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom: Reader: Amen.

Penitential Troparia, Tone 6

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, / for, finding no excuse for ourselves, / we sinners offer this prayer to You, our Master: / “Have mercy on us!”

Glory: O Lord, have mercy on us, for we trust in You; / do not be greatly angered against us / and do not remember our iniquities; / but look upon us now, as the Merciful One, / and deliver us from our enemies. / For You are our God, and we are Your people; / we are all the work of Your hands / and we call upon Your name.

And now: Open to us the gates of mercy, / O Blessed Mother of God, / so that, trusting in You, we may not be put to shame, / but may be delivered from our troubles through Your prayers, / for You are the salvation of the Christian race.

Lord, have mercy. (12)

Prayer 1, St. Macarius the Great
to God the Father*

Eternal God and King of all creation, who has granted me to live to this hour! Forgive me the sins I have committed this day in deed, word, and thought, and purify, O Lord, my humble soul from every defilement of flesh and spirit. And grant me , O Lord, to spend this night in peaceful sleep, so that, rising from my humble bed, I may be pleasing to Your most holy name all the days of my life and overcome the enemies who attack me—both carnal and incorporeal. And deliver me, O Lord, from vain thoughts that defile me, and from wicked desires. For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 2, St. Antiochus
to the Lord Jesus Christ*

Almighty One, Word of the Father, Jesus Christ! Being perfect Yourself, by Your great mercy, never forsake me, Your servant, but abide in me always. Jesus, the Good Shepherd of Your sheep, do not deliver me to the serpent’s temptation, and do not leave me to Satan’s will, for the seed of destruction is within me. But You, O Lord God, who receive worship from all, Holy King Jesus Christ, preserve me during my sleep with unfading light, through Your Holy Spirit, by whom You sanctified Your disciples. Grant, O Lord, even to me, Your unworthy servant, Your salvation upon my bed: enlighten my mind with the light of understanding of Your holy Gospel, my soul with love for Your Cross, my heart with the purity of Your word, my body with Your suffering, free from passion, and preserve my thoughts with Your humility. And raise me up at the proper time to glorify You. For You are glorified with Your Father without beginning and with the Most Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 3, [by the Venerable Ephrem the Syrian]
To the Holy Spirit*

Lord, King of Heaven, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, have mercy on me, Your sinful servant, and forgive me, unworthy as I am, and pardon all in which I have sinned today before You as a human being—and indeed, not only as a human being, but even worse than an animal: my voluntary and involuntary sins, known and unknown; those stemming from my youth and from evil habits, and those arising from hot-temperedness and carelessness. If I have sworn by Your name or blasphemed it in my thoughts; or rebuked anyone, or slandered anyone in my anger, or caused sorrow to anyone, or became irritated over something; or lied, or slept at the wrong time, or a beggar came to me and I despised him; or grieved my brother, or got into a quarrel; or condemned anyone, or boasted, or became proud, or became angry; or, while I was standing in prayer, my mind was carried away by the allure of this world; or had impure thoughts; or overeat, or got drunk, or laughed foolishly; or thought evil thoughts, or, upon seeing another’s beauty, was wounded in my heart by it; or spoke indecently; or mocked my brother’s sin, even though my own sins are countless; or was negligent in prayer; or, having done some other evil deed, I do not remember—for I have done all this and more! Have mercy on me, my Creator, my Lord, Your dejected and unworthy servant, and overlook, forgive, and pardon me, as You are good and love mankind, so that I, the wayward, sinful, and wretched one, may lie down in peace, fall asleep, and find rest; and may I worship, sing, and glorify Your most honored Name, together with the Father and His Only-Begotten Son, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 4,
St. Macarius the Great*

What shall I bring You, or what shall I offer You, O immortal King, rich in gifts, O generous and merciful Lord, for having brought me—who have been lazy in serving You and have done nothing good—to the end of this past day, guiding my soul toward conversion and salvation? Be merciful to me, a sinner devoid of any good deed; raise up my fallen soul, defiled by countless sins, and remove from me all evil thoughts of this visible life. Forgive me, O Only Sinless One, for the sins I have committed before You this day—both knowingly and unknowingly, in word, deed, thought, and with all my senses. You Yourself preserve me from every enemy’s attack, covering me with Your divine power, Your ineffable love for mankind, and Your strength. Purify, O God, purify the multitude of my sins. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me from the snare of the evil one, and save my passionate soul, and enlighten me with the light of Your face when You come in glory; and now grant that I may fall asleep without condemnation, and preserve the mind of Your servant free from dreams and disturbances. And drive away from me all the works of Satan, and enlighten the eyes of understanding in my heart, lest I fall into a sleep of death. And send me the Angel of Peace, the guardian and guide of my soul and body, that he may deliver me from my enemies; so that, rising from my bed, I may offer You prayers of thanksgiving. O Lord, hear me, Your sinful and needy servant, in my will and conscience! Grant that, upon rising from sleep, I may learn from Your Word, and through Your angels, drive the devil’s despondency far from me! May I bless and glorify Your holy name, and may I praise the Most Pure Theotokos Mary, whom You have given to us sinners as our protection; and hear Her as she prays for us; for I know that She imitates Your love for mankind and never ceases to pray. Through her intercession, by the sign of the Holy Cross, and for the sake of all Your saints, preserve my wretched soul, Jesus Christ, our God, for You are holy and glorified forever. Amen.

Prayer 5*

Lord, our God, forgive me, as You are good and loving toward mankind, for all the sins I have committed today in word, deed, and thought. Grant me peaceful and tranquil sleep. Send Your guardian angel to protect and preserve me from all evil. For You are the guardian of our souls and bodies, and to You we send up glory—to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit—now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 6*

Lord, our God, in Whom we believe and Whose name we call upon above all other names! Grant us, as we fall asleep, relief for soul and body, and preserve us from all dreams and dark lusts. Hinder the surges of passion; quench the fire of bodily desires. Grant that we may live chastely in our deeds and in our words, so that, by leading a virtuous life, we may not be deprived of the blessings You have promised, for You are blessed forever. Amen.

Prayer 7, by Saint John Chrysostom:
24 prayers corresponding to the hours of the day and night1

[1. Lord, do not deprive me of Your heavenly blessings.

2. Lord, deliver me from eternal torment.

3. Lord, whether in word or deed, or in my mind and thoughts, I have sinned—forgive me.

4. Lord, deliver me from all bondage, ignorance, forgetfulness, thoughtlessness, and callous indifference.

5. Lord, deliver me from every temptation and captivity.

6. Lord, enlighten my heart, which is clouded by evil desires.

7. Lord, I have sinned as a human being, but You, as God, have mercy on me, seeing the weakness of my soul.

8. Lord, look upon the weakness of my soul and send Your grace to help me, so that Your holy name may be glorified in me.

9. Lord Jesus Christ, inscribe the name of Your servant in the book of life, granting me a blessed end.

10. Lord, my God, I have done nothing good, but by Your mercy, let me at least begin someday!

11. Lord, sprinkle the dew of Your grace upon my heart.

12. Lord, God of heaven and earth, remember me—a sinner, vile, wicked, and unclean—when You come into Your Kingdom. Amen.

1. Lord, accept me in repentance and do not forsake me.

2. Lord, lead me not into temptation.

3. Lord, grant me good thoughts.

4. Lord, grant me tears, a remembrance of death, and contrition.

5. Lord, grant me the thought of confessing my thoughts.

6. Lord, grant me humility, the subduing of my will, and obedience. 7. 7. Lord, grant me steadfastness, patience, and meekness.

8. Lord, plant within me the root of goodness—the fear of You.

9. Lord, grant that I may love You with all my soul, mind, and heart, and keep Your will in all things.

10. Lord, protect me from evil people, demons, passions, and every unworthy deed.

11. Lord, as You command, Lord, as You know, Lord, as You desire—may Your will be done in me.

12. Lord, may Your will be done, not mine, through the intercession and supplications of the Most Holy Mother of God and all Your saints, for You are blessed forever. Amen.]

(The same prayers in the Slavonic version

1. Lord, do not deprive me of Your heavenly blessings.

2. Lord, deliver me from eternal torment.

3. Lord, whether I have sinned in thought, word, or deed—forgive me.

4. Lord, deliver me from all ignorance, forgetfulness, thoughtlessness, and callous indifference.

5. Lord, deliver me from every temptation.

6. Lord, enlighten my heart, which has been darkened by evil desires.

7. Lord, I have sinned as a human being, but You, as a generous God, have mercy on me, seeing the weakness of my soul.

8. Lord, send Your grace to help me, so that I may glorify Your holy name.

9. Lord Jesus Christ, inscribe me, Your servant, in the Book of Life and grant me a blessed end.

10. Lord, my God, although I have done nothing good before You, grant me, by Your grace, to make a good beginning.

11. Lord, sprinkle the dew of Your grace upon my heart.

12. Lord of heaven and earth, remember me, Your sinful servant, wretched and unclean, in Your Kingdom. Amen.

1. Lord, accept me in repentance.

2. Lord, do not forsake me.

3. Lord, do not lead me into temptation.

4. Lord, give me good thoughts.

5. Lord, grant me tears, a remembrance of death, and contrition.

6. Lord, grant me the thought of confessing my sins.

7. Lord, grant me humility, chastity, and obedience.

8. Lord, grant me patience, generosity, and meekness.

9. Lord, plant within me the root of goodness—Your fear in my heart.

10. Lord, grant that I may love You with all my heart and mind and do Your will in everything.

11. Lord, protect me from certain people, from demons, from passions, and from every other unseemly deed.

12. Lord, I know* that You do all things according to Your will—may Your will be done even in me, a sinner, for You are blessed forever. Amen.)

*We deviate from the literal wording of the Slavonic text for the sake of meaning. A literal translation—“You know that…”—yields a very strange and not entirely pious meaning. Apparently, the Slavonic text is corrupted here.

Prayer 8,
to our Lord Jesus Christ*

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Your most honored Mother and Your incorporeal Angels, and also through Your prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist, and the godly Apostles, the radiant and victorious martyrs, the reverend and God-bearing Fathers, and all the saints—deliver me from this present demonic affliction. So, my Lord and Creator, who does not desire the death of the sinner but that he may turn and live, grant me, too, repentance, though I am wretched and unworthy. Deliver me from the jaws of the destructive serpent, who thirsts to devour me and drag me alive into hell. Yes, my Lord, my comfort, who for my sake, a wretched one, took on mortal flesh, deliver me from poverty and grant comfort to my poor soul. Inspire my heart to do Your commandments, to forsake evil deeds, and to receive Your blessings. For in You, O Lord, I trust; save me.

Prayer 9, to the Most Holy Mother of God
By Peter, a monk of Studion*

To You, O Most Pure Mother of God, I, a wretched man, fall down and pray: You know, O Queen, that I sin ceaselessly and provoke the wrath of Your Son and my God; and though I repent many times, I prove to be a liar before God. I repent, trembling, lest the Lord strike me down, and yet soon I do the same thing again! I pray that You, my Lady, the Mother of God, knowing this, may have mercy on me, strengthen me, and teach me to do good. For You know, my Lady, the Mother of God, that I deeply hate my evil deeds and love the law of my God with all my heart; but I do not know, O Most Pure Lady, why I love what I hate, yet fail to do what is good. Do not allow, Most Pure One, let my will not be done, for it is evil; but may the will of Your Son and my God be done, that He may save me, enlighten me, and grant me the grace of the Holy Spirit, so that from now on I may cease to do evil and for the rest of my life live according to the commandments of Your Son, to whom all glory, honor, and power, together with His Father without beginning, and His most holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 10,
Most Holy Mother of God*

O good Mother of the good King, most pure and blessed Theotokos Mary! Pour out the mercy of Your Son and our God upon my suffering soul, and through Your prayers guide me to good deeds, so that I may live the remainder of my life without sin and, through You, attain paradise, O Virgin Mother of God, the one and only pure and blessed One.

Prayer 11,
To the Holy Guardian Angel*

Angel of Christ, my holy guardian and protector of my soul and body! Forgive me for all the sins I have committed today, and deliver me from every wile of the enemy who comes against me, so that I may not provoke my God to anger by any sin. But pray for me, a sinful and unworthy servant, that I may be found worthy of the goodness and mercy of the Most Holy Trinity, the Mother of my Lord Jesus Christ, and all the saints. Amen.

Kontakion to the Mother of God

O Commander-in-Chief who defends me / for deliverance from terrible calamities / I, Your city, establish for You, O Mother of God, / feasts of thanksgiving for victory! / But You, possessing invincible power, / deliver me from all dangers, that I may cry out to You: / “Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage!”*

*Glory: To You, our Defending Commander / for deliverance from terrible calamities / we, Your servants, establish for You celebrations of victory in thanksgiving / O Mother of God! / But You, possessing invincible power, / deliver us from all dangers, that we may cry out to You: / “Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage!”

Glorious Ever-Virgin, Mother of Christ our God, bring our prayer to Your Son and our God, that through Your intercession He may save our souls.

I place all my hope / in You, Mother of God; / keep me under Your protection.

Virgin Mother of God, do not despise me, a sinner in need of Your help and intercession, for my soul trusts in You; have mercy on me.

Prayer of Saint John

My hope is in the Father, my refuge is in the Son, my protection is in the Holy Spirit; Holy Trinity, glory to You!

Next, read “It is truly meet” and the concluding prayers; or, if Vespers is combined with Small Compline, read the conclusion of the latter.

When reciting Vespers at home, after the dismissal, instead of the absolution and the concluding litany, recite the following prayers:

Relent, forgive, and pardon, O God, our sins—both voluntary and involuntary, committed in deed and word, knowingly and in ignorance, by night and by day, in mind and thought—forgive us all, as You are Good and Lover of Mankind.

Forgive those who hate and wrong us, O Lord, Lover of Mankind. Repay those who do good with good. Grant our brothers and relatives their petitions for that which leads to salvation, and bestow upon them eternal life. Visit the sick and grant them healing. Guide those who are at sea. Accompany those who are traveling. Grant the forgiveness of sins to those who serve and show us mercy. Have mercy, by Your great mercy, on those who have entrusted us, the unworthy, to pray for them. Remember, O Lord, our fathers and brothers who have fallen asleep before us, and grant them rest where the light of Your face shines. Remember, O Lord, our brothers who are in captivity, and deliver them from every misfortune. Remember, O Lord, those who offer sacrifices and do good deeds in Your holy Churches, and grant their petitions for what leads to salvation, and grant them eternal life. Remember, O Lord, us also, Your humble, sinful, and unworthy servants, and enlighten our minds with the light of the knowledge of You, and guide us along the path of Your commandments, through the prayers of our Most Pure Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, and all Your saints, for You are blessed forever. Amen.*

Daily Confession of Sins*

I confess to You, O Lord my God and Creator, the One in the Holy Trinity, who is glorified and worshiped—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—all my sins that I have committed throughout my life, at every hour, at this very moment, and in the days and nights past—in deed, word, thought, gluttony, drunkenness, secret eating, idle talk, despondency, laziness, quarreling, disobedience, slander, condemnation, carelessness, pride, greed, theft, lying, avarice, jealousy, envy, anger, resentment, hatred, love of money, and all my senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and my other sins, both spiritual and physical, by which I have offended You, my God, and wronged my neighbor. Repenting of them, I stand guilty before You, my God, and I desire to repent. But help me, O Lord my God; I humbly beseech You with tears: forgive my past sins through Your mercy, and, as a good and loving God, deliver me from all those sins which I have enumerated before You.

Just before going to sleep, pointing to your bed, read:

Prayer of Saint John of Damascus*

O Lord, Lover of mankind, will this bed truly be my coffin, or will You still illuminate my wretched soul with the light of day? Behold, the coffin lies before me; behold, death awaits me. I fear Your judgment, O Lord, and endless torment, yet I do not cease to commit evil. I constantly provoke Your wrath, O Lord and my God, as well as that of Your Most Pure Mother, all the Heavenly Powers, and my guardian angel. I know, O Lord, that I am unworthy of Your love for mankind, but worthy of every condemnation and torment. Yet, O Lord, whether I want it or not, save me. For if You save the righteous, there is nothing great in that, and if You have mercy on the pure, there is nothing wondrous in that—for they are worthy of Your mercy. But upon me, a sinner, show Your wondrous mercy; in this, reveal Your love for mankind, so that my malice may not overcome Your ineffable goodness and mercy, and do with me as You will.

Troparia, Tone 2

Enlighten my eyes, Christ my God, / that I may not fall asleep the sleep of death, / that my enemy may not say: / “I have gained the upper hand against him.”

Glory: Be the protector of my soul, O God, / for I walk amidst many snares; / deliver me from them, O Good One, / and save me, O Lover of mankind.

And now: Let us sing without ceasing of the Most Glorious Mother of God and the Most Holy of the Holy Angels, / confessing her as the Mother of God with our hearts and lips, / for she truly gave birth to God incarnate / and prays unceasingly for our souls.

Also, kiss your Cross, bless your bed and all the four corners of the earth with it, saying:

Prayer to the Holy Cross*

May God arise, and may His enemies be scattered; may those who hate Him flee from His presence. As smoke vanishes, so may they vanish; as wax melts before the fire, so may the demons perish before those who love God, who make the sign of the cross and joyfully proclaim: Rejoice, O most honored and life-giving Cross of the Lord, which drives out demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified upon You, who descended into hell and trampled the power of the devil, and who has granted us You, His holy Cross, to drive out every enemy! O most honored and life-giving Cross of the Lord, help me, together with the Holy Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, and all the saints, for ever and ever. Amen.

Or briefly: Protect me, O Lord, by the power of the holy and life-giving Cross, and preserve me from all evil.

When you go to sleep, say: Into Your hands, O Lord Jesus Christ, my God, I commend my spirit. Bless me, have mercy on me, and grant me eternal life. Amen.

Notes

¹ The Greek text of these prayers has many variations from the Slavonic text; therefore, we provide both versions.

Back to Table of Contents.

SEQUENCE
FOR HOLY COMMUNION
OF THE DIVINE AND LIFE-GIVING MOST PURE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST O

Priest: Blessed be our God always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Reader: Amen. Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Heavenly King: The Holy Trinity. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:

Priest: For Yours is the Kingdom: Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12) Glory, and now: Come, let us worship: (3)

Psalm 22

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!

Psalm 23

The earth is the Lord’s, and all that fills it, the world and all who dwell in it. He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord, or who may stand in His holy place? The one whose hands are innocent and whose heart is pure, who has not set his soul on vanity, nor sworn deceitfully against his neighbor. That person will receive a blessing from the Lord and favor from God, his Savior. This is the generation that seeks the Lord, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, O gates; be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may enter. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates; be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may enter. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts—He is the King of Glory!

Psalm 115

I believed, so I spoke; yet I was greatly humbled. And in my distress I said, “Every man is a liar.” How shall I repay the Lord for all He has done for me? I will take up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord; I will fulfill my vows to the Lord before all His people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. O Lord, I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid. You have loosed my bonds; I will offer to You a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call upon the name of the Lord; I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.

Glory, and now: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (3) And three bows.

Troparia, Tone 8

Look upon my sins with favor, O Lord, born of the Virgin, / and purify my heart, / making it a temple of Your most pure Body and Blood; / do not cast me away from Your presence, / You who are of boundless mercy.

Glory: How dare I, unworthy as I am, partake of Your holy gifts? / For if I dare to approach You with those who are worthy , / my garments will betray me—for such are not those who go to the Supper, / and I will bring condemnation upon my sin-laden soul. / Cleanse, O Lord, the defilement of my soul / and save me, O Lover of mankind.

And now: My sins are innumerable, O Mother of God, / to You I flee, O Pure One, in need of salvation. / Look mercifully upon my feeble soul / and intercede before Your Son and our God, / that I may be granted forgiveness / for the grave sins I have committed, / O One and Only Blessed One.

On Holy Thursday*

When the glorious disciples / were being instructed at the Last Supper, / then Judas the wicked, afflicted by greed, was darkened / and betrayed You, the Righteous Judge, to lawless judges. / Behold, lover of wealth, / the stranglehold of the one who sought it! / Flee from the insatiable soul / that dared to act thus against the Teacher! / O Lord, good to all, glory to You!

*feast: during Great Lent

Psalm 50

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my iniquity; wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against You alone have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight—so that You may be justified in Your words and prevail when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and my mother bore me in sin. For behold, You have loved truth; You have revealed to me the hidden and secret things of Your wisdom. You will sprinkle me with hyssop—and I will be cleansed; You will wash me—and I will be whiter than snow; You will let me hear joy and gladness—and my humbled bones will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit , from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your mighty Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your ways, and the ungodly will turn to You. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation; then my tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. Lord, You will open my lips, and my lips will proclaim Your praise. For if You had desired sacrifices, I would have offered them—but You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Bless Zion, O Lord, in Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt—then You will accept with favor the sacrifice of righteousness, the offering and the burnt offerings; then they will lay young bulls upon Your altar.

Canon, Tone 2
Hymn 1

Irmos: Come, all you people, / let us sing a song to Christ our God, / who parted the sea and led the people, / whom He brought out of Egyptian slavery, / for He has been glorified.

Refrain 1: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

May Your holy Body, O merciful Lord, / and Your precious Blood, / be for me the bread of eternal life, / and a protection against all manner of sicknesses.

Refrain 2: Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Defiled by unseemly deeds, wretched as I am, / I am unworthy, O Christ, to partake / of Your most pure Body and divine Blood, / which You have deigned to grant me.

Refrain 3: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

O good earth, blessed Bride of God, / who brought forth the uncultivated and saving Ear of Corn for the world, / grant that I may be saved by partaking of Him.

Hymn 3

Irmos: Having established me on the rock of faith, / You have opened my mouth wide against my enemies, / for my spirit rejoices, singing: / “There is none holy like our God, / and there is none righteous but You, O Lord!”

Refrain 1: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Grant me, Christ, drops of tears / that cleanse the defilement of my heart, / so that, having been purified in good conscience, / I may approach with faith and reverence, O Lord, / the communion of Your divine Gifts.

Refrain 2: Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

May Your most pure Body and divine Blood, O Lover of mankind, be my forgiveness for my sins; / may they grant me communion with the Holy Spirit and eternal life, / and deliverance from passions and sorrows.

Refrain 3: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Most Holy One, the Banquet of the Bread of Life, / who came down from on high by Your mercy / and grants new life to the world, / grant that I, unworthy as I am, / may now partake of it with reverence and live.

Hymn 4

Irmos: You came from the Virgin—not as a messenger, / nor as an angel, but as the Lord Himself in the flesh, / and You saved me, a human being, entirely. / Therefore I cry out to You: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”

Refrain 1: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

You willed, O Most Merciful One, having become incarnate for our sake, / to be slain like a lamb for the sins of mankind. / Therefore I beseech You / to blot out my sins as well.

Refrain 2: Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Heal the wounds of my soul, O Lord, / and sanctify my whole being, / and grant, O Lord, that I, a wretched one, / may partake of Your divine and mystical Supper.

Refrain 3: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Be merciful to me / through Him Who was born of You, O Lady, / and keep me, Your servant, pure and blameless, / so that, receiving the Spiritual Pearl, I may be sanctified.

Song 5

Irmos: Giver of Light and Creator of the ages, O Lord, / guide us in the light of Your commandments, / for we know no other god but You.

Refrain 1: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

As You foretold, Christ, / may it be so for me, Your humble servant, / and abide in me, as You promised, / for behold, I eat Your divine Body and drink Your Blood.

Refrain 2: Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Word of God and God! / May the burning coal of Your Body / be an enlightenment to me, who am in darkness, / and Your Blood a purification for my defiled soul.

Refrain 3: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Mary, Mother of God, / sacred Tabernacle of sweet fragrance, / through Your prayers, make me a chosen vessel, / that I may partake of the Holy Gifts of the One born of You.

Song 6

Irmos: Carried away in the abyss of sin, / I call upon the unfathomable depths of Your mercy: / O God, deliver me from destruction!

Refrain 1: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Sanctify my mind, soul, and heart, Savior, / and my body as well, / and grant that I may approach the Holy Mysteries / without condemnation, O Lord.

Refrain 2: Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

May I turn away from my passions / and receive an increase in grace / and the strengthening of life / through communion, Christ, of Your Holy Mysteries.

Refrain 3: Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

O God, Holy Word of God, / sanctify me entirely, / as I now approach Your Divine Mysteries, / through the intercessions of Your holy Mother.

Kontakion, Tone 2

Do not forbid me, Christ, / to receive now the Bread—Your Body / and Your divine Blood; / may the communion of Your most pure and awe-inspiring Mysteries, O Lord, / not be a judgment upon me, a wretched one, / but may it be for me eternal and immortal life.

Hymn 7

Irmos: The wise youths did not bow down to the golden idol, / but entered the flames themselves and mocked their idols; / in the midst of the flames they cried out—and an Angel rained down upon them, proclaiming: / “The prayer of your lips has already been heard!”

Refrain 1: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

May my partaking today / of Your immortal Mysteries, Christ, / be a source of blessings, light, life, and dispassion, / and a means to the flourishing and multiplication of divine virtue, / so that I may glorify You, the One and Only Good.

Refrain 2: Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

May I be delivered from passions, / and enemies, and misfortunes, and every sorrow— / I who now, with trembling and love, and with reverence, approach / Your immortal and divine Mysteries, Lover of Mankind, / and sing to You: / “Blessed are You, God of our fathers!”

Refrain 3: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

You who gave birth to Christ the Savior, incomprehensible to the mind, / and were graced by God, I, Your servant, now beseech You, / though I am unclean: / as I now prepare to partake of the most pure Mysteries, / cleanse me entirely from the defilement of flesh and spirit.

Song 8

Irmos: Sing to God, all creation, as Lord, / who descended into the fiery furnace / with the Jewish youths / and turned the flame into dew, / and exalt Him for all ages.

Refrain 1: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Of Your heavenly, awe-inspiring, / and holy Mysteries, Christ, / and of Your divine and mysterious Supper, / grant that I, who am in despair, may now partake, / O God, my Savior!

Refrain 2: Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Having taken refuge under the shelter of Your mercy, O Good One, / I cry out to You with fear: / “Abide in me, Savior, and I, as You have said, in You; / for behold, daring to rely on Your mercy, / I eat Your Body and drink Your Blood!”

Refrain: Most Holy Trinity, our God, glory to You.

I tremble as I receive the fire, lest I be consumed, / like wax and like grass. / O awesome mystery! O mercy of God! / How is it that I, mere clay, partake of the Divine Body and Blood / and become immortal?

Hymn 9

Irmos: The Son of the Beginnerless Father, God and Lord, / having been incarnated of the Virgin, appeared to us / to enlighten those in darkness and gather the scattered. / Therefore, we magnify the Mother of God, whom all sing of.

Refrain 1: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

The Lord is good: taste and see! / For having once become like us for our sake, / and having once offered Himself as a gift to His Father, / He is ever sacrificed, sanctifying those who partake of Him.

Refrain 2: Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

May I be sanctified in soul and body, O Lord, / may I be enlightened, may I be saved, / may I become Your dwelling place, / through partaking of the holy Mysteries, / having You dwelling within me with the Father and the Spirit, / O Most Merciful Benefactor.

Refrain: Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and strengthen me with Your sovereign Spirit.

May Your Body, my Savior, / and Your most precious Blood / be to me like a fire that burns away the substance of sin / and scorches the thorns of the passions, / and like a light that enlightens my whole being / for the worship of Your Divinity.

Refrain 3: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

God was incarnated from Your pure blood. / Therefore, every generation sings Your praises, O Sovereign Lady, / and multitudes of incorporeal beings glorify You, / for through You they have clearly beheld Him who reigns over all, / who took upon Himself human nature.

It is truly fitting / to glorify You, O Mother of God, / eternally blessed and immaculate, / and Mother of our God. / With the highest honor of the Cherubim / and the incomparable glory of the Seraphim, / You who virginally gave birth to God the Word, / the true Mother of God—we magnify You.

The Trisagion. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:

Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom: Reader: Amen.

Troparion of the feast. If there is no feast:

Penitential troparia, tone 6

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, / for, finding no excuse for ourselves, / we sinners offer this prayer to You, our Master: / “Have mercy on us!”

Glory: O Lord, have mercy on us, for we trust in You; / do not be too angry with us / and do not remember our iniquities; / but look upon us now, as the Merciful One, / and deliver us from our enemies. / For You are our God, and we are Your people; / we are all the work of Your hands / and we call upon Your name.

Lord, have mercy. (40) And bow as many times as you wish.

Then the following verses: Desiring to partake of the Lord’s Body, / approach with fear, lest you be burned, for it is fire. / And when you drink the divine Blood for communion, / first be reconciled with those who have grieved you. / Then boldly partake of the mystical food.

And other verses: Before partaking of the awesome sacrifice, / the life-giving Body of the Lord, / pray in this way with trembling.

And further prayers:

Prayer 1,
St. Basil the Great

Lord, O Jesus Christ, our God, source of life and immortality, Creator of all creation, both visible and invisible, Son of the eternal Father, Yourself eternal and without beginning, who, out of the abundance of Your goodness, in these last days took on flesh, was crucified, and was buried for us, the ungrateful and foolish, and by Your own Blood restored our nature, which had been corrupted by sin! You Yourself, immortal King, accept my repentance, I, a sinner, and incline Your ear to me and hear my words. For I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned against heaven and before You, and I am unworthy to gaze upon the height of Your glory: for I have provoked Your goodness to anger by transgressing Your commandments and disobeying Your commands. But You, O Lord, who are not vengeful, but long-suffering and abounding in mercy, have not allowed me to perish amid my iniquities, but have patiently awaited my repentance. For You, O Lover of mankind, have said through Your prophet: “I take no pleasure in the death of the sinner, but rather that he should turn from his ways and live.” For You, O Lord, do not wish for the creation of Your hands to perish, nor do You take pleasure in the destruction of people, but You desire that all may be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Therefore, I too—though unworthy of heaven and earth, and in this fleeting life have surrendered myself entirely to sin, enslaved myself to pleasures, and obscured Your image within me—yet, as Your creation, I do not despair of my own salvation, wretched as I am, and I boldly come before Your boundless mercy. Accept me too, O Lord, Lover of mankind, as the harlot, as the thief, as the tax collector, and as the prodigal son, and lift from me the heavy burden of sins, You who lift up the sin of the world and heal human frailties, who call to Yourself those who labor and are heavy-laden and give them rest, who came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance—cleanse me also from every defilement of flesh and spirit (and) teach me to lead a holy life in the fear of You, so that, receiving a share in Your holy gifts with a clear conscience, I may be united with Your holy Body and Blood and have You dwelling and abiding within me, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit. So, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, may the partaking of Your most pure and life-giving Mysteries not be a judgment against me, and may I not become weak in soul and body from unworthy partaking of them; but grant that until my last breath I may partake of Your holy gifts—in communion with the Holy Spirit— as a guide to eternal life and a favorable response at Your dreadful judgment, so that I, too, together with all Your chosen ones, may share in Your imperishable blessings, which You have prepared for those who love You, O Lord—in them You are glorified forever. Amen.

Prayer 2,
St. John Chrysostom

O Lord my God, I know that I am not worthy of You entering under my roof, into the house of my soul, for it is completely empty and in ruins, and there is no worthy place within me where You might lay Your head. But just as You humbled Yourself for our sake, coming down from on high, so come down now to my nothingness. And just as You deigned to lie in a cave in the manger of speechless animals, so deign to enter the manger of my senseless soul and my defiled body. And just as You did not refuse to enter and partake of the supper with sinners in the house of Simon the leper, so deign to enter the house of my humble soul, leprous and sinful. And just as You did not reject the harlot and sinner like me who came and touched You, so have mercy on me, a sinner, who comes and touches You. And just as You did not despise her defiled and sinful lips that kissed You, so do not despise my lips, which are even more defiled and sinful than hers, nor my vile and unclean lips, nor my vile and most defiled tongue. But may the burning coal of Your Most Holy Body and Your precious Blood be to me for the sanctification, enlightenment, and strengthening of my humble soul and body, to lighten the burden of my many sins, to protect me from every devilish influence, to remove and curb my evil and vicious habits, to mortify my passions, to keep Your commandments, to increase Your divine grace, and to attain Your Kingdom. For I do not come to You, Christ God, with negligence, but with bold hope in Your ineffable goodness, and so that I may not be snatched away by the spiritual wolf, if I stray far from communion with You. Therefore, I pray to You: as the One Holy One, sanctify, O Lord, my soul and body, my mind and heart, and my innermost feelings; renew my whole being; root the fear of You in all my members; and make Your sanctification indelible within me. And be my helper and protector, guiding my life peacefully like a helmsman, so that I may be deemed worthy to stand at Your right hand with Your saints through the prayers and intercessions of Your All-Pure Mother, Your incorporeal servants, the Most Pure Powers, and all the saints who have pleased You from of old. Amen.

Prayer 3,
St. Simeon Metaphrastes

O One, Pure, and Imperishable Lord, who, out of unspeakable compassion and love for humanity, took upon Yourself our entire complex nature from the pure and spotless blood of the Virgin, who supernaturally gave birth to You by the inspiration of the Divine Spirit and the good pleasure of the eternal Father, Christ Jesus, Wisdom of God, and peace, and power! You, who in the flesh You assumed endured life-giving and salvific sufferings—the Cross, the nails, the spear, and death—put to death my carnal passions, which are destructive to my soul. You who, by Your burial, laid waste the kingdom of hell, bury my evil intentions and disperse the spirits of evil with good thoughts. You who, by Your life-giving Resurrection on the third day, raised up our fallen forefather, raise me up as well, who have slipped into sin, by offering me the means to repentance. You, who by Your glorious Ascension deified the flesh You had taken upon Yourself and granted it the honor of sitting at the right hand of the Father, grant that through partaking of Your holy Mysteries I may attain the right hand of those who are saved. Having made Your holy disciples precious vessels through the descent of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, make me also a vessel for His coming. You who are coming again to judge the universe with righteousness! Grant that I, too, may meet You, my Creator and Maker, in the clouds with all Your saints, so that I may glorify and praise You without end, together with Your Father, who is without beginning , and Your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 4,
St. John of Damascus

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, You alone have the power to forgive people’s sins! As the Good and Lover of mankind, overlook all my sins, committed both knowingly and through ignorance, and grant me, without condemnation, to partake of Your divine, glorious, most pure, and life-giving Mysteries, (not as a burden), nor as a torment, nor as an increase of sins, but for purification, sanctification, and as a pledge of the life to come and the Kingdom; for protection, help, and the defeat of my enemies; and for the eradication of my many sins. For You are a merciful, compassionate, and loving God, and to You we send up glory, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 5,
St. Basil the Great

I know, O Lord, that I unworthily partake of Your most pure Body and Your precious Blood, and that I am guilty, and that I eat and drink judgment upon myself, not distinguishing Your Body and Blood, Christ and my God. But, boldly trusting in Your compassion, I come to You, who said: “Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me, and I in him.” Have mercy on me, O Lord, and do not condemn me, a sinner, but deal with me according to Your mercy. And may these holy gifts be for me a source of healing, purification, enlightenment, preservation, and salvation, and for the sanctification of my soul and body; for the removal of every vain thought, every evil deed, and every diabolical influence manifesting itself through thoughts in my members; for boldness and love toward You, for the correction and safety of my life, for the growth of virtue and perfection, for the fulfillment of the commandments, for communion with the Holy Spirit, for guidance into eternal life, and for a favorable response at Your dreadful judgment—not for judgment or condemnation.

Prayer 6,
St. Symeon the New Theologian

From a wicked mouth, from a vile heart, from an unclean tongue, from a defiled soul—accept my prayer, my Christ, and without rejecting my words, my character, or my shamelessness, grant me the freedom to speak what I wish, my Christ, but better yet, teach me what I ought to do and say. I have sinned more than the harlot who, having learned where You dwell, bought myrrh and dared to come and anoint Your feet, my Christ, my Lord and my God. Just as You did not reject her, who came with a pure heart, do not despise me either, O Word! Allow me, then, to hold and kiss Your feet, and with a stream of tears, like precious myrrh, to boldly anoint them. Wash me with my tears, cleanse me with them, O Word! Forgive my sins and grant me forgiveness. You know my many vices; You know my wounds and see my sores, but You also know my faith, see my zeal, and hear my groans. Nothing is hidden from You, my God, my Creator, my Redeemer—not a single tear, not even a drop. Your eyes have seen what I have not yet accomplished, and in Your book, even what has not yet been done is already recorded before You. Look upon my humility; look upon my suffering, and forgive me all my sins, God of the universe, so that with a pure heart, a reverent mind, and a contrite soul, I may partake of Your most pure and all-holy Mysteries, through which everyone who partakes of You and drinks with a sincere heart is enlivened and deified. For You have said, my Lord: “Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me, and I in him.” Truly, the word of my Lord and God is true in all things: for as I partake of the divine and deifying Gifts, I am truly not alone, but with You, my Christ, the Light, as bright as three suns, illuminating the world. Therefore, so that I may not remain alone, without You, the Giver of life, my breath, my life, my joy, and the salvation of the world—I have come to You, as You see, with tears and a contrite soul, imploring that I may be delivered from my sins and partake of Your life-giving and spotless Mysteries not to my condemnation; that You may abide with me, as You have said, though I am thrice wretched; so that the deceiver, finding me deprived of Your grace, may not cunningly snatch me away and, by deception, lead me away from Your divine words. Therefore, I fall at Your feet and fervently cry out to You: just as You accepted the prodigal son and the harlot who came to You, so accept, O Merciful One, me, the prodigal and wretched one, who now comes to You with a contrite heart. I know, Savior, that no one else has sinned against You as I have, nor has anyone committed the deeds that I have committed. But I also know that neither the weight of sins nor their multitude surpasses my God’s great long-suffering and supreme love for humanity; rather, with merciful compassion, You both purify and enlighten those who repent fervently, and You bring them into the light, generously making them partakers of Your Divinity; and—which is wondrous even to the angels and to human understanding—You converse with them time and again, as with Your true friends. This gives me courage; this sets me on wings, my Christ! And, boldly trusting in Your abundant blessings toward us, rejoicing and trembling at the same time, I, a blade of grass, partake of the fire, and—a wondrous miracle—am inexplicably watered, just as in ancient times the burning thornbush burned without being consumed. Therefore, with a grateful mind and a grateful heart, with all the grateful feelings of my soul and body, I worship, magnify, and glorify You, my God, as the Blessed One, now and forever.

Prayer 7,
St. John Chrysostom*

O God, have mercy on me, forgive me, and pardon my sins, by which I have sinned before You—whether in word, deed, or thought; willingly or unwillingly; knowingly or in ignorance—forgive me all, as You are good and love mankind. And through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother, Your incorporeal servants, the holy Powers, and all the saints who have pleased You from of old, grant that I may receive Your holy and most pure Body and precious Blood, not for my condemnation, but for the healing of my soul and body, and for the purification of my evil thoughts; for Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 8, by the same author

I am unworthy, O Lord and Master, that You should enter the shelter of my soul. But since You, as the Lover of mankind, desire to dwell within me, I boldly approach. You command, and I open the gates that You alone have created, and You enter with Your characteristic love for mankind; You enter and enlighten my darkened mind. I believe that You will accomplish this. For You did not turn away from the harlot who came to You in tears; nor did You reject the repentant tax collector; nor did You drive away the thief who acknowledged You as King; nor did You leave the repentant persecutor as he was. But to all who have come to You in repentance, You have granted a place among the host of Your friends, O One who is blessed forever, now and for all eternity. Amen.

Prayer 9, by the same author

Lord Jesus Christ, my God, relent, forgive, have mercy, and pardon me, Your sinful, unworthy, and unfit servant, for my errors, transgressions, and sins, by which I have sinned before You from my youth until this very day and hour: whether knowingly or through ignorance, whether by words, deeds, thoughts, intentions, habits, or all my feelings. And through the intercession of the all-pure and Ever-Virgin Mary, who gave birth to You without seed, Your Mother, my only sure hope, protection, and salvation, grant me to partake, not to my condemnation, of Your most pure, eternal, life-giving, and awesome Mysteries, but for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life, for sanctification and enlightenment, for strength, healing, and health of both soul and body, and for the eradication and complete destruction of my evil designs, thoughts, and intentions, as well as the dark and evil visions of the night caused by evil spirits. For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, and the honor, and the worship, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 10,
St. John of Damascus

I stand before the gates of Your temple, yet I do not cast aside my evil thoughts. But You, Christ our God, who justified the tax collector, had mercy on the Canaanite woman, and opened the gates of paradise to the thief, open to me also Your compassionate heart and accept me, who come and touch You, like the harlot and the woman with the issue of blood: for one, having touched the hem of Your garment, was easily healed; while the other, having embraced Your most pure feet, obtained forgiveness of her sins. As for me, wretched as I am, daring to partake of Your entire Body, may I not be consumed by fire, but receive me as You received those women, and enlighten the senses of my soul, burning away my sinful transgressions—through the intercession of the One who bore You without seed and of the heavenly Powers—for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 11,
St. John Chrysostom

I believe, O Lord, and I confess that You are truly Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. I also believe that this is Your most pure Body, and this is Your most precious Blood. I pray to You, therefore: have mercy on me and forgive me my sins, both voluntary and involuntary, committed in word and deed, knowingly and unknowingly, and grant that I may partake of Your most pure Mysteries not to my condemnation, but for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Amen.

As you approach Communion, recite the following verses by Metaphrastus to yourself: Behold, I approach the divine Communion; / Creator, do not cast me away from partaking! / For You are the fire that consumes the unworthy; / but purify me from every defilement.

Then say: As a participant in Your mystical Supper / on this day, Son of God, accept me. / For I will not reveal the mystery to Your enemies, / nor will I give You a kiss like that of Judas. / But like the thief , I will confess You: / “Remember me, Lord, in Your Kingdom!”

And the following verses: Tremble, O man, at the sight of the deifying Blood: / for it is a burning coal that scorches the unworthy. / The Body of God both deifies me and nourishes me: / it deifies the spirit, while the mind it nourishes in an incomprehensible way.

And the troparia: You have drawn me to Yourself with love, Christ, / and transformed me with a divine longing for You. / But burn away my sins with an incorporeal fire / and grant that I may be filled with delight in You, / so that, rejoicing, I may extol / Your two comings, O Good One.

How can I, unworthy as I am, / enter the radiant assembly of Your saints? / For if I dare to enter the bridal chamber with them, – / my garments will betray me, / for no one goes to the wedding dressed like this, / and, bound, I will be cast out by the Angels. / Cleanse, O Lord, the defilement of my soul / and save me, O Lover of Mankind.

And this prayer: O Lord, Lover of Mankind, Jesus Christ, my God, may this holy place not be a judgment upon me for my unworthiness, but a purification and sanctification of soul and body, and a pledge of the life to come and the Kingdom. It is good for me to cling to God, to place my hope for salvation in the Lord.

And again: As a participant in Your mystical Supper / on this day, Son of God, accept me. / For I will not reveal Your secrets to Your enemies, / nor will I give You a kiss like that of Judas. / But like the thief, I will confess You: / “Remember me, Lord, in Your Kingdom!”

Back to Table of Contents.

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AFTER HOLY COMMUNION I

[Exhortatory verses:] When you are deemed worthy of the grace-filled Communion / of the life-giving, mystical Gifts, / sing forth immediately and give thanks earnestly. / And speak to God fervently from the heart:

Glory to You, O God! (3)

Prayer 1

I thank You, O Lord my God, that You have not rejected me, a sinner, but have deemed me worthy to partake of Your Holy Mysteries. I thank You that You have deemed me, unworthy as I am, worthy to partake of Your most pure and heavenly Gifts. But, O Lord, Lover of Mankind, who died and rose again for our sake, and who granted us these awesome and life-giving Mysteries of Yours for the benefit and sanctification of our souls and bodies, grant that they may also be for me a healing of soul and body, a shield against every enemy, the enlightenment of the eyes of my heart, peace for my inner being, firm faith, sincere love, the fulfillment of wisdom, the observance of Your commandments, the multiplication of Your divine grace, and the attainment of Your Kingdom. So that, preserved by them in Your sanctification, I may always remember Your mercy and live no longer for myself, but for You, our Lord and Benefactor. And thus, having departed from this life in the hope of eternal life, may I reach the place of eternal rest, where there is the ceaseless voice of those who celebrate and the endless delight of those who behold the ineffable beauty of Your face. For You are the true goal of our striving and the inexpressible joy of those who love You, Christ our God, and all creation sings Your praises forever. Amen.

Prayer 2,
St. Basil the Great

Lord Christ our God, King of the ages and Creator of the whole world! I thank You for all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, and for the communion of Your most pure and life-giving Mysteries. I pray to You, O Good and Philanthropic One, to keep me under Your protection and in the shadow of Your wings, and to grant me, with a clear conscience until my last breath, to partake worthily of Your holy gifts for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. For You are the Bread of Life, the Source of sanctification, the Giver of all good things, and to You we send up glory, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer 3,
St. Simeon Metaphrastes

You who willingly gave me Your flesh as food—You are the fire that consumes the unworthy! Do not burn me, my Creator; rather, enter into the members of my body, into all my joints, into my innermost being, into my heart, and burn away the thorns of all my sins. Purify my soul, sanctify my thoughts, strengthen my knees along with my bones, enlighten my five principal senses, and nail my whole being fast with fear of You. Always defend, guard, and protect me from every deed and word harmful to the soul. Purify, wash, and order me; adorn, instruct, and enlighten me. Make me a dwelling place for Your Holy Spirit, and no longer a dwelling place for sin, so that after receiving Holy Communion, every evildoer and every passion may flee from me as from Your house, as from fire. I present to You, as intercessors for me, all the saints, the Leaders of the incorporeal hosts, Your Forerunner, the wise Apostles, and above them all—Your immaculate, pure Mother. Accept their prayers, O my merciful Christ, and make Your servant a son of light. For You, the One and Only Good One, are the sanctification and the radiance of our souls, and to You, as befits God and Lord, we all send up glory every day.

Prayer 4

May Your Holy Body, Lord Jesus Christ our God, be for me eternal life, and Your precious Blood—the forgiveness of sins. May this thanksgiving be for me a source of joy, health, and gladness. And at Your dreadful and second coming, grant me, a sinner, to stand at the right hand of Your glory, through the intercession of Your all-pure Mother and all Your saints. Amen.

Prayer 5, to the Most Holy Mother of God

Most Holy Lady, Mother of God, light of my darkened soul, my hope, my shield, my refuge, my comfort, my joy! I thank You that You have deemed me, unworthy as I am, worthy to partake of the most pure Body and precious Blood of Your Son. But, O Giver of the true Light, enlighten the spiritual eyes of my heart. You who gave birth to the Source of immortality, revive me, who am deadened by sin. O Mother who loves the mercy of the merciful God, have mercy on me and grant me contrition and humility in my heart, and humility in my thoughts, and a calling to good thoughts when my mind is enslaved. And grant that, until my last breath, I may receive the holiness of the most pure Mysteries for the healing of soul and body, without condemnation. And grant me tears of repentance and thanksgiving, so that I may sing and glorify You all the days of my life, for You are blessed and glorified forever. Amen.

Now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, O Lord, / according to Your word, / for my eyes have seen Your salvation, / which You have prepared in the sight of all nations: / a light for revelation to the Gentiles / and the glory of Your people Israel.

The Trisagion. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:

Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom: Reader: Amen.

And the troparion to the saint whose Liturgy was celebrated.

To Saint John Chrysostom,
Troparion, Tone 8

The grace that shone forth from your lips like a fiery light / enlightened the universe; / you gathered for the world the treasure of non-covetousness, / and showed us the heights of humility. / But, instructing us with your words, / Father John Chrysostom, / pray to the Word, Christ our God, for the salvation of our souls.

Glory:

Kontakion, Tone 6

You received divine grace from heaven / and through your lips teach all to worship the one God in the Trinity; / John Chrysostom, all-blessed and venerable, / we rightly praise you: / for you are our teacher, explaining the divine.

And now: The sure protection of Christians, / Unfailing intercession before the Creator! / Do not despise the prayerful voices of sinners, / but come quickly, O Good One, to our aid, / as we call upon You with faith: / “Hasten with Your intercession and hasten Your prayer, O Mother of God, / ever protecting those who honor You!”

Lord, have mercy. (12) Glory, and now:

We magnify You, who are of the highest honor of the Cherubim / and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim, / who virginally gave birth to God the Word, / the true Mother of God.

Bless us in the name of the Lord, Father.

The priest recites the Small Dismissal: Christ, our true God, through the prayers of His Most Pure Mother, our venerable and God-bearing Fathers, and all the saints, will have mercy on us and save us, as the Good and Lover of Mankind.

And we say: Amen.

If, however, the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great was celebrated, then read:

To Saint Basil the Great,
Troparion, Tone 1

Your voice has gone out across the whole earth, / for it has received your word: / through it you have divinely expounded the truths of the faith, / elucidated the nature of all that exists, / and adorned human customs— / O royal priest, venerable Father, / pray to Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.

Glory:

Kontakion, Tone 4

You appeared as the unshakable foundation of the Church, / bestowing upon all people an inviolable heritage, / sealing it with your teachings, / you who reveal the heavenly, Venerable Basil.

And now: The sure protection of Christians: – see above.

If, however, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was celebrated, then read:

To Saint Gregory the Dialogist,
Troparion, Tone 4

Having received divine grace from on high, / glorious Gregory, from God, / and strengthened by His power, / you desired to walk the path of the Gospel— / therefore, all-blessed one, you received your reward for your labors from Christ— / pray to Him that He may save our souls.

Glory:

Kontakion, Tone 3

You proved yourself a follower of Christ, the Chief Shepherd, / Father Gregory, / guiding multitudes of monks into the heavenly court, / and thus you taught Christ’s sheep His commandments. / Now you rejoice and celebrate with them / in the heavenly abodes.

And now: The sure protection of Christians: – see above.

To the Table of Contents.

CANON WITH AKATHIST
TO OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST*

Canon, Tone 2
Ode 1

Irmos, Tone 2: Once, in the depths, / the power that surpassed all of Pharaoh’s army destroyed it; / but the Word, having become flesh, destroyed the wicked sin— / the most glorified Lord; / for He has been glorified in splendor.

Refrain: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

O sweetest Jesus Christ, / O long-suffering Jesus, / heal the wounds of my soul, O Jesus, / and sweeten my heart, O Most Merciful One; / I pray, O Jesus, my Savior, / that I may magnify You, as one who is saved.

Refrain: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

O sweetest Jesus Christ, O Jesus, / open to me the door of repentance, O Jesus, lover of mankind, / and accept me as I fall prostrate before You, / and fervently beg, O Jesus, my Savior, / for the forgiveness of my sins.

Glory: Sweetest Jesus, Christ, Jesus, / deliver me from the hand of the deceitful devil, Jesus, / and grant that I may stand at the right hand of Your glory, / Jesus, my Savior, / delivering me from the fate of those standing on my left.

And now: O Mother of Jesus—God, Sovereign Lady, / pray for us unworthy servants, O Most Pure One, / that we, who are defiled, may be delivered from torment / through Your prayers, O You who are untouched by defilement, / and may enjoy eternal glory.

Hymn 3

Refrain: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

Hear, O my Jesus, lover of mankind, Your servant, / who cries out with a contrite heart, / and deliver me, Jesus, from condemnation and torment, / You who alone are long-suffering, / O sweetest and most merciful Jesus.

Refrain: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

Lift up Your servant, O my Jesus, / who falls prostrate in tears, O my Jesus, / and save me, O my Jesus, who repents, / and deliver me from Gehenna, O Lord, / O sweetest and most merciful Jesus.

Glory: The time, my Jesus, that You gave me, / I have squandered in my passions, my Jesus. / Therefore I pray, my Jesus, do not reject me, / but call me to Yourself, O Lord, / O sweetest Jesus, and save me.

And now: O Virgin who gave birth to my Jesus, / pray that I may be delivered from Gehenna, / you who are the sole Protection of the afflicted, / blessed by God, / and grant me, O All-Pure One, / eternal life.

Sedalen, Tone 1

My Savior, Jesus, / who saved the prodigal son, / My Savior, Jesus, who graciously received the harlot, / have mercy on me now, O most merciful Jesus, / have compassion and save me, O Jesus, my benefactor, / as You did for Manasseh, O merciful Jesus, / for You alone are the Lover of mankind.

Song 4

Refrain: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

Heal, my Jesus, the wounds of my soul, / my Jesus, I pray, / and deliver me, my merciful Jesus, / from the hand of the soul-destroying dragon and save me.

Refrain: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

I have sinned, O my sweetest, most merciful Jesus! / O my Jesus, save me, / who take refuge in Your protection, O long-suffering Jesus, / and make me worthy of Your Kingdom.

Glory: No one has sinned, my Jesus, / as I, the wretched one, have sinned; / but I fall prostrate before You, praying: / “My Jesus, save me, / and grant me, my Jesus, the inheritance of life!”

And now: All-glorious One, who gave birth to Jesus the Lord, / pray to Him to deliver from torment / all who sing Your praises / and call You the true Mother of God.

Song 5

Irmos: Light for those who lie in darkness, / salvation for the despairing, Christ, my Savior! / From the break of day I turn to You, King of the world, / enlighten me with Your radiance: / for apart from You, I know no other God.

Refrain: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

You are the light, my Jesus, of my mind, / You are the salvation of my despairing soul, Savior. / You, my Jesus, deliver me from torment and hell, as I cry out: / “Save me, my Jesus Christ, wretched as I am!”

Chorus: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

Completely overcome, my Jesus, / by shameful passions, I now cry out: / You, my Jesus, stretching out Your hand to help me, / deliver me from them, as I proclaim: / “Save me, my Jesus Christ, wretched as I am!”

Glory: Straining my defiled mind, / my Jesus, I cry out to You: / cleanse me from the defilement of sins, / and deliver me, who have slipped into the depths of wickedness / through ignorance, / my Savior Jesus, and save me, I pray.

And now: O Virgin who gave birth to Jesus, / Mother of God, implore Him / to save all the Orthodox, monks and laypEO, / and to deliver from Gehenna those who cry out: / “Apart from You, we know no sure protection!”

Song 6

Irmos: Carried away in the abyss of sin, / I call upon the unfathomable depths of Your mercy: / O God, deliver me from destruction!

Refrain: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

My Jesus, Christ of great mercy, / accept me as I confess, O Lord, / O Jesus, and save me, / and deliver me from destruction, O Jesus.

Refrain: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

My Jesus, no one else was a fornicator / like me, so passionate, / O Jesus, lover of mankind; / but You, Jesus, save me.

Glory: My Jesus, I have surpassed the harlot and the prodigal son, / and Manasseh, and the tax collector, / O my Jesus, in my passions, and the thief, / Jesus, and the people of Nineveh.

And now: O Most Pure Virgin, who gave birth to my Jesus Christ, / the only one free from defilement, / cleanse me, who am defiled, / with the hyssop of your prayers.

AKATHIST TO OUR MOST SWEET LORD JESUS CHRIST *

Kontakion 1: My Defender and Lord, Conqueror of hell! / Having been delivered from eternal death, / I, Your creature and servant, / offer songs of praise to You. / And You, possessing inexpressible mercy, / deliver me from all afflictions as I cry out: / “Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!”

Ikos 1: Creator of the angels and Lord of the heavenly hosts! / Open my feeble mind and loose my tongue / to praise Your most pure name, / just as You once opened the ears / and loosened the tongue of the deaf and mute man, / and he spoke, crying out:

O wondrous Jesus, the wonder of the angels; / O mighty Jesus, the deliverer of our forefathers.

O sweetest Jesus, the glory of the patriarchs; / O most glorious Jesus, the strength of kings.

Jesus, most beloved, the fulfillment of the prophets; / Jesus, most wondrous, the strength of the martyrs.

Jesus, the Most Gentle, the joy of monks; / Jesus, the Most Merciful, the delight of presbyters.

Jesus, most merciful, the self-restraint of those who fast; / Jesus, most sweet, the joy of the holy ones.

Jesus, most honorable, chastity of virgins; / Jesus, eternal, salvation of sinners.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Kontakion 2: Once, O Lord, seeing a widow weeping bitterly, / You, moved with compassion, / raised her son, who could not be carried to his burial; / so have mercy on me as well, O Lover of mankind, / and raise my soul, which has been slain by sin, as it cries out: / Alleluia!

Ikos 2: Seeking to know the unknowable, / “Lord, show us the Father,” said Philip. / But You replied to him: “Have you been with Me all this time / and still not realized / that the Father is in Me and I am in the Father?” / Therefore, O Incomprehensible One, I cry out to You in awe:

Jesus, God from eternity; / Jesus, mighty King.

Jesus, long-suffering Lord; / Jesus, most merciful Savior.

Jesus, my most blessed Protector; / Jesus, cleanse me of my sins.

Jesus, blot out my transgressions; / Jesus, forgive my iniquities.

Jesus, my hope, do not forsake me; / Jesus, my Helper, do not cast me away.

Jesus, my Creator, do not forget me; Jesus, my Shepherd, do not destroy me.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Kontakion 3: Jesus, You who clothed the Apostles with power from on high / while they dwelt in Jerusalem, / clothe me also, who have done no good deed, / with the warmth of Your Holy Spirit, / and grant that I may sing to You with love: / Alleluia!

Ikos 3: Abounding in mercy, / You called tax collectors, sinners, and unbelievers, O Jesus; / do not now despise me, who am like them, / but, as a precious offering, accept this song:

Jesus, invincible Strength; / Jesus, infinite Mercy.

Jesus, most radiant Beauty; / Jesus, ineffable Love.

Jesus, Son of the living God; / Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Jesus, hear me, conceived in iniquity; / Jesus, cleanse me, born in sin.

Jesus, teach me, who have gone astray; / Jesus, enlighten me, who am in darkness.

Jesus, cleanse me, who am defiled; / Jesus, bring me back, who have gone astray.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Kontakion 4: With a storm of doubtful thoughts within him, / Peter was drowning; / but seeing You, Jesus, / clothed in the flesh and walking upon the waters, / he recognized in You the true God / and, receiving the hand of salvation, cried out: / Alleluia!

Ikos 4: When the blind man heard that You, O Lord, / were passing by on the road, he cried out: / “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” / And calling him, You opened his eyes. / Enlighten, then, with Your mercy, the spiritual eyes of my heart / and me, who cry out to You and say:

Jesus, Creator of the heavenly powers; / Jesus, Redeemer of the earth.

Jesus, Destroyer of Hades; / Jesus, Organizer of all creation.

Jesus, Comforter of my soul; / Jesus, Enlightener of my mind.

Jesus, the joy of my heart; / Jesus, the health of my body.

Jesus, my Savior, save me; / Jesus, my light, enlighten me.

Jesus, deliver me from every torment; / Jesus, save me, though I am unworthy.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Kontakion 5: Just as You once redeemed us from the curse of the Law / through Your divine blood, O Jesus, / so now deliver us from the snare / in which the serpent has entangled us with carnal passions, / with the temptation of fornication, and with ruinous despondency, / as we cry out to You: / Alleluia!

Ikos 5: The children of Israel, seeing / in human form the One who created man with His own hand, / and recognizing the Lord in Him, / hastened to greet Him with branches, / crying out, “Hosanna!” / We, too, offer a song to You, saying:

Jesus, true God; / Jesus, Son of David.

Jesus, glorious King; / Jesus, spotless Lamb.

Jesus, wondrous Shepherd; / Jesus, my Protector in my childhood.

Jesus, my Guide in my youth; / Jesus, my glory in my old age.

Jesus, my hope at the hour of my death; / Jesus, my life after my death.

Jesus, my comfort at Your judgment; / Jesus, my desire, do not put me to shame then.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Kontakion 6: Fulfilling the sermons / and sayings of the God-inspired preachers, O Jesus, / You, who cannot be contained by the whole world, / appeared on earth and lived among people, / and took our sufferings upon Yourself. / Therefore, having been healed by Your wounds, / we have learned to sing: / Alleluia!

Ikos 6: The enlightenment of Your truth has shone upon the universe, / and the deception of the demons has been dispelled; / for the idols, our Savior, unable to withstand Your power, have fallen. / But we, having received salvation, cry out to You:

Jesus, the Truth who drives away deception; / Jesus, the Light, supreme above all light.

Jesus, King, who overcomes all with Your strength; / Jesus, God, full of mercy.

Jesus, Bread of Life, satisfy me who am hungry; / Jesus, Source of wisdom, quench my thirst.

Jesus, Garment of Joy, clothe me, a mortal; / Jesus, Mantle of Joy, cover me, unworthy as I am.

Jesus, Giver to those who ask, grant me repentance for my sins; / Jesus, Refuge of those who seek, find my soul.

Jesus, You who open the door to those who knock, open my wretched heart; / Jesus, Redeemer of sinners, cleanse me of my iniquities.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Kontakion 7: Desiring to reveal the mystery hidden from the ages, / You were led like a sheep to the slaughter, O Jesus, / and, like a lamb before its shearer, You were silent, / and as God, You rose from the dead, / and ascended into heaven in glory, / and raised us up with You, as we exclaim: / Alleluia!

Ikos 7: An unprecedented act was performed / by the Creator who appeared to us: / He was incarnated without seed from the Virgin, / rose from the tomb without breaking the seals, / and entered in the flesh among the Apostles behind locked doors. / Therefore, in amazement, let us sing:

Jesus, the boundless Word; / Jesus, the Word beyond the reach of our eyes.

Jesus, Power beyond comprehension; / Jesus, Wisdom beyond knowledge.

Jesus, Divinity beyond description; / Jesus, Lordship beyond measure.

Jesus, the invincible Kingdom; / Jesus, the infinite Lordship.

Jesus, the highest might; / Jesus, the eternal power.

Jesus, my Creator, have mercy on me; / Jesus, my Savior, save me.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Kontakion 8: Beholding God, who wondrously became man, / let us turn away from this vain world / and direct our minds toward the divine. / For this is why God came down to earth, / to lift us up to heaven, / as we cry out to Him: / Alleluia!

Ikos 8: He was wholly present in the lower realms, / and left nothing of the heavenly realms behind, He who is beyond number, / when He voluntarily suffered for us, / and by His death put our death to death, / and by His resurrection granted life to those who sing:

Jesus, sweetness of the heart; / Jesus, strength of the body.

Jesus, light of the soul; / Jesus, sharpness of the mind.

Jesus, joy of the conscience; / Jesus, faithful hope.

Jesus, memory from of old; / Jesus, highest praise.

Jesus, my exalted glory; / Jesus, my desire, do not cast me away.

Jesus, my Shepherd, seek me out; / Jesus, my Savior, save me.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Kontakion 9: The entire angelic world ceaselessly glorifies / Your most holy name, Jesus, / exclaiming in heaven, “Holy, Holy, Holy!”; / But we, sinners on earth, / with our frail lips exclaim: / Alleluia!

Ikos 9: We see before You, Jesus, our Savior, the eloquent orators as voiceless as fish; / for they are unable to explain / how You remain both the unchanging God and the perfect Man. / We, however, marveling at this mystery, cry out with faith:

Jesus, God from all eternity; / Jesus, King of kings.

Jesus, Lord of lords; / Jesus, Judge of the living and the dead.

Jesus, hope of the hopeless; / Jesus, comfort of those who weep.

Jesus, the glory of the poor; / Jesus, do not condemn me according to my deeds.

Jesus, cleanse me by Your mercy; / Jesus, drive away my despondency.

Jesus, enlighten the eyes of my heart; / Jesus, grant me the remembrance of death.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Kontakion 10: Desiring to save the world, / You, the Sun shining at dawn, / having descended to the dark west of our nature, / humbled Yourself even to the point of accepting death. / Therefore, Your name has been exalted above every name, / and from all generations in heaven and on earth You hear: / Alleluia!

Ikos 10: Eternal King, Comforter, true Christ, / cleanse us of every defilement, / as You cleansed the ten lepers, / and heal us, as You healed the covetous soul of Zacchaeus the tax collector, / so that we may proclaim to You, crying out in contrition:

Jesus, imperishable treasure; / Jesus, inexhaustible wealth.

Jesus, strengthening food; / Jesus, inexhaustible drink.

Jesus, garment of the poor; / Jesus, defender of widows.

Jesus, protector of orphans; / Jesus, help of the laborers.

Jesus, guide of travelers; / Jesus, helmsman of sailors.

Jesus, a peaceful haven for those enduring the storm; / Jesus, O God, lift me up, for I have fallen.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Kontakion 11: With deep contrition / I offer this song to You, unworthy as I am, / and cry out to You, like the Canaanite woman: “Jesus, have mercy on me!” / For I have no daughter, but only flesh, / sorely afflicted by passions and inflamed by anger; / grant healing to the one who cries out to You: / Alleluia!

Ikos 11: You, the Lamp that gives light / to those dwelling in the darkness of ignorance, / whom Paul once persecuted, / he heeded the power of the voice of Divine Wisdom / and was swiftly enlightened in his soul. / So enlighten the darkened eyes of my soul as well, which cries out:

Jesus, my mightiest King; / Jesus, my almighty God.

Jesus, my immortal Lord; / Jesus, my glorious Creator.

Jesus, my most gracious Teacher; / Jesus, my most generous Shepherd.

Jesus, my most gracious Lord; / Jesus, my most merciful Savior.

Jesus, enlighten my senses, clouded by passions; / Jesus, heal my body, covered with the sores of sin.

Jesus, purify my mind from vain thoughts; / Jesus, preserve my heart from wicked desires.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Kontakion 12: Grant me the grace of forgiveness, / O Jesus, who forgives all debts, / and accept me, who repent, / just as You accepted Peter, who denied You, / and call me, who am careless, / just as You once called Paul, who persecuted You, / and hear me as I cry out to You: / Alleluia!

Ikos 12: As we sing of Your Incarnation, / we all praise You and believe with Thomas / that You are the Lord and God, seated with the Father / and coming to judge the living and the dead. / Grant me, then, to stand at Your right hand / as I cry out:

Jesus, King of Eternity, have mercy on me; / Jesus, Fragrant Flower, fill me with Your fragrance.

Jesus, Beloved Warmth, warm me; / Jesus, Eternal Temple, shelter me.

Jesus, radiant Garment, adorn me; / Jesus, precious Pearl, illuminate me.

Jesus, precious Stone, enlighten me; / Jesus, Sun of righteousness, illuminate me.

Jesus, Holy Light, illuminate me; / Jesus, deliver me from spiritual and physical ailments.

Jesus, snatch me from the enemy’s hand; / Jesus, deliver me from the unquenchable fire and other eternal torments.

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.

Kontakion 13: O most sweet and all-merciful Jesus! / Accept now this humble prayer of ours, / just as You accepted the widow’s two mites, / and preserve Your inheritance from visible and invisible enemies, / from the invasion of foreigners, from sickness and famine, / from every sorrow and deadly plague, / and deliver all who cry out to You from the coming torment: / Alleluia! Repeat this kontakion three times.

Then read the 1st ikos: Creator of the angels and Lord of the heavenly hosts! / Open my feeble mind and loose my tongue / to praise Your most pure name, / just as You once opened the ears of the deaf and loosened the tongue of the mute, / and he spoke, crying out:

And the 1st Kontakion: My Defender and Lord, Conqueror of hell! / Having been delivered from eternal death, / I, Your creature and servant, / dedicate songs of praise to You. / And You, who possess inexpressible mercy, / deliver me from all afflictions as I cry out: / “Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!”

Song 7

Irmos: When they worshiped the golden idol in the field of Dura, / three of Your youths defied the godless command; / and, cast into the fire but sprinkled with dew, they sang: / “Blessed are You, God of our fathers!”

Refrain: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

Christ Jesus, no one on earth has ever sinned since the beginning of time, / O my Jesus, as I have sinned, wretched and wayward. / Therefore, my Jesus, I cry out to You: / have mercy on me, who sing: / “Blessed are You, God of our fathers!”

Refrain: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

Christ Jesus, in Your fear / strengthen me, I implore You, O my Jesus, / and guide me now to a peaceful harbor, / so that I, O my merciful Jesus, / may sing to You, having been saved: / “Blessed are You, God of our fathers!”

Glory: Christ Jesus, a thousand times I, in my passion, / promised You, O my Jesus, to repent, / but I lied, wretched one that I am. / Therefore, O my Jesus, I cry out to You: / Enlighten my soul, which remains in spiritual darkness, O Christ; / God of our fathers, blessed are You!

And now: You who gave birth to Christ Jesus in a manner beyond compare / and above nature, / pray to Him, O All-Pure One, / that He may forgive me all my sins contrary to nature, / O Virgin, so that I may cry out, as one who is saved: / “Blessed are You, who gave birth to God in the flesh!”

Hymn 8

Irmos: Sing to God, who descended / into the fiery furnace / with the Jewish youths / and turned the flames into dew, / all creation, as the Lord, / and exalt Him for all ages.

Refrain: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

I pray to You, my Jesus: / “Just as You, my Jesus, / delivered the harlot from her many sins, / so deliver me, my Jesus Christ, / and purify my defiled soul, my Jesus!”

Refrain: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

Bowing down, O Jesus, before senseless pleasures, / I, wretched one, proved reckless, / and I truly became like beasts in my passions, / O Jesus, my Savior; / therefore, O Jesus, deliver me from recklessness.

Glory: Having fallen, O Jesus, into the hands of soul-destroying robbers, / I have been stripped of my garment, my Jesus, woven by God, / and now I lie covered with wounds; / pour oil and wine upon me, my Christ.

And now: O Mary, Mother of God, who bore Jesus, my Christ and my God, / in a way beyond words! / Pray to Him unceasingly for the salvation of Your servants / and those who sing Your praises, O Virgin who knew no man.

Song 9

Irmos: The Word of God, from God, / who came with ineffable wisdom to renew Adam, / who had fallen into ruin through the fruit of the tree, / and who was ineffably incarnated for our sake from the Holy Virgin, / we, the faithful, with one mind / magnify Him in our hymns.

Refrain: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

I have surpassed Manasseh, my Jesus, the tax collector, the harlot, / the prodigal son, merciful Jesus, and the thief, / my Jesus, / in shameful and indecent deeds, Jesus; / but You, my Jesus, hasten to save me.

Refrain: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

Of all who have sinned since Adam, my Jesus, I, the wretched one, / before the Law and under the Law, Jesus, / and under the Law and through the outpouring of grace, my Jesus, / have surpassed them all in my ill-fated passions: / but You, my Jesus, save me by ways known only to You.

Glory: May I not be cut off, my Jesus, / from Your ineffable glory, / may I not share the fate, Jesus, / of those on Your left, sweetest Jesus, / but may You join me to Your sheep standing on the right, / my Christ Jesus, / and lead me into rest, as You are merciful.

And now: Jesus, whom You bore, O Mother of God, / O Virgin Mary, who alone knew no man, / appease Him, O Pure One, as Your Son and Creator, / to deliver those who take refuge in You / from temptations and misfortunes, and from the fire of the age to come.

Luminary

Jesus, Giver of wisdom and understanding, / Guide of the poor, Protector of orphans, Healer of the sick, / heal and enlighten my heart, Jesus, / which is covered with the sores of sin and the corruption of passions, / Jesus, and save me.

To the Mother of God: O Virgin, with the radiance of the Light that shone forth from You, / illuminate my mind, enlighten my heart, / dispelling the darkness of sin, / and driving away the gloom of my sloth.

Prayer to Our Lord Jesus Christ

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, who, through Your ineffable love for mankind, at the end of the ages took flesh from the Ever-Virgin Mary! We, Your servants, O Lord, glorify Your saving providence for us; we sing Your praises, for through You we have come to know the Father; we bless You, through Whom the Holy Spirit also came into the world. We worship Your Most Pure Mother according to the flesh, who ministered to this awesome mystery. We praise Your angelic choirs, as singers and ministers of Your majesty. We call blessed John the Forerunner, who baptized You, O Lord. We honor the prophets who foretold Your coming. We glorify Your holy Apostles; we exalt Your martyrs; we praise Your holy hierarchs; we worship Your venerable ones; and we honor all Your righteous ones. We urge this great and innumerable host of the divine to pray to You, O all-merciful God, we, Your servants, and therefore we ask for forgiveness of our sins. Grant it to us for the sake of all Your Saints—or rather, for the sake of Your holy bounties—for You are blessed forever. Amen.

Another Prayer

To You, O Lord, the One who is Good and remembers no evil, I confess my sins. I fall down before You, unworthy as I am, crying out: “I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I am unworthy to look upon the heights of heaven because of my many iniquities.” But, my Lord, my Lord, grant me tears of contrition, O You who alone are Good and Merciful, so that through them I may implore You and be cleansed of every sin before the end. For a dreadful and terrifying place awaits me after I am separated from my body, and a multitude of dark and inhuman demons will meet me, and there will be no one to help me: neither a companion nor a deliverer. Therefore, I cling to Your goodness: do not deliver me to my persecutors, and let not my enemies boast about me, O Good Lord, and let them not say, “You have fallen into our hands and been delivered to us.” No, O Lord, do not forget Your mercies, and do not repay me according to my iniquities, and do not turn Your face away from me. But enlighten me, O Lord, with mercy and compassion alone. May my enemy not rejoice over me, but quench his threats against me and nullify all his deeds. Grant me a blameless path to You, O Good Lord, for even when I have sinned, I have not turned to any other healer nor stretched out my hand to a foreign god. Do not reject my prayer, but hear me according to Your goodness and strengthen my heart with Your fear, and may Your grace be upon me, O Lord, like a fire burning away impure thoughts within me. For You, O Lord, are the Light, supreme above all light; Joy, higher than all joy; Rest, higher than all rest; True Life and salvation, abiding forever and ever. Amen.

Back to Table of Contents.

CANON OF REPENTANCE
TO OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST*

Canon, Tone 6 .
Ode 1

Irmos: Just as Israel walked on dry land / through the depths, / and cried out, seeing Pharaoh, their persecutor, drowning: / “Let us sing a song of victory to God!”

Chorus: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

Now I have come, sinful and burdened, / to You, my Lord and God; / but I dare not look up to heaven, / only I pray, crying out: / “Grant me, O Lord, wisdom, / that I may bitterly mourn my deeds!”

Chorus: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

Woe is me, a sinner! / I am more wretched than all people: / there is no repentance in me. / Grant me, O Lord, tears, / that I may weep bitterly over my deeds!

Glory: Foolish, wretched man, / you are wasting your time in idleness! / Reflect on your life / and turn to the Lord God, / and weep bitterly over your deeds!

And now: Most Pure Mother of God! / Look upon me, a sinner, / and deliver me from the devil’s snare, / and guide me onto the path of repentance, / so that I may weep bitterly over my deeds!

Song 3

Irmos: There is no one holy / like You, O Lord my God, / who has exalted the dignity of those faithful to You, O Good One, / and established us upon the rock / of Your confession.

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

When the thrones are set up / at the Last Judgment, / then the deeds of all people will be revealed; / woe to the sinners there, who are sent to torment! / And knowing this, my soul, / repent of your evil deeds!

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

The righteous will rejoice, / while the sinners will weep: / then no one will be able to help us, / but our deeds will condemn us. / Therefore, before the end, / repent of your evil deeds!

Glory: Woe is me, a great sinner! / Defiled by my deeds and thoughts, / I have not a single tear to shed because of my hard-heartedness! / Now rise up from the earth, my soul, / and repent of your evil deeds!

And now: Behold, O Lady, Your Son calls out / and teaches us what is good; / yet I, a sinner, always flee from what is good! / But You, O Merciful One, have mercy on me, / that I may repent of my evil deeds!

Sedalen, Tone 6

I ponder the dreadful day / and mourn my evil deeds. / How shall I answer the Immortal King? / Or how shall I, a prodigal, dare to look upon the Judge? / Merciful Father, Only-Begotten Son, / and Holy Spirit, have mercy on me!

Glory, and now, to the Mother of God: Now, bound by many chains of sin / and oppressed by fierce sufferings and misfortunes, / I flee to You, my salvation, and cry out: / “Help me, O Virgin, Mother of God!”

Hymn 4

Irmos: “Christ is my strength, / God and Lord,” /—the holy Church sings reverently, / proclaiming from a pure mind, / rejoicing in the Lord.

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

The path here is broad / and it is easy to do what is pleasing, / but it will be bitter on the last day, / when the soul is separated from the body! / Guard yourself against that, O man, / for the sake of the Kingdom of God!

Chorus: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

Why do you oppress the poor, / take the worker’s wages for yourself, / fail to love your brother, / and pursue fornication and pride? / Leave all this behind, my soul, / and repent for the sake of the Kingdom of God!

Glory: O foolish man! / How long will you be entangled, like a bee, / gathering your wealth? / For soon it will perish, like dust and ashes; / but seek first the Kingdom of God.

And now: O Lady, Mother of God! Have mercy on me, a sinner, / and strengthen me in virtue, / and preserve me, so that sudden death / may not snatch me away, unprepared, / and lead me, O Virgin, to the Kingdom of God!

Song 5

Irmos: With Your divine light, O Good One, / illuminate with love the souls that strive toward You from the dawn—I pray— / that they may know You, the Word of God, the true God, / who calls them to Yourself from the darkness of sin.

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

Remember, wretched man, / how much you are enslaved by lies, slander, robbery, and infirmities, / as if by fierce beasts, / because of your sins! / My sinful soul, is this what you desired?

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

The members of my body tremble, / for with all of them I have sinned: / gazing with my eyes, listening with my ears, speaking evil with my tongue, / I have consigned my whole self to Gehenna! / My sinful soul, is this what you desired?

Glory: You, O Savior, received the prodigal son and the repentant thief / into Your presence; / but I alone am so weighed down by sinful sloth / and enslaved to evil deeds! / My sinful soul, is this what you desired?

And now: O wondrous and swift helper / of all people, Mother of God! / Help me, unworthy as I am, / for my sinful soul has desired this!

Song 6

Irmos: Beholding the sea of life, / surging with waves of temptation, / I, having taken refuge in Your peaceful harbor, cry out to You: / “Deliver my life from destruction, O Most Merciful One!”

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

I have lived my earthly life in sin / and cast my soul into darkness; / but now I beseech You, merciful Lord: / deliver me from this bondage to the enemy / and grant me the wisdom to fulfill Your will!

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

Who acts as I do? / For just as a pig wallows in the mud, / so do I serve sin. / But You, O Lord, deliver me from that filth / and grant me a heart to keep Your commandments!

Glory: Rise up to God, wretched man, / remembering your sins, / falling prostrate before the Creator, shedding tears and groaning! / He, being merciful, / will give you the understanding to know His will!

And now: O Virgin Mother of God! From all visible and invisible evil, / protect me, O Most Pure One, / and accept my supplications, / and present them to Your Son, / that He may grant me the wisdom to fulfill His will!

Kontakion

My soul! Why do you grow rich in sin? / Why do you carry out the devil’s will? / In what do you place your hope? / Cease to act this way / and turn to God, crying out: / “Merciful Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner!”

Ikos: Consider, my soul, the bitter hour of death / and the Last Judgment of your Creator and God. / For then the fearsome Angels will take you, O soul, / and cast you into the eternal fire. / So repent before death, crying out: / “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner!”

Song 7

Irmos: The angel made the furnace dewy / for the pious youths, / and God’s command, which scorched the Chaldeans, / compelled the tormentor to cry out: / “Blessed are You, God of our fathers!”

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

Do not trust, my soul, in perishable wealth / or in unrighteous gain; / for you do not know to whom you will leave all this, / but cry out: “Have mercy on me, Christ God, though I am unworthy!”

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

Do not hope, my soul, in bodily health / or in fleeting beauty; / for you see how the strong and the young die, / but cry out: “Have mercy on me, Christ our God, unworthy as I am!”

Glory: Remember, my soul, eternal life / and the Kingdom of Heaven prepared for the saints, / and the outer darkness and the wrath of God—which is evil— / and cry out: “Have mercy on me, Christ my God, unworthy as I am!”

And now: Cast yourself, my soul, upon the Mother of God / and pray to Her, / for She, the swift Helper of the repentant, / will intercede with Her Son, Christ our God, / and He will have mercy on me, the unworthy one.

Song 8

Irmos: From the flame You poured forth dew for the godly, / and You doused the righteous one’s sacrifice with water: / for You accomplish all things, Christ, by Your will alone. / We exalt You for all ages.

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

How can I not weep when I think of death! / For I have seen my brother lying in the grave, / disgraced and disfigured. / What, then, do I await, and in what do I hope? / Grant me only, O Lord, repentance before the end! (Twice)

Glory: I believe that You will come to judge the living and the dead, / and all will stand according to their rank: / the old and the young, rulers and princes, virgins and priests. / But where will I be? / Therefore I cry out: / “Grant me, O Lord, repentance before the end!”

And now: Most Pure Mother of God! / Accept my unworthy prayer, / and preserve me from sudden death / and grant me repentance before the end!

Song 9

Irmos: It is impossible for people to see God, / Whom even the hosts of angels dare not look upon; / but through You, All-Pure One, the Incarnate Word has become visible to mortals. / Glorifying Him, / we, together with the heavenly hosts, / praise You.

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

Now I take refuge in you, / Angels, Archangels, and all heavenly Powers, / who stand before the throne of God: / pray to your Creator, / that He may deliver my soul from eternal torment!

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

Now I weep before you, / holy forefathers, kings, and prophets, / apostles and holy fathers, and all of Christ’s chosen ones: / help me at the Judgment, / that the Lord may save my soul from the power of the enemy!

Glory: Now I lift up my hands to you, / holy martyrs, hermits, virgins, righteous ones, / and all the saints who pray to the Lord for the whole world, / that He may have mercy on me at the hour of my death!

And now: Mother of God, help me, / who place my great hope in You, / intercede with Your Son, / that He may place me, unworthy as I am, at His right hand / when He sits to judge the living and the dead! Amen.

Prayer

Lord Christ God, who by Your sufferings healed my passions and by Your wounds healed my sores! Grant me, who have sinned greatly before You, tears of contrition. Grant that my body may receive the fragrance of Your life-giving Body, and bestow upon my soul the sweetness of Your precious Blood instead of the bitterness with which the enemy has filled me. Lift up to Yourself my mind, which has sunk to the earth, and raise me up from the abyss of perdition. For there is no repentance in me, no contrition, no comforting tears that lead children to their inheritance. My mind has been clouded by worldly passions; in my sickness I cannot gaze upon You, nor can I be warmed by tears of love for You! But, Lord Jesus Christ, Treasure House of all good things! Grant me complete repentance and a heart that labors with love in seeking You; grant me Your grace and renew in me the features of Your image. I have forsaken You—do not forsake me. Go out to seek me, bring me to Your pasture, and unite me with the sheep of Your chosen flock; nourish me with them from the bread of Your Divine Mysteries, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints. Amen.

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CANON WITH AKATHIST
TO THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD

Troparion, Tone 8

Having comprehended the mysterious command with her mind, / she hastened to appear under Joseph’s roof, incorporeal, / proclaiming to her who knew no marriage: / “He who, by His descent, bowed the heavens, / remains unchanged, yet is wholly contained within You. / And seeing Him in Your womb, having taken the form of a servant, / I cry out to You in amazement: / Rejoice, Bride, who knew no marriage!”

Canon, Tone 4, composed by the Venerable Joseph.
Song 1

Irmos: I will open my mouth, / and it will be filled with the Spirit; / and I will speak to the Queen and Mother, / and I will appear radiant with joy, / and I will sing joyfully of Her wonders.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

You, the living Book of Christ, / sealed by the Spirit, / when the great Archangel beheld you, O Pure One, he cried out to you: / “Rejoice, vessel of joy, / You through whom the curse of the first mother will be abolished!”

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Rejoice, the restoration of Adam, / Virgin, Bride of God, the destruction of hell. / Rejoice, All-Pure One, the palace of the King of all. / Rejoice, fiery throne of the Almighty!

Glory: Rejoice, you who alone brought forth the unfading Rose! / Rejoice, you who bore the fragrant Apple, / the fragrance of the one King; / Rejoice, you who knew no marriage, / the salvation of the world.

And now: Treasure of Purity, rejoice, / You through whom we have risen from our fall. / Rejoice, fragrant Lily, Sovereign, / who delights the faithful, / fragrant incense, precious myrrh.

Hymn 3

Irmos: O Mother of God, / living and abundant spring, / strengthen Your singers / who have prepared this spiritual feast, / and in Your divine glory / grant them crowns of glory.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

You have clearly brought forth the divine ear of grain, / like an untilled field! / Rejoice, living meal, / containing the Bread of Life; / rejoice, inexhaustible spring / of living water, O Lady!

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Rejoice, O Cow, who bore the spotless Lamb to the faithful; / Rejoice, O Lamb, who carried in your womb the Lamb of God, / who takes away the sins of the whole world; / Rejoice, O fervent Atonement!

Glory: O bright morning, rejoice, / you who alone bear the Sun—Christ, the dwelling place of light; / rejoice, you who have dispelled the darkness / and completely driven away the gloomy demons.

And now: Rejoice, the only door, / through which the Word alone passed; / Sovereign Lady, who by giving birth to Christ / shattered the bolts and gates of hell; / rejoice, divine entrance of the saved, Bride of God.

Hymn 4

Irmos: Seated in glory / upon the throne of the Godhead, / on a light cloud, / the most divine Jesus came, / carried by a spotless hand, / and saved those who cried out: / “Glory, O Christ, to Your power!”

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

With resounding hymns [in faith] / we cry out to You, (Virgin) All-Glorified: / “Rejoice, fruitful mountain, nourished by the Spirit; / rejoice, lamp and vessel containing manna, / which delights the senses of all the pious!”

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Reconciliation of the world, / Rejoice, Most Pure Lady; / Rejoice, ladder that has lifted all from the earth by grace; / Rejoice, bridge that truly leads all who sing Your praises / from death to life.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Most High of Heaven, rejoice, / foundation of the earth in Your womb, Most Pure One, who bore without labor; / rejoice, purple shell, / who dyed the Divine purple / with Your blood for the King of Powers.

Glory: You who truly gave birth to the Lawgiver, / Rejoice, O Lady, who by Your gift atones for all iniquity, / unfathomable depth, ineffable height, / who knew no marriage, / through whom we have received deification.

And now: We sing to You, who wove for the world a crown not made by human hands, / “Rejoice!” We cry out to You, O Virgin, / protector and shield of all, / our strength and sacred refuge.

Song 5

Irmos: The whole world marveled / at Your divine glory: / for You, the Virgin who knew no marriage, / bore the Most High God in Your womb / and gave birth to the eternal Son, / who grants peace to all who sing Your praises.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Rejoice, O All-Pure One, who gave birth to the Way of Life, / who saved the world from the flood of sin; / rejoice, O Bride of God, / whose very mention and speech inspire awe; / rejoice, O dwelling place of the Lord of all creation.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Strength and stronghold of mankind, / Rejoice, Most Pure One, place of glorious sanctification, / destruction of hell, most radiant bridal chamber; / Rejoice, joy of the angels, / Rejoice, help to those who pray to You with faith.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Fire-like chariot of the Word, / Rejoice, O Sovereign Lady, living paradise, / Having within you the Tree of Life—the Lord, / Whose sweetness gives life to those who partake of Him in faith, / Though they are subject to corruption.

Glory: Strengthened by Your power, / we cry out to You with faith: / Rejoice, City of the King of all, / of whom it is clearly and gloriously proclaimed, / Rejoice, mountain that cannot be split, depth that cannot be fathomed.

And now: Vast tabernacle of the Word, / Rejoice, Most Pure One, / shell that brought forth the Divine Pearl; / Rejoice, All-Marvelous One, through whom all are reconciled to God, / you, Mother of God, / whom they always call blessed.

Hymn 6

Irmos: As we celebrate this divine and universally honored / feast of the Mother of God, / come, O God-wise ones, / let us begin to clap our hands, / glorifying the God born of her.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Immaculate Dwelling of the Word, / Cause of the deification of all, / Rejoice, All-Pure One, of whom the prophets spoke, / Rejoice, Adornment of the Apostles.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

From You the dew has fallen, / extinguishing the flame of idolatry; / therefore we cry out to You: / “Rejoice, O Virgin, the fleece that was drenched, / which Gideon saw of old!”

Glory: Behold, we proclaim “Rejoice!” to You; / be a harbor for us who sail the sea, / and a support in the depths of sorrow / and the temptations of the common enemy.

And now: O Source of Joy, enlighten our minds, / so that we may proclaim to You: / “Rejoice, unburned thornbush, most radiant cloud, / ever sheltering the faithful!”

Akathist to the Most Blessed
Our Lady, the Mother of God
and Ever-Virgin Mary,
Tone 8

Blessed George of Pisidia

Kontakion 1: O Commander who defends me / for deliverance from terrible calamities / I, Your city, O Mother of God, / offer You thanksgiving for the triumph of victory! / But You, possessing invincible power, / deliver me from all dangers, that I may cry out to You: / “Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage!”*

*Glory: To You, our Commander-in-Chief who defends us / for delivering us from terrible calamities / we, Your servants, establish for You celebrations of victory in thanksgiving, O Mother of God! / But You, possessing invincible power, / deliver us from all dangers, that we may cry out to You: / “Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage!”

Ikos 1: An angel-messenger was sent from heaven / to say to the Mother of God: “Rejoice!” / And, beholding You, O Lord, / incarnate through this incorporeal cry, he marveled, / and stood, crying out to Her:

Rejoice, for through You joy will shine forth; / rejoice, for through You the curse will vanish.

Rejoice, the call to salvation for fallen Adam; / Rejoice, the deliverance of Eve from tears.

Rejoice, height beyond the reach of human thought; / Rejoice, depth impenetrable even to angelic eyes.

Rejoice, for You are the throne of the King; / Rejoice, for You bear the One who bears all things.

Rejoice, star that reveals the Sun; / Rejoice, womb of the Divine Incarnation.

Rejoice, for through You creation is renewed; / rejoice, for in You the Creator becomes a Child.

Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage.

Kontakion 2: The Holy One, seeing Herself in purity, / speaks boldly to Gabriel: / “Your strange words seem unacceptable to my soul; / for how can you speak of bearing a child / from a seedless conception, exclaiming: / Alleluia!”

Ikos 2: Seeking to know the unknowable, / the Virgin exclaimed, addressing the minister of the mystery: / “From a pure womb, / how is it possible for the Son to be born? Tell Me.” / He answered Her with fear, yet proclaimed:

Rejoice, Servant of the mysteries of the ineffable plan; / rejoice, faithfulness to deeds that demand silence.

Rejoice, beginning of Christ’s miracles; / Rejoice, foundation of the dogmas concerning Him.

Rejoice, heavenly ladder, down which God descended; / rejoice, bridge that carries those from earth to heaven.

Rejoice, miracle much praised by the angels; / rejoice, defeat of the demons, much lamented.

Rejoice, you who gave birth to the Light in an inexpressible way; / rejoice, you who revealed it to no one as it was.

Rejoice, you who surpass the understanding of the wise; / Rejoice, you who enlighten the minds of the faithful.

Rejoice, Bride who knew no marriage.

Kontakion 3: The Power of the Most High then / overshadowed her who had not known marriage at the time of her conception, / and her fruitful womb / appeared as a sweet field / for all who desire to reap salvation, / singing thus: / Alleluia!

Ikos 3: Having a womb that received God, / the Virgin hastened to Elizabeth; / and the infant in her womb, upon hearing her greeting, / rejoiced and, with leaps of joy as if in song, cried out to the Mother of God:

Rejoice, branch of the unfading Sprout; / rejoice, portion of the immortal Fruit.

Rejoice, you who cultivate the philanthropic Farmer; / rejoice, you who give birth to the Sower of our life.

Rejoice, field yielding a bountiful harvest of compassion; / Rejoice, table bearing an abundance of atonement.

Rejoice, for You cause the lush meadow to blossom; / Rejoice, for You prepare a refuge for souls.

Rejoice, sweet incense of intercession; / Rejoice, redemption of the whole world.

Rejoice, God’s favor toward mortals; / Rejoice, mortals’ boldness before God.

Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage.

Kontakion 4: With a storm of doubtful thoughts within him, / the chaste Joseph was thrown into confusion, / looking upon You, the unwed, and suspecting / that You, the Immaculate One, had violated Your purity; / but upon learning of Your conception by the Holy Spirit, he cried out: / Alleluia!

Ikos 4: The shepherds heard the angels singing / of Christ’s coming in the flesh, / and, hastening to Him as to their Shepherd, / they saw Him as the spotless Lamb, / nurtured in Mary’s womb; / singing her praises, they cried out: /

Rejoice, Mother of the Lamb and the Shepherd; / rejoice, fold of wise sheep.

Rejoice, protection against invisible enemies; / Rejoice, key that opens the gates of paradise.

Rejoice, for all that is heavenly rejoices together with the earth; / Rejoice, for all that is earthly rejoices together with heaven.

Rejoice, unceasing lips of the Apostles; / Rejoice, invincible boldness of the martyrs.

Rejoice, firm foundation of faith; / rejoice, clear knowledge of grace.

Rejoice, for through You hell has been laid bare; / rejoice, for through You we have been clothed in glory.

Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage.

Kontakion 5: Seeing the star moved by God, the Magi / followed its radiance / and, holding it as a lamp, / sought the mighty King with it; / and, having reached the Unreachable One, / they rejoiced, crying out to Him: / Alleluia!

Ikos 5: The sons of the Chaldeans saw in the arms of the Virgin the One who created mankind with His own hand; and recognizing the Lord in Him—though He had taken the form of a servant—they hastened to honor Him with gifts and to proclaim Her Blessed:

Rejoice, Mother of the Unset Star; / rejoice, dawn of the mysterious day.

Rejoice, you who have extinguished the furnace of deceit; / rejoice, you who enlighten the ministers of the mysteries of the Trinity.

Rejoice, you who stripped the inhuman tyrant of his power; / Rejoice, you who revealed the philanthropic Lord—Christ.

Rejoice, you who free us from barbaric rites; / Rejoice, you who deliver us from impure deeds.

Rejoice, you who put an end to the worship of fire; / Rejoice, you who deliver us from the flames of passion.

Rejoice, you who lead the faithful to chastity; / Rejoice, joy of all generations.

Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage.

Kontakion 6: Having become divinely inspired heralds, the Magi / returned to Babylon, / fulfilling what had been foretold about You, / and proclaiming You to all as the Christ, / they left Herod behind as a babbler, / who did not know the song: / Alleluia!

Ikos 6: Shining forth in Egypt with the light of truth, / You dispelled the darkness of falsehood; / for its idols, O Savior, / unable to withstand Your power, fell, / and those delivered from them cried out to the Mother of God:

Rejoice, restoration of mankind; / Rejoice, overthrow of demons.

Rejoice, You who have corrected the deception of falsehood; / Rejoice, You who have exposed the deceit of idolatry.

Rejoice, sea that drowned the incorporeal Pharaoh; / Rejoice, rock that quenched the thirst of those longing for life.

Rejoice, pillar of fire, guiding those in darkness; / Rejoice, shield of the world, vaster than the clouds.

Rejoice, you who have replaced manna as sustenance; / Rejoice, you who are the handmaiden of holy delights.

Rejoice, land of promise; / Rejoice, land flowing with milk and honey.

Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage.

Kontakion 7: When Simeon was about to / depart from this deceitful present age, / You were given to him as an Infant, / yet he recognized You as the perfect God. / Therefore, he marveled at Your ineffable wisdom, exclaiming: / Alleluia!

Ikos 7: An unprecedented miracle has been revealed / by the Creator, who appeared to us, His creation, / having been born without seed from the womb of the Virgin / and preserving her, just as she was, unharmed, / so that, seeing this miracle, we might sing her praises, proclaiming:

Rejoice, flower of incorruption; / Rejoice, crown of chastity.

Rejoice, you who reflect the radiance of the Resurrection; / Rejoice, you who reveal the life of the angels.

Rejoice, tree bearing beautiful fruit, from which the faithful are nourished; / Rejoice, tree with shady foliage, under which many find refuge.

Rejoice, you who bore in your womb the Redeemer of the captives; / Rejoice, you who gave birth to the Guide of the lost.

Rejoice, appeasement of the righteous Judge; / Rejoice, forgiveness of many sins.

Rejoice, garment for those who lack boldness; / Rejoice, love that surpasses every desire.

Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage.

Kontakion 8: Having beheld this wondrous birth, / let us withdraw from the world, / directing our minds toward heaven. / For this reason, the Most High God / appeared on earth as a humble man, / desiring to draw to the heights / those who cry out to Him: / Alleluia!

Ikos 8: All things were in the lower realms, / and the Boundless Word left nothing of the heavenly realms; / for a divine descent took place, / yet not a change of place, / and the birth from the Virgin who received God, / who hears these words from us:

Rejoice, dwelling place of the incomprehensible God; / Rejoice, gate of the holy mystery.

Rejoice, news that is doubtful to the unbelievers; / Rejoice, praise that is certain to the faithful.

Rejoice, most holy chariot of Him who sits upon the Cherubim; / Rejoice, most beautiful dwelling place of Him who sits upon the Seraphim.

Rejoice, you who have brought opposites together; / Rejoice, you who have united virginity and childbirth.

Rejoice, for through you transgression has been atoned for; / Rejoice, for through you paradise has been opened.

Rejoice, key to the Kingdom of Christ; / Rejoice, hope of eternal blessings.

Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage.

Kontakion 9: The entire angelic world was amazed / at the great work of Your Incarnation; / for He Who, as God, is unapproachable, / they beheld as a man accessible to all, / dwelling among us / and hearing from everyone: / Alleluia!

Ikos 9: We see before You, Mother of God, / the eloquent orators as voiceless as fish, / for they are unable to explain / how You remain a virgin and yet were able to give birth. / We, however, marveling at this mystery, exclaim with faith:

Rejoice, vessel of God’s Wisdom; / rejoice, treasury of His providence.

Rejoice, you who expose philosophers as foolish; / rejoice, you who expose those skilled in speech as foolish.

Rejoice, for the cunning debaters have been confounded; / rejoice, for the authors of fables have withered away.

Rejoice, you who unravel the intricate schemes of the Athenians; / rejoice, you who fill the fishermen’s nets.

Rejoice, you who draw us up from the depths of ignorance; / Rejoice, you who enlighten many in knowledge.

Rejoice, ship for those who seek salvation; / Rejoice, harbor for those sailing the sea of life.

Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage.

Kontakion 10: Desiring to save the world, the Creator of all / came to it according to His own promise; / and, being a shepherd as God, / for our sake He appeared as a man, just as we are; / for having called the like to Himself, / He, as God, hears from all: / Alleluia!

Ikos 10: You are a wall of protection for virgins, O Virgin Mother of God, / and for all who take refuge in You. / For the Creator of heaven and earth has exalted You, O Most Pure One, / dwelling in Your womb / and teaching all to proclaim to You:

Rejoice, pillar of virginity; / Rejoice, gate of salvation.

Rejoice, Leader of spiritual rebirth; / Rejoice, Bestower of divine grace.

Rejoice, for You have renewed those conceived in shame; / Rejoice, for You have enlightened those deprived of reason.

Rejoice, You who remove the corrupter of thoughts; / Rejoice, You who gave birth to the Sower of purity.

Rejoice, abode of seedless marriage; / rejoice, uniter of the faithful with the Lord.

Rejoice, O beautiful teacher of virgins; / Rejoice, O you who clothe holy souls as brides.

Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage.

Kontakion 11: Every hymn falls short, / striving to encompass the multitude / of Your abundant mercies; / for even if we were to offer You, O Holy King, / songs as numerous as the sand, / we would not accomplish anything worthy / of what You have given us, we who call upon You: / Alleluia!

Ikos 11: We see in the Holy Virgin / a light-bearing candle / that has appeared to those dwelling in darkness; / for, kindling the incorporeal Light, / She leads all to the knowledge of God, / like the dawn, illuminating the mind, / and is honored with this invocation:

Rejoice, ray of the spiritual Sun; / rejoice, radiance of the Light that never sets.

Rejoice, lightning that illuminates the soul; / rejoice, like thunder that strikes down enemies.

Rejoice, for You radiate a luminous splendor; / Rejoice, for You pour forth a river of abundant waters.

Rejoice, image depicted in the baptismal font; / rejoice, remover of the stain of sin.

Rejoice, bath that washes the conscience; / Rejoice, cup that holds joy.

Rejoice, fragrance of Christ’s sweet aroma; / rejoice, life of the mystical feast.

Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage.

Kontakion 12: Desiring to bestow grace / and the forgiveness of ancient debts, / the Forgiver of all people’s debts / came Himself to those who had strayed from His grace, / and, tearing up the debt note, / hears from all: / Alleluia!

Ikos 12: Singing of the birth of Christ through you, / we all praise you / as a living temple, O Mother of God; / for having dwelt in your womb, / the Lord, who holds all things in His hand, / sanctified you, glorified you, / and taught all to call upon you:

Rejoice, tabernacle of God and the Word; / rejoice, great Holy of Holies.

Rejoice, ark gilded by the Spirit; / Rejoice, inexhaustible treasure of life.

Rejoice, precious crown of the pious kings; / Rejoice, sacred praise of the devout priests.

Rejoice, unshakable stronghold of the Church; / rejoice, unbreakable wall of the kingdom.

Rejoice, for through You trophies are raised high; / Rejoice, for through You enemies are overthrown.

Rejoice, healing of my body; / Rejoice, salvation of my soul.

Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage.

Kontakion 13: O all-glorious Mother, / who gave birth to the Most Holy Word, the Holy of Holies! / Accepting this present offering, / deliver all from every misfortune / and free from future punishment / those who cry out together (to You): / Alleluia! Repeat this kontakion three times.

Then the 1st ikos is read: An angel-messenger was sent from heaven / to say to the Mother of God: “Rejoice!” / And, beholding You, O Lord, / incarnate through this incorporeal cry, he marveled, / and stood, crying out to Her thus:

And the 1st Kondak: To You, my Defender and Commander, / for deliverance from terrible calamities, / I, Your city, O Mother of God, / establish these triumphant celebrations of victory in thanksgiving! / But You, possessing invincible power, / deliver me from all dangers, that I may cry out to You: / “Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage!”*

*Glory: To You, our Commander-in-Chief who defends us / for delivering us from terrible calamities / we, Your servants, offer You these celebrations of victory in thanksgiving, O Mother of God! / But You, possessing invincible power, / deliver us from all dangers, that we may cry out to You: / “Rejoice, Bride who has never known marriage!”

Hymn 7

Irmos: The godly did not honor / the creatures more than the Creator, / but, having bravely overcome the fire that threatened them, / they joyfully sang: / “Most praiseworthy Lord and God of our fathers, / blessed are You!”

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

We sing Your praises, crying out: / “Rejoice, chariot of the spiritual Sun; / true vine, who has produced a ripe cluster, / pouring forth wine that gladdens the souls / of those who glorify You with faith!”

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

You who bore the Healer of [all] people in Your womb, / Rejoice, Bride of God, / Mysterious staff that brought forth the unfading Flower; / Rejoice, Sovereign Lady, through Whom we are filled with joy, / and inherit life.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

No human tongue / can sing Your praises, O Sovereign Lady, / for You have been exalted above the Seraphim, / having borne Christ the King in Your womb; / pray to Him, that those who worship You with faith / may now be delivered from all harm.

Glory: The ends of the earth praise You, calling You blessed, / and with love they cry out to You: / “Rejoice, O scroll in which the Word was inscribed / by the Father’s finger, O Pure One; / implore Him that Your servants may be inscribed / in the book of life, O Mother of God!”

And now: We, Your servants, implore You / and bow the knees of our hearts: / “Incline Your ear, O Pure One, / and save us, who are overwhelmed by sorrows, / and preserve Your city from every enemy captivity, / O Mother of God!”

Hymn 8

Irmos: The Child of the Mother of God saved / the pious youths in the furnace: / then as a foreshadowing, now as a reality; / He calls the whole universe to sing to You. / Sing to the Lord, O creatures, / and exalt Him for all ages!

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

You received the Word in your womb, / bore the One who bears all things, / and nursed with your milk the One who, by His will, nourishes / the entire universe, O Pure One. / To Him we sing: / “Sing to the Lord, all creation, / and exalt Him forever and ever!”

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Moses perceived in the burning bush / the great mystery of Christ’s birth from You; / the youths, too, foreshadowed it most clearly, / standing in the midst of the fire yet unharmed by it, / O immaculate Holy Virgin. / Therefore, we sing Your praises for all ages!

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Once stripped bare by deceit, / we were clothed in the garment of incorruption, / when You bore Him in Your womb; / and we who sat in the darkness of sin / saw the Light, O Virgin, the dwelling place of the Light. / Therefore we sing Your praises forever and ever!

Glory: The dead are brought to life through You, / for You bore the Incarnate Life in Your womb; / those who were once mute begin to speak clearly, / lepers are cleansed, infirmities are driven away, / multitudes of aerial spirits are vanquished, / O Virgin, salvation of mortals.

And now: You who gave birth to the world’s salvation, / through whom we have been lifted from the earth to the heights, / rejoice, All-Blessed One, our shield and stronghold, / wall and fortress for those who sing, O Pure One: / “Praise the Lord, all creation, / and exalt Him forever and ever!”

Hymn 9

Irmos: Let everyone born on earth / rejoice, enlightened by the Spirit; / let the nature of the incorporeal Minds also rejoice, / honoring the sacred feast of the Mother of God, / and let them cry out: / “Rejoice, All-Blessed One, / Pure Mother of God, Ever-Virgin!”

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

So that we, the faithful, may cry out to You, “Rejoice,” / having become, through You, partakers of eternal joy, / deliver us from temptation, from foreign captivity, / and from every other calamity, / which, O Virgin, / befalls sinners because of their many sins.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

You have appeared as our light and our strength, / therefore we cry out to You: / “Rejoice, O star that never sets, / bringing the great Sun into the world; / rejoice, O Pure One, who opened the closed Garden of Eden; / rejoice, O pillar of fire, / leading humanity into the life above!”

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Let us stand reverently / in the house of our God and proclaim: / “Rejoice, Mistress of the world, / rejoice, Mary, Lady of us all; / rejoice, the only one among women / who is immaculate and beautiful; / rejoice, vessel, / who received the inexhaustible grace poured out upon you.”

Glory: O Dove, who gave birth to the Merciful One, / Rejoice, Ever-Virgin, / Rejoice, praise of all the holy ones, / crown of the ascetics; / Rejoice, divine adornment of all the righteous, / and salvation for us, the faithful.

And now: Have mercy, O God, on Your inheritance, / now overlooking all our sins, / for we have one who intercedes for us, / who bore You in her womb on earth without seed, / O Christ, who, by Your great mercy, chose to take on / the form (human) / that was previously foreign to You.

Exapostilarion

Rejoice with exultation, sing with joy: / now in the city of Nazareth the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin / bringing joy, the joy of the good news: / “Rejoice, O pure and spotless one, Protector of the world, / rejoice, O Heavenly Throne!”

Prayer to the Most Holy Mother of God

Accept, all-blessed and mighty Most Pure Lady, Mother of God, these precious gifts, befitting You alone, from us, Your unworthy servants, chosen from all generations, who have been revealed as the highest of all heavenly and earthly creatures! For through You the Lord of Hosts is now with us, and through You we have come to know the Son of God and have been deemed worthy of His holy Body and His most pure Blood. Therefore, You are blessed among all generations, having attained bliss in God, brighter than the Cherubim and higher in honor than the Seraphim. And now, all-praised Most Holy Mother of God, do not cease to pray for us, Your unworthy servants, that we may be delivered from every evil counsel and every misfortune, and be preserved unharmed from every venomous attack of the devil. But even until the end, preserve us through Your prayers without condemnation, so that, saved by Your intercession and help, we may send up all glory, praise, thanksgiving, and worship to the one God in the Trinity and Creator of all, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Another Prayer

O Most Holy Lady, Mother of God! You are exalted above all angels and archangels, and honored above all creation: Helper of the oppressed, hope of the hopeless, Advocate of the poor, comfort of the sorrowful, Nourisher of the hungry, clothing of the naked, healing of the sick, salvation of sinners, and help and protection for all Christians. O All-Merciful Lady, Virgin Mother of God, Sovereign! By Your mercy, save and have mercy on Your servants, the most holy Orthodox patriarchs, and the most reverend metropolitans, archbishops, and bishops, and the entire priestly and monastic order. Save, O Lady, and have mercy on our God-protected Russian land, its people, and all those in authority—the military commanders, city governors, and the entire army—as well as those who do good, and protect all Orthodox Christians with Your sacred mantle. And implore, O Lady, Christ our God, who was incarnate of Thee without seed, that He may gird us with His power from on high against our invisible and visible enemies. O All-Merciful Lady, Sovereign Mother of God! Lift us up from the depths of sin and deliver us from famine, pestilence, earthquakes, and floods; from fire and the sword; from the invasion of foreign nations and civil war; from sudden death; from the enemy’s attack; from destructive winds; from deadly plagues; and from every evil. Grant, O Lady, peace and health to Your servants, all Orthodox Christians, and enlighten their minds and the eyes of their hearts for their salvation, and make us, Your sinful servants, worthy of the Kingdom of Your Son, Christ our God. For His dominion is blessed and glorified, together with His Father without beginning, and His all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

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PRAYER CANON
TO THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD.
(SUNG IN TIMES OF EVERY SPIRITUAL SORROW AND TRIAL)
COMPOSED BY THE MONK THEOSTRICT

Troparion to the Most Holy Mother of God, Tone 4

Let us now earnestly take refuge in the Mother of God / we, the sinful and humble, and let us fall down before Her, / crying out in repentance from the depths of our souls: / “O Lady, help us, having mercy on us, / hasten to our aid, for we are perishing from our many sins! / Do not send Your servants away empty-handed: / for in You we have our only hope!” (Twice)

Glory, and now: May we, unworthy as we are, never cease / to proclaim Your might, O Mother of God, / for if You did not protect us with Your prayers, / who would have delivered us from so many calamities, / who would have kept us free until now? / We will not turn away from You, O Lady, / for You always save Your servants from every calamity.

Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos, Tone 8.
Ode 1

Irmos: Walking on the water as on dry land, / and having escaped the corruption of Egypt, / the Israelites cried out: / “Let us sing to our Deliverer and our God!”

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Tormented by countless temptations, / I take refuge in You, seeking salvation. / O Mother of the Word and Virgin, / save me from troubles and misfortunes!

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

The assaults of the passions trouble me, / filling my soul with deep despondency. / Calm it, O Virgin, with the peace / of Your Son and God, O All-Pure One.

Glory: To you, who gave birth to the Savior and God, / I implore deliverance from calamities; / for now, turning to you, O Virgin, / I lift up both my soul and my thoughts.

And now: Grant me, who am afflicted in body and soul, / the grace of Your divine visitation / and Your care, O only Mother of God, / as the good and gracious Mother of the Good One.

Hymn 3

Irmos: Creator of the heavenly vault, O Lord, / and Builder of the Church, / strengthen me in love for You, / the fulfillment of all desires, the confirmation of the faithful, / the only Lover of mankind.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

I count You, Mother of God, Virgin, / as the protection and shelter of my life. / Guide me, like a helmsman, to Your harbor, / Source of all good things, the strength of the faithful, / the One praised by all.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

I beseech You, O Virgin, to dispel the turmoil of my soul / and the storm of my despondency— / for You, the Bride of God, conceived / Christ, the Prince of Peace, / the One who is all-pure.

Glory: You who gave birth to the Benefactor, the Source of all good, / pour out a wealth of blessings upon all, / for You can do all things, / having given birth to Christ, the One of mighty power, / blessed in God.

And now: To one tested by grievous ailments / and painful sufferings, / help me, O Virgin, / for I know You, O All-Pure One, as the inexhaustible, unfailing / treasury of healings.

Deliver Your servants from their troubles, O Mother of God, / for we all turn to You after God, / as to an unshakable Wall and Intercessor.

Look favorably, All-Praised Mother of God, / upon the severe suffering of my body / and heal the sorrow of my soul.

Troparion, Tone 2

Fervent Intercessor and impregnable Wall, / Source of mercy, Refuge of the world! / We earnestly cry out to You: / “Mother of God, Sovereign, hasten / and deliver us from our troubles, / our only swift Intercessor!”

Hymn 4

Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, / of the mystery of Your providence, / I have understood Your works, / and I have glorified Your Divinity.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Calm the turmoil of my passions, / You who gave birth to the Lord, our Helmsman, / and the storm of my sins, / Bride of God.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Grant me the depths of Your mercy, / O Mother of the Merciful One / and Savior of all who sing Your praises, / as I cry out for help.

Refrain. Rejoicing, O All-Pure One, / in Your gifts, / we sing a song of thanksgiving, / knowing You, Mother of God.

Glory: (As I lie on my sickbed / in my infirmity, / help me, Mother of God, who loves what is good, / you who are ever-virgin.)

And now: Having You, O All-Glorious One, / as our hope, our strength, / and an unshakable wall of salvation, / we are delivered from every hardship.

Hymn 5

Irmos: Enlighten us with Your commandments, O Lord, / and with Your uplifted hand / grant us Your peace, O Lover of mankind.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Fill my heart with joy, O Pure One, / granting Your unclouded joy, / You who gave birth to the Source of Joy.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Deliver us from misfortune, O Pure Mother of God, / who gave birth to eternal deliverance / and peace that surpasses all understanding.

Glory: Disperse the darkness of my sins, / Bride of God, / with the light of Your radiance, / You who gave birth to the divine and eternal Light.

And now: Heal, O Pure One, the weakness of my soul, / by deigning to visit me, / and grant me health through Your intercession.

Song 6

Irmos: I will pour out my prayer to the Lord / and make known to Him my sorrows, / for my soul is filled with evil / and my life has drawn near to hell, / and I pray, like Jonah: / “Deliver me from destruction, O God!”

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

He who saved us from death and decay, / having given Himself up to death, / my nature, enveloped in death and decay, /—the Lord and Your Son—O Virgin, intercede / to deliver me from the wickedness of my enemies.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

I know You as the Protector of life, / and the most faithful guardian, O Virgin, / who dispels the multitude of temptations, / and drives away the malice of demons; / and I pray to You always / to deliver me from my destructive passions.

Glory: We have You as a wall of refuge, / and the complete salvation of our souls, / and solace in our sorrows, O Virgin, / and in Your light we rejoice always. / And now, O Lady, / save us from passions and misfortunes.

And now: I now lie on my bed in weakness, / and there is no healing for my body; / but to You, O Good One, who gave birth to God, / the Savior of the world, / and the Deliverer from infirmities, / I pray: / raise me up from these deadly illnesses!

Kontakion, Tone 6

A sure protection for Christians, / An unchanging intercession before the Creator! / Do not despise the prayerful voices of sinners, / but come quickly, O Blessed One, to our aid, / as we call upon You with faith: / “Hasten with Your intercession and hasten Your prayer, O Mother of God, / ever protecting those who honor You!”

[Ikos

Stretch out Your hands, / in which You held the Lord of all as a Babe; / by Your abundant goodness, do not forsake us, / who always hope in You. / By Your ceaseless prayer / and Your immeasurable forbearance, have mercy on us / and show Your mercy to our souls, / pouring it out upon us forever. / For in You we sinners have a Protector, / from the misfortunes and evils that beset us. / But, as one full of grace and compassion, / hasten to intercede and speed up Your supplication, O Mother of God, / always protecting those who honor You!]*

Another Kontakion, in the same tone

We have no other help, / we have no other hope, / except You, O Sovereign Lady. / Help us: / in You we hope / and in You we boast, / for we are Your servants; / may we not be put to shame!

Stichera, same tone

Do not entrust me to human intercession, / Most Holy Lady, / but accept the prayer of Your servant: / for sorrow has overwhelmed me, / and I cannot bear the arrows shot by demons; / I have no protection / and nowhere to turn, wretched as I am, / beset on all sides / and having no consolation except You. / Lady of the world, hope and Intercessor of the faithful, / do not despise my prayer; grant me what is good for me!

Hymn 7

Irmos: The young men who came from Judea / once in Babylon / trampled the flames of the furnace with their faith in the Trinity, singing: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Desiring to bring about our salvation, / You, the Savior, dwelt in the womb of the Virgin, / Whom You revealed as the Protector of the world. / God of our fathers, blessed are You!

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

O pure Mother, who gave birth to Him / who loves mercy, / intercede for us, that we may be delivered from our sins / and the defilements of the soul, / as we cry out in faith: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”

Glory: You have revealed the One who gave birth to You / as the treasury of salvation / and the fountain of immortality, / and as a safe refuge, / and the door of repentance for those who cry out: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”

And now: The bodily infirmities / and spiritual ailments of those who come with love / to Your divine protection, O Mother of God, / deign to heal, / You who gave birth to Christ our Savior.

Hymn 8

Irmos: The King of Heaven, / Whom the hosts of angels sing of, / sing of and exalt / for all ages.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Do not despise those who seek Your help, O Virgin, / who sing of You, O Maiden, / and exalt You forever.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

You heal the infirmities of my soul, / and the sufferings of my body, O Virgin, / so that I may glorify You, / the Full of Grace, (forever).

Glory: You pour out healings abundantly / upon those who sing of You with faith, O Virgin, / and who extol the incomprehensible / birth of Christ through You.

And now: You repel the assaults of temptation / and the attacks of the passions, O Virgin, / therefore we sing / to You for all ages.

Hymn 9

Irmos: We truly confess You as the Mother of God / we who have been saved by You, O Pure Virgin, / as we magnify You together with the hosts of incorporeal beings.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Do not reject the flood of my tears, / O Virgin who gave birth to Christ, / who has wiped away every tear from every face.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Fill my heart with joy, O Virgin, / you who received the fullness of joy, / and who have destroyed the sorrow of sin.

Refrain: Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

Be our refuge and protection, / for those who flee to You, O Virgin, / and an unshakable wall, / and a refuge, and a shield, and joy.

Glory: Shine upon us with the rays of Your light, O Virgin, / dispelling the darkness of ignorance, / for those who reverently confess / You as the Mother of God.

And now: Heal, O Virgin, those who have humbled themselves / in the midst of suffering from illness, / transforming their infirmity into health.

Stichera, Tone 2

Let us honor with hymns / the Sovereign of the world, / who is higher than the heavens / and purer than the sun’s rays, / and who has delivered us from the curse.

Because of many sins, / my body is weak, / and my soul is feeble as well. / I take refuge in You, O Full of Grace: / Hope of the hopeless, / help me!

Mistress and Mother of the Redeemer! / Accept the supplications / of Your unworthy servants / for Your intercession before Him Who was born of You for our sake. / O Mistress of the World, stand as our Mediatrix!

We now sing with fervor / a joyful hymn to You, all-praised Mother of God: / together with the Forerunner and all the saints, / pray, O Mother of God, / for mercy upon us.

[May the mouths of the ungodly be silenced, / those who do not worship Your venerable icon, / painted by the most holy Apostle Luke, / the Odigitria.]

All the hosts of angels, / the Forerunner of the Lord, / the twelve Apostles, all the saints / together with the Mother of God, intercede / for our salvation!

Prayers to the Most Holy Mother of God*

My most gracious Queen, my Hope, Mother of God, refuge of orphans and protector of strangers, joy of the afflicted, patroness of the wronged! You see my distress, You see my sorrow; help me, who am weak, and guide me, who am a stranger. You know the wrong done to me: resolve it according to Your will. For I have no other help but You, no other Protector, no other gracious Comforter—only You, O Mother of God: may You preserve me and protect me forever and ever. Amen.

To whom shall I cry out, O Lady? To whom shall I turn in my sorrow, if not to You, O Queen of Heaven? Who will graciously accept my weeping and my sighs, if not You, O Immaculate One, the hope of Christians and the refuge of us sinners? Who better than You will protect me in times of trouble? Hear my groaning and incline Your ear to me, O Lady, Mother of my God; and do not despise me, who am in need of Your help, nor cast me away, a sinner. Enlighten and teach me, O Queen of Heaven; do not turn away from me, Your servant, O Lady, because of my grumbling, but be to me a Mother and Intercessor. I entrust myself to Your merciful protection: lead me, a sinner, to a peaceful and serene life, so that I may weep over my sins. For to whom shall I, the guilty one, turn if not to You, the hope and refuge of sinners, taking wing on the hope of Your ineffable mercy and Your generosity? O Sovereign Lady, Queen of Heaven! You are my hope and refuge, my shield and intercession, and my help. My most blessed Queen and swift Intercessor! Cover my sins with Your intercession; protect me from visible and invisible enemies; soften the hearts of the wicked who rise up against me. O Mother of the Lord, my Creator! You are the root of virginity and the unfading flower of purity. O Mother of God! Grant me Your help, for I am weak from carnal passions and my heart is ailing; for I have but one protection—You and Your Son with You—and may I be delivered by Your wondrous intercession from every calamity and misfortune, O immaculate and most glorious Mother of God, Mary. Therefore, with hope I proclaim and cry out: “Rejoice, O Full of Grace! Rejoice, O Joyful One! Rejoice, O Most Blessed One, the Lord is with you!”

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CANON TO THE HOLY AND LIFE-GIVING CROSS

Troparion to the Cross, Tone 1

Save, O Lord, Your people / and bless Your inheritance, / granting victory to the Orthodox Christians* over the foreigners / and preserving Your people through Your Cross.

*Greek: kings

Canon.
Composed by Gregory of Sinai. Tone 4.
Song 1

Irmos: I will open my mouth, / and it will be filled with the Spirit; / and I will speak to the Queen and Mother, / and I will appear radiant with joy, / and I will sing joyfully of Her wonders.

Refrain: Glory, O Lord, to Your Holy Cross.

All-powerful Cross, praise of the apostles, / strength of the saints, and sign of the faithful, / glory of the hierarchs and martyrs, / victory and strength of all who praise You.

Most Holy Cross, four-pointed Power, / splendor of the apostles, and strength of the martyrs; / You have appeared as health to the infirm, / as resurrection to the dead, and as exaltation to those who fall.

Glory: O Cross, be my strength, my fortress, and my power, / my deliverer and defender against those who fight against me, / my shield and guardian, my victory and my confirmation, / always preserving and sheltering me.

And now: When You, O All-Pure One, / beheld Your Son on the Cross, / the weapon of sorrow tore at Your heart, / and in Your agony You cried out with weeping, / but immediately You glorified the power of the Cross.

Song 3

Irmos: O Mother of God, / you are a living and abundant spring / for your singers, who have prepared this spiritual feast; / strengthen them, / and in your divine glory, / grant them the crowns of glory.

The Cross, the weapon of the saints, / the double-edged sword of Christ, / an ornament to the faithful, healing and protection to the afflicted, / and the resurrection of the dead, Most Holy One.

Cross, foundation of piety, / to demons you have appeared as a destroyer, / to the Churches—as splendor, to the ungodly—as destruction, / to enemies—as a source of shame on the Day of Judgment.

Glory: Life-giving Cross, / be for me a fortress and victory, / a shield and an impregnable wall; / the expulsion of demons, the quenching of evil thoughts, / and the preservation of my mind.

And now: The shameful crucifixion, O Virgin Sovereign, / Your Son endured, and a dishonorable death. / But He ascended and cast down the opposing forces of the enemy, / as the Immortal One.

Sedalen, Tone 8

In ancient times, Joshua / mysteriously foreshadowed the image of the Cross, / when he stretched out his arms in the shape of a cross, / and the sun stood still, / until he had destroyed the enemies / who resisted You, O God. / Now, however, it has grown dark, / seeing You, my Savior, on the Cross, / destroying the power of death / and laying waste to hell.

Song 4

You are the four-pointed world, / and like a sword with three blades / You cut down the rulers of darkness, as we depict You— / the Cross, Christ’s great and invincible weapon, / the almighty sign of victory.

Your height, Life-Giving Cross, / scourges the prince of the air, / and Your depth pierces the lord of the abyss, the serpent; / and once more—You represent breadth, / deposing the prince of this world by Your strength.

Glory: Having ascended, You drew the fallen with You, / You exalted the earthly nature, / You were glorified on a par with the Throne of God, / – O Cross, great height, bridge for the whole world, / lift my soul soon from the depths of passions.

And now: In the form of the Cross, Most Pure Virgin, / stretching out Your hands toward Him Exalted on the Cross, / and prayers, Virgin Mother of God, offer now, / for all who pray to You with faith.

Song 5

Cross, you are the heavenly ladder to the sanctuary, / the guide to ascension, the height and glory of Christ, / the image of God inscribed upon the world, / equally for both the invisible and the visible.

The Cross, an image of immeasurable power, / sanctifying the waters, purifying the air, / sanctifying and enlightening all, / a sign of courage and Christ’s unchanging scepter, / casting down adversaries to the ground.

Glory: O almighty Cross, cast down the wicked enemies, / who hate and blaspheme You madly, / strike down the pagans and subdue their arrogance. / O all-holy and Christ-bearing Cross, / preserve us by Your power!

And now: Queen and Mistress of All! / With the scepter of Him whom You bore, / O Virgin, crush the rebellion of those who blaspheme the power of the Cross. / Grant strength and mercy, victory and aid / to Your faithful people.

Hymn 6

Irmos: As we celebrate this divine and universally honored / feast of the Mother of God, / come, O God-wise ones, / let us begin to applaud, / glorifying the God born of Her.

The Cross—the resurrection of all, / The Cross—the restoration of the fallen, / the mortification of passions and the crucifixion of the flesh, / The Cross—glory to souls and eternal light.

The Cross—the destroyer of enemies, / The Cross—a scourge and captivity for the wicked, / and a source of strength for the faithful, / a protector of the pious and a driver away of demons.

Glory: The Cross—the destruction of passions, / The Cross—the banishment of evil thoughts; / The Cross—a crushing trial for the pagans, / and a snare for evil spirits.

And now: The Cross is raised— / and the hosts of aerial spirits fall; / The Cross descends—and all the ungodly are terrified, / as if seeing the power of the Cross like a flash of lightning.

Kontakion, of the same tone, Tone 4

Having been voluntarily lifted up on the Cross, / grant Your mercies to the new people who bear Your name, O Christ God; / gladden Your faithful people* with Your power, / granting them victory over their enemies, /—that they may have help from You, / the weapon of peace, the invincible sign of victory.

Ikos: Having been exalted to paradise, to the third heaven, / and having heard the ineffable and divine words, / which cannot be recounted in human languages— / what does he write to the Galatians, / as you, lovers of Scripture, have read and learned? / “Let me not boast,” he says, “except in the Cross of the Lord, / on which, having suffered, He put the passions to death.” / So let us all firmly hold fast to it, / the Cross of the Lord, as our boast; / for to us this saving Tree is / the weapon of peace, the invincible sign of victory.

*Greek: our kings

Hymn 7

We proclaim the Trinity, indivisible and unconfused, / one in essence: / the Father, who is unbegotten; the Son, who is begotten; / and the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father, / singing in hymns: / “Blessed be the God of our fathers!”

With Your unfading lightning bolts, O Triune One, / enlighten the eyes of our minds, / that we may contemplate Your super-essential beauty, O Three-Radiant One, /—that which is unknown to men and inaccessible to the angels.

Glory: O Good God, most praiseworthy and almighty! / With the rays of Your light, lift up from the depths / my fallen soul, which has slipped, / deprived of the light of grace / and plunged into darkness.

And now: With Your arms outstretched in the shape of a cross, O Pure One, / pray without ceasing to Him who stretched out His arms upon the Cross / and exalted our nature, / and put to death the hostile hosts.

Hymn 8

Irmos: The Child of the Theotokos saved the pious youths in the furnace: / then as a foreshadowing, now as a reality; / He summons the entire universe to sing to You. / Sing to the Lord, O creatures, / and exalt Him for all ages!

As the pinnacle of Christ’s sufferings, / and as a bow, armor, and sword, / a fail-safe weapon and an invincible power, / the footstool of Christ and the pledge of victory over enemies, / the sign of the Kingdom, the scepter of the faithful, / you have appeared, O Victorious Cross!

You have exalted our fallen nature, / raising it up through Christ’s crucifixion; / Divine height, ineffable depth! / You, Life-Giving Cross, overflowing with grace— / the sign of Christ, and boundless expanse, / and the image of the incomprehensible Trinity.

Glory: With our lips, souls, and hearts / kissing the Cross of the Lord, / come now, let us all lift it up and exalt it; / as we bow in worship, let us cry out together / the purest hymn, proclaiming: / “Rejoice, O great treasure, O Cross, / adornment of the Church!”

And now: Tree of life and salvation, / Tree of immortality, Tree of wisdom, / Tree thrice beloved, / spotless and inviolable, / the three-part Cross, the venerated Tree: / for it bears the image of the Triune God.

Hymn 9

Who will make known, as it is written, / your deeds, O Cross, beloved of the world, / the manifestations of God’s power and miracles, / and the resurrection of the dead? / And you have lifted up the whole world with you, / having yourself been lifted up to God, / the long-awaited One.

A source of strength for the faithful—the thrice-blessed Cross, / a sign and a praise, the almighty Tree. / The Cross of Christ, great and perfect, / a praise to the apostles, a source of strength to the saints, / and a fortress and strength to the martyrs, / victory and praise to the faithful.

Glory: Rejoice, O Cross, image indescribable and of many names, / Tree overflowing with gifts, / awesome and all-blessed! / Rejoice, O all-holy and almighty Cross! / Rejoice, guardian of our life, / the Lord’s Cross, much extolled!

And now: Precious Cross! / Be the guardian of my soul and body, / casting down demons with your image, / driving away enemies, abolishing passions, / and granting me blessing, life, and strength / through the intercession of the Holy Spirit / and the Most Pure One’s holy prayers.

Prayer to the Holy and Life-Giving Cross

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Creator of heaven and earth, Savior of the world! Behold, I, unworthy and the most sinful of all, humbly bowing the knees of my heart before the glory of Your majesty, sing of and extol Your immeasurable suffering, and offer thanksgiving to You, King of all and God; for You deigned to descend from Your heavenly Throne and be incarnated of the Most Pure Virgin Mary, for the sake of human salvation, uncorporeal—uniting the human nature with the Divinity; rich—You voluntarily became poor, so that You might enrich humanity in Your Kingdom; as a man, You bore upon Yourself labors and all manner of human afflictions, so that You might help all in every sorrow and need; having fasted for forty days, You showed everyone the path to self-control; You were tempted many times by evil men, delivering all from every temptation. I know, almighty Lord, that You had no need of any of this, but for the sake of humanity’s salvation You endured it all: You were betrayed for thirty pieces of silver to redeem humanity from the bitter bondage of the enemy; by the unmerciful Jews, like a lamb without malice, You were seized, snatching the human race from being devoured by the spiritual wolf; You appeared before the tribunal of Annas and Caiaphas, delivering all from condemnation to eternal fire; He was bound, reviled, spat upon, slandered by false witnesses, and condemned to a shameful death, delivering mankind from every calamity, torment, and eternal death; though He had done no evil, He was handed over to Pilate and sent to Herod, and reviled once more, delivering mankind from a state of misery and from the enemy’s insults. What, then, shall I give You, O Lord, Lover of Mankind, for all that You endured for my sake, a sinner? I do not know. For my soul, my body, and all good things—come from You; all that is mine is Yours, and I am Yours; trusting only in Your boundless mercy, O compassionate Lord, I sing of Your ineffable long-suffering, I extol Your inscrutable providence, I glorify Your immeasurable mercy: for this reason You humbled Yourself for my sake, though I am condemned, so that I might be justified. Bound to the pillar and mercilessly scourged, Savior, You who are merciful, I pray, deliver me from my sins; crowned with thorns, uproot the thorns of sin from my soul; struck on the head with a reed, crush the head of the serpent that wounds me with the sting of sin; clothed in a scarlet robe and handed over to my tormentors, O Most Holy King, make the garment of my soul bright, that I may enter Your most beautiful palace; Counted among thieves and bearing the Cross upon Your shoulders, drive away with Your Cross the thief-enemy who seeks to slay my soul. I know how terribly You, O long-suffering Jesus, were wounded: from the crown of Your holy head even to the soles of Your feet, there was not a single spot on You that was unharmed. What, then, can I say about Your ineffable love for mankind, Christ the Savior? Only with a contrite heart, worshiping Your Most Pure sufferings and kissing them in my mind with all my love, do I cry out: Have mercy on me, a sinner! You who deigned to be nailed to the Cross, nail my heart to Your commandments; having been lifted up with the Cross on Mount Golgotha, lift my thoughts to heaven, that I may always meditate on heavenly things; having been given gall mixed with vinegar, sweeten my heart, grieved by sin, with Your love, and quench my thirst from the stream of Your sweetness; You who stretched out Your most pure hands to receive all, receive me, a sinner; You whose feet were nailed to the Cross, You who always desire to be with sinners, be with me, a sinner, keeping my feet from every wicked path; You whose heart was open, reveal Your grace to me, a sinner; You who bowed Your most holy head upon the Cross, hear my unworthy prayers. O wondrous and immeasurable depth of mercy, Christ our God! You who prayed to God the Father for Your enemies—Your crucifiers—grant me, a sinner, this grace: to love my enemies and pray for them; You who opened the gates of paradise to the repentant thief, look upon me, O my Light, a sinner; grant me repentance and open to me the doors of Your mercy, and remember me, unworthy as I am, in Your Kingdom. Finally, having committed His most holy Spirit into the hands of God the Father, accept, O Creator, my spirit at the hour of my death; O Savior, taken down from the Cross and laid in the tomb as one who is dead, living in unapproachable light, take away from me the heavy burden of sin, and do not despise me, Lover of mankind, to dwell in the tomb of my unworthy heart to put to death my carnal thoughts; so that, living no longer for myself but for You, my Lord and God, I, Your mortal creature, may, by Your all-merciful kindness, O All-Merciful One, be deemed worthy to see You, my Creator and Savior, who, having accepted death on the cross, are crowned with glory and honor in the light of Your ineffable glory, where You reign with Your Beginningless Father, and with Your Most Holy, Good, Life-giving, and Consubstantial Spirit, before all ages, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

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CANON TO THE GUARDIAN ANGEL *

Troparion, Tone 6

Angel of God, my holy guardian, / preserve my life in reverence before Christ our God, / strengthen my mind on the true path, / and kindle my soul with love for heaven, / so that, guided by you, / I may receive great mercy from Christ our God.

Theotokion: Holy Lady, / Mother of Christ our God, / who gave birth to the Creator of all in a way beyond understanding, / pray unceasingly to His goodness, / together with my guardian Angel, / to save my soul, which is possessed by passions, / and to grant me forgiveness of sins.

CANON, Tone 8

Ode 1

Irmos: Let us sing to the Lord, / who led His people through the Red Sea, / for He alone is gloriously exalted.

Refrain: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

Grant Your servant, O Savior, / to sing this hymn and offer worthy praise / to the incorporeal Angel, / my guide and guardian.

Refrain: Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.

Now I lie alone / in foolishness and sloth; / my guide and guardian, / do not forsake me, who am perishing.

Glory: Guide my mind through your prayer, / so that I may fulfill God’s commandments / and receive forgiveness of sins from God, / and teach me to hate evil; I pray to you.

And now: Pray, O Virgin, for me, your servant, to the Benefactor, / together with my Guardian Angel, / and teach me to keep the commandments / of your Son and my Creator.

Hymn 3

Irmos: You are the strength / of those who take refuge in You, O Lord, / You are the light to those in darkness, / and my spirit sings Your praises.

Refrain: Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.

All my thoughts and my soul / I have turned to you, my guardian; / deliver me from every enemy’s attack.

Refrain: Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.

The enemy tramples me and oppresses me, / and teaches me always to fulfill his desires; / but you, my guide, / do not forsake me as I perish.

Glory: Grant that I may sing a song / with gratitude and zeal to the Creator and God / and to you, O good Angel, my guardian; / my Deliverer, rescue me / from the enemies who oppress me.

And now: Heal, O Most Pure One, / the deeply painful wounds of my soul; / drive away the enemies / who constantly fight against me.

Sedalen, Tone 2

Out of the love of my heart I cry out to you, / guardian of my soul, my all-holy Angel: / defend and preserve me from cunning snares at all times, / and guide me toward heavenly life, / instructing, enlightening, and strengthening me.

Glory, and now, to the Mother of God: O Virgin Mother of God, Most Pure, / who gave birth to the Lord of all without seed, / pray to Him, together with my Guardian Angel, / to deliver me from all doubt / and grant compassion and light to my soul, / and purification from sins, /—You, the only One who swiftly grants protection!

Song 4

Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, / of the mystery of Your providence, / I have understood Your works / and glorified Your Divinity.

Refrain: Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.

Pray to God, the Lover of mankind, / O my guardian, and do not forsake me, / but preserve my life in peace always, / and grant me unshakable salvation.

Refrain: Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.

As my intercessor and guardian of my life, / I have received you from God, O Angel; / I beseech you, O Holy One: / “Deliver me from all misfortunes!”

Glory: Cleanse my defilement with your holiness, my guardian, / and may I be delivered by your prayers from the fate of those standing on the left, / and may I become a partaker of glory.

And now: I am perplexed / by the misfortunes that surround me, Most Pure One, / but deliver me from them quickly: / for to You alone I have fled.

Hymn 5

Irmos: From dawn we cry out to You, O Lord: / “Save us, for You are our God; / we know no other besides You!”

Refrain: Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.

As one who has boldness before God, / my holy guardian, / implore Him to deliver me from the evils that oppress me.

Refrain: Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.

Shining light, brightly enlighten my soul, / my guide and guardian, / the Angel given to me by God.

Glory: While I sleep, weighed down by the burden of sins, / keep me awake, O Angel of God, / and lift me up to praise through your intercession.

And now: Mary, Lady and Mother of God, / who knew no marriage, hope of the faithful, / cast down the enemy’s attacks, / and gladden those who sing of You.

Hymn 6

Irmos: Grant me a radiant garment, / O Christ our God, who is clothed in light as in a garment, / O Most Merciful One!

Refrain: Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.

Deliver me from all calamities / and save me from sorrows; / I beseech you, holy Angel, given to me by God, / my good guardian.

Refrain: Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.

Enlighten my mind and enlighten me, O good one, / I beseech you, Holy Angel, / and always guide me / to think of what is good for me.

Glory: Keep my heart from present turmoil, / and strengthen me to remain vigilant in good deeds, my guardian, / and guide me wondrously toward life-giving peace.

And now: The Word of God has dwelt within you, O Mother of God, / and has revealed you to mankind as a heavenly ladder: / for through you the Most High has come down to us.

Kontakion, Tone 4

Be merciful to me, / holy Angel of the Lord, my guardian, / and do not forsake me, a sinner; / but enlighten me with the inaccessible light / and make me worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Ikos: My soul, humbled amid a multitude of temptations, / you, holy intercessor and singer / with the hosts of God’s incorporeal Powers, / have been made worthy of ineffable heavenly glory; / have mercy on me and preserve me, / and enlighten my soul with good thoughts, / so that, through Your glory, my Angel, / and bring down the enemies who plot against me, / and make me worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Hymn 7

Irmos: The young men who came from Judea, / once in Babylon, / by their faith in the Trinity trampled the flames of the furnace, singing: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”

Refrain: Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.

Be merciful to me / and entreat God, O Angel of the Lord: / for I have you as my intercessor throughout my life, / my guide and guardian, / granted to me by God for all eternity.

Refrain: Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.

Do not allow, O Holy Angel, / that my wretched soul, / which was entrusted to you by God without blemish, / be slain by robbers along the way, / but guide it onto the path of repentance.

Glory: I bring my soul, utterly ashamed, / because of my wicked thoughts and deeds; / but come quickly, my guide, / and grant me healing, so that through good thoughts / I may always turn to the right path.

And now: Fill us with wisdom and divine strength, / O Incarnate Wisdom of the Most High, / through the prayers of the Mother of God, / all who cry out in faith: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”

Ode 8

Irmos: O King of Heaven, / whom the hosts of angels sing of, / sing of Him and exalt Him / for all ages.

Refrain: Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.

Sent by God, / strengthen my life, O most blessed Angel, / and do not forsake me forever.

Refrain: Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.

Truly blessed Angel, / guide and guardian of my soul, / I sing your praises forever, O most blessed one.

Glory: Be my shield and strong wall / on the day of trial for all people, / when both good and evil deeds / will be tested by fire.

And now: Be my helper and my peace, / Ever-Virgin Mother of God, to Your servant, / and do not let me be left / without Your protection.

Hymn 9

Irmos: Truly we confess You as the Mother of God / we who have been saved by You, O Pure Virgin, / as we magnify You with the hosts of incorporeal beings.

Chorus: Sweetest Jesus, save me.

Have mercy on me, my only Savior, / for You are gracious and merciful, / and make me a part / of the host of the righteous.

Refrain: Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.

Grant that I may always think and act, O Angel of the Lord, / in ways that are good and beneficial, / and make me strong in weakness and blameless.

Glory: As one who has boldness before the Heavenly King, / pray to Him, together with the other incorporeal ones, / to have mercy on me, the wretched one.

And now: O Virgin, having great boldness / before Him who was incarnate from you, / free me from my bonds, and grant me deliverance / and salvation through your prayers.

Prayer to the Holy Guardian Angel

Holy Angel of Christ, as I cast myself before you, I pray: my holy guardian, assigned to me from the time of my holy baptism to watch over my soul and body, I, a sinner! But I, through my laziness and my wicked disposition, have angered you, the purest and most radiant one, and driven you away from me by all manner of shameful deeds: lying, slander, envy, condemnation, disobedience, hatred toward my brothers, and vindictiveness; greed, adultery, rage, stinginess, insatiable gluttony, loquacity, evil and deceitful thoughts, and a habit of pride, pursuing every carnal desire according to my own will. O my wicked consent to what even senseless beasts do not do! And how then can you look upon me, or draw near to me? With what eyes, O Angel of Christ, will you look upon me, who am wretchedly entangled in vile deeds? And how can I still ask for forgiveness for my bitter, evil, and deceitful deeds, into which I fall day and night, and at every hour? But I pray, falling prostrate before you, my holy guardian: have mercy on me, your sinful and unworthy servant (name); be my helper and intercessor against my evil adversary through your holy prayers; and make me a partaker of the Kingdom of God with all the saints for ever and ever. Amen.

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CANON WITH AKATHIST
TO SAINT NICHOLAS, THE MIRACLE-WORKER

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us.

Heavenly King: The Holy Trinity. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: O Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father: O Lord, have mercy. (12) Glory, and now: Come, let us worship: (3) Psalm 50.

Troparion, Tone 4

As a rule of faith and a model of meekness, / a teacher of self-control, / the unchanging Truth revealed you / to your flock. / Therefore, through humility you attained greatness, / and through poverty, wealth. / Father, Saint Nicholas, / pray to Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.

Glory, and now, to the Mother of God: A mystery hidden from ages past / and unknown to the angels, / has been revealed through You, O Mother of God, to those living on earth— / God, incarnate in the unconfused union of two natures, / who willingly accepted the Cross for our sake— / through it He raised Adam, the first man, from the dead / and saved our souls from death.

Canon to Saint Nicholas.
Ode 1

Irmos: I will open my mouth, / and it will be filled with the Spirit; / and I will speak to the Queen and Mother, / and I will appear radiant with joy, / and I will joyfully sing of Her wonders.

Holy Father Nicholas, pray to God for us.

Good shepherd of Christ’s flock, / Rejoice, Nicholas, / for to the citizens of Myra in Lycia / you were a revered father and teacher; / and allow me to offer you / the greeting, “Rejoice!”

Saint Nicholas, our Father, pray to God for us.

Let the peoples of the earth gather / to offer the cry of “Rejoice!” to the saint: / for he brings joy / to the universe that never runs dry.

Glory: To you, who delivered the three governors / from unjust murder, we cry out: / “Rejoice, Nicholas, defender of those who take refuge / under your protection!”

And now: Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God, / who received joy from the Angel, / and save those who magnify You.

Hymn 3

Irmos: O Mother of God, / you are a living and abundant spring; / strengthen those who have prepared this spiritual feast, / and in your divine glory / grant them crowns of glory.

No one who takes refuge / under the shelter of hope in you, Father, / leaves you empty-handed, / but, offering you the cry “Rejoice,” / receives help, Nicholas; / grant it to me as well, O All-Blessed One.

The angels marvel, O Venerable One, / at your fervent intercession, / while people rejoice, receiving through your prayers / deliverance from demonic afflictions; / therefore we offer you the cry of “Rejoice,” / O most praiseworthy Nicholas!

Glory: You are the helmet and the invincible weapon / against the devil, / a source of strength for Christians, / and an ornament for the hierarchs, wondrous Nicholas. / Rejoice, great miracle-worker, / a peaceful haven for those in turmoil.

And now: Having conceived Your Creator, O Mother of God, / You gave birth to the Creator and Lord of all; / Pray to Him that He may deliver us from calamities; / for You can do whatever You wish, as the good / and blessed Mother.

Hymn 4

Equal to the Apostles in rank, / Rejoice, Nicholas, / for you put the Arian heresy to shame / and brought down the arrogance of the great one through your prayers; / do not cease to intercede for your servants.

You rescued that youth from the hands of the Emir of Saracens, / and granted joy to his parents; / therefore, together with them, we offer you the cry of “Rejoice,” / Venerable Nicholas.

Glory: You saved three governors from unjust execution, / O Wonderworker, / by appearing in a dream to the pious king and forbidding him, / and from them you received the cry, “Rejoice.” / And strengthen me, Nicholas, through your prayers.

And now: Most Blessed Mother of God, rejoice, / for You are the throne of the King of all, the Highest of the Cherubim. / Do not delay in interceding with Your Son and our God / for those who honor You always, together with the blessed Nicholas.

Song 5

Named after the Apostles, standing equal with the Angels / before the Throne of the Lord without ceasing, / you put to shame Arius, who raved; / therefore, Nicholas, we cry out to you: “Rejoice, / adornment of the saints and pillar of the Church!”

Extend a helping hand to me, Nicholas, as you pray to the Lord, / for the storm of sin is drowning me, / and lead me to the peaceful harbor of repentance / through your prayers, Father.

Glory: Though I have committed many transgressions, / I do not lose hope in your protection, / always crying out “Rejoice” to you; / and you, Nicholas, deliver me from every sorrow and misfortune: / for whatever you will, you can accomplish.

And now: Rejoice, Cloud surpassing the heavens, / who poured forth for us the Drop, all-blessed Mother of God! / Grant our king victory over the barbarians from God, / interceding with His hierarch Nicholas.

Hymn 6

Irmos: As we celebrate this divine and universally honored / feast of the Mother of God, / come, O God-wise ones, / let us begin to clap our hands, / glorifying the God born of her.

You have become a friend of Christ and a second Peter, / O Father. / Rejoice, for you are a pillar of the Church and a wondrous instrument, / working miracles and resounding through the Holy Spirit. / Therefore, Nicholas, we always offer you / the cry of “Rejoice!”

When the pious Emperor Constantine, / together with the bishop Avlavius, / heard in a dream your warnings concerning those men / who were to perish unjustly, / he ordered their immediate release, / and to you, Nicholas, he proclaimed: Rejoice!

Glory: To that ship drowning in the sea / you were, Father, the helmsman; / and to me, sorely tormented by demonic thoughts, / grant the rudder of sound judgment in my mind and heart, / so that I may always offer you the cry of “Rejoice,” / O most praiseworthy Nicholas.

And now: Rejoice, Most Pure Virgin, / rejoice, the world’s foundation, / rejoice, for You have given birth to the Son, God of all! / Pray to Him, O Immaculate Mother of God, / for the salvation of our souls.

Then read the kondaks and ikos:

Akathist to Saint Nicholas

Kontakion 1: O miracle-worker who defends us / and chosen servant of Christ, / who pours out upon the whole world / a precious stream of mercy / and an inexhaustible sea of miracles! / I praise you with love, Saint Nicholas; / and you, who have boldness before the Lord, / deliver me from all afflictions, so that I may cry out to you:

Rejoice, Nicholas, great miracle-worker!

Ikos 1: In the likeness of an angel, yet of earthly nature, /—thus did the Creator of all creation reveal you, / for having beheld the abundant beauty of your soul, most blessed Nicholas, / He taught all to proclaim to you thus:

Rejoice, you who were purified from your mother’s womb; / rejoice, you who were sanctified even to the very end.

Rejoice, you who amazed your parents at your birth; / rejoice, you who revealed your spiritual power immediately after your birth.

Rejoice, branch of the Promised Land; / Rejoice, flower of the divine garden.

Rejoice, virtuous vine of Christ’s vineyard; / Rejoice, miraculous tree of Jesus’ paradise.

Rejoice, lily of heavenly growth; / Rejoice, fragrance of Christ.

Rejoice, for through you weeping is driven away; / rejoice, for through you joy is brought.

Rejoice, Nicholas, great miracle-worker!

Kontakion 2: Beholding the outpouring of your myrrh, O God-wise one, / we are enlightened in soul and body, / recognizing in you, Nicholas, / a wondrous, life-giving myrrh-bearer: / for with miracles, pouring forth like waters by God’s grace, / you refresh those who call upon God with faith: / Alleluia.

Ikos 2: Comprehending the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, / which is beyond human understanding, / you stood with the holy fathers at Nicaea / as a champion of the Orthodox faith: / for you confessed the Son to be equal to the Father, / equally eternal and equal in power, / while you denounced the madman Arius. / Therefore, the faithful have learned to sing to you:

Rejoice, great pillar of piety; / Rejoice, city of refuge for the faithful.

Rejoice, steadfast pillar of Orthodoxy; / rejoice, precious chariot and praise of the Most Holy Trinity.

Rejoice, you who proclaimed the Son of God equal in honor to the Father; / Rejoice, Arius, who cast the madman out from the host of the saints.

Rejoice, Father, glorious beauty of the Fathers; / Rejoice, most wise splendor of all the godly.

Rejoice, you who utter fiery words; / Rejoice, you who beautifully instruct your flock.

Rejoice, for through you the faith is strengthened; / Rejoice, for through you heresy is overthrown.

Rejoice, Nicholas, great miracle-worker!

Kontakion 3: By the power granted to you from on high, / you have wiped away every tear from the faces of those who suffer greatly, / God-bearing Father Nicholas: / for to the hungry you appeared as a provider, / to those sailing the depths of the sea as a skilled helmsman, / to the sick as a healer, and in all things you prove to be a helper / to all who call upon God: / Alleluia.

Ikos 3: Truly, Father Nicholas, / a song should be sung to you from heaven, not from the earth; / for how could any human being / proclaim the greatness of your holiness? / But we, overcome by your love, / cry out to you thus:

Rejoice, model for lambs and shepherds; / rejoice, holy purification of morals.

Rejoice, repository of great virtues; / rejoice, pure and precious dwelling place of the Holy One.

Rejoice, lamp that shines upon all and is loved by all; / Rejoice, golden and spotless light.

Rejoice, worthy companion of the angels; / Rejoice, kind teacher of mankind.

Rejoice, rule of the pious faith; / Rejoice, model of spiritual meekness.

Rejoice, for through you we are delivered from bodily passions; / Rejoice, for through you we are filled with spiritual delights.

Rejoice, Nicholas, great wonderworker!

Kontakion 4: A storm of bewilderment confounds my mind: / how can I worthily sing of your miracles, blessed Nicholas? / For no one can count them, / even if he had many tongues / and wished to speak with them. / But we dare to sing to God, who is wonderfully glorified in you: / Alleluia.

Ikos 4: O God-wise Nicholas, / those near and far have heard of the greatness of your miracles: / it is customary for you to be the first to rush to the aid / of those in distress, as if soaring through the air on the light wings of grace, / swiftly delivering them / from all their troubles, as they cry out to you thus:

Rejoice, deliverer from sorrow; / Rejoice, bestower of grace.

Rejoice, dispeller of unexpected evils; / Rejoice, bestower of desired blessings.

Rejoice, swift comforter of those in distress; / Rejoice, fearsome avenger of wrongdoers.

Rejoice, abyss of miracles, poured out by God; / Rejoice, tablets of Christ’s law, written by God.

Rejoice, firm restoration of those who have fallen; / Rejoice, confirmation of those who stand upright

Rejoice, for through you every lie is exposed; / Rejoice, for through you every truth is fulfilled.

Rejoice, Nicholas, great miracle-worker!

Kontakion 5: You appeared as a star guided by God, / once leading those who were sailing in distress across the sea, / who would soon have faced death / had you not come to their aid, / O Saint Nicholas, the Wonderworker; / for when the demons flew about openly / and sought to sink the ships, / you rebuked them and drove them away, / and taught the faithful to cry out through you to God, their Savior: / Alleluia.

Ikos 5: The young maidens, destined for a shameful marriage / due to their poverty, / beheld your great mercy toward the poor, / most blessed Father Nicholas, / when you secretly gave their elderly father / three small bundles of gold in the night, / thereby saving him and his daughters from a sinful downfall. / That is why you hear such praise from all:

Rejoice, treasury of the greatest mercy; / Rejoice, repository of God’s providence for mankind.

Rejoice, food and comfort to those who take refuge in you; / Rejoice, inexhaustible bread for the hungry.

Rejoice, wealth given by God to those living in poverty on earth; / rejoice, swift exaltation of the poor.

Rejoice, You who swiftly hear the beggars; / Rejoice, You who graciously care for the afflicted.

Rejoice, you who united the three virgins in a chaste marriage; / rejoice, zealous guardian of purity.

Rejoice, hope of the hopeless; / rejoice, delight of the whole world.

Rejoice, Nicholas, great miracle-worker!

Kontakion 6: The whole world proclaims / of you, most blessed Nicholas, / as a swift intercessor in times of trouble, / for time and again, at the very same moment, / to those traveling by land and sailing by sea, / you are the first to come to their aid, / preserving all who call upon God from evil: / Alleluia.

Ikos 6: You shone forth like the light of life, / bringing deliverance to the commanders / who were about to suffer an unjust death, / and to those who called upon you, O good shepherd Nicholas, / when you, having soon appeared to the king in a dream, struck fear into his heart, / and commanded that they be released unharmed. / Therefore, together with them, / we cry out to you in gratitude:

Rejoice, you who help those who call upon you earnestly; / rejoice, you who deliver from unjust murder.

Rejoice, you who protect us from insidious slander; / rejoice, you who destroy unrighteous counsel.

Rejoice, you who tear apart lies like a spider’s web; / Rejoice, you who exalt the truth in glory.

Rejoice, you who free the innocent from bondage; / Rejoice, you who give life to the dead.

Rejoice, you who reveal the truth; / Rejoice, you who obscure falsehood.

Rejoice, for through you the innocent are spared the sword; / Rejoice, for through you they have enjoyed the light.

Rejoice, Nicholas, great miracle-worker!

Kontakion 7: Desiring to dispel the blasphemous stench of heresy, / with a truly fragrant fragrance, you appeared, O mysterious Nicholas: / you shepherded the people of Lycia, / and filled the whole world with your grace-filled fragrance. / And drive away from us the god-abhorrent stench of sin, / so that we may cry out in a manner pleasing to God: / Alleluia.

Ikos 7: In you, Saint Nicholas, we see the New Noah, the helmsman of the ark of salvation, / who with your guidance dispels the storm of all fierce misfortunes, / and brings divine calm to those who cry out thus:

Rejoice, peaceful haven for those tossed by the storm; / Rejoice, sure protection for those drowning.

Rejoice, kind helmsman sailing through the depths; / rejoice, you who calm the turbulent seas.

Rejoice, guide of those caught in whirlwinds; / rejoice, you who warm the suffering from the frost.

Rejoice, O radiance that dispels the darkness of sorrow; / Rejoice, O light that illuminates the ends of the earth.

Rejoice, you who deliver people from the abyss of sin; / Rejoice, you who cast Satan into the abyss of hell.

Rejoice, for through you we boldly call upon the abyss of God’s mercy; / Rejoice, for through you, having been saved from the flood of wrath, we find peace with God.

Rejoice, Nicholas, great miracle-worker!

Kontakion 8: A wondrous miracle is / your holy church, O Blessed Nicholas, / to those who take refuge in you: / for even when we offer a humble prayer within it, / we receive healing from great afflictions, / provided we place our hope in you after God, crying out with faith: / Alleluia.

Ikos 8: You are truly a helper to all, / God-bearing Nicholas, / and you have gathered together all who turn to you, / as the deliverer, provider, and swift healer of all on earth, / inspiring all to praise you, so that they may cry out to you thus:

Rejoice, source of all healings; / rejoice, helper of those who suffer greatly.

Rejoice, dawn shining upon those wandering in the night of sin; / Rejoice, dew flowing from heaven upon those weary from the heat of their labors.

Rejoice, you who provide what is needed to those in need; / rejoice, you who prepare abundance for those who ask.

Rejoice, you who anticipate our petitions many times over; / Rejoice, you who renew the strength of the gray-haired.

Rejoice, you who rebuke those who have strayed from the true path; / Rejoice, you who are a faithful servant of God’s mysteries.

Rejoice, for with you we trample envy underfoot; / Rejoice, for through you we lead a virtuous life.

Rejoice, Nicholas, great miracle-worker!

Kontakion 9: You alleviate all illnesses, / our great intercessor Nicholas, / preparing grace-filled remedies / that soothe our souls / and gladden the hearts of all / who earnestly seek your help / and cry out to God: / Alleluia.

Ikos 9: We see the sophistry of the vainly wise and ungodly / put to shame by you, / God-wise Father Nicholas: / for you defeated in debate / Arius the blasphemer, who divided the Godhead, / and Sabellius, who introduced confusion into the Holy Trinity, / and you strengthened us in the Orthodox faith. / Therefore we cry out to you thus:

Rejoice, shield that defends piety; / Rejoice, sword that destroys wickedness.

Rejoice, teacher of divine commandments; / Rejoice, destroyer of godless teachings.

Rejoice, ladder established by God, by which we ascend to heaven; / Rejoice, shelter created by God, under which many find refuge.

Rejoice, you who have made the unwise wise through your words; / Rejoice, you who have roused the slothful through your example.

Rejoice, unquenchable light of God’s commandments; / rejoice, most radiant beam of the Lord’s statutes.

Rejoice, for by your teaching the heads of heretics are crushed; / rejoice, for through you the faithful are made worthy of glory.

Rejoice, Nicholas, great wonderworker!

Kontakion 10: Desiring to save your soul, / you truly subdued your flesh to the spirit, / our father Nicholas, / for above all, in silence and in the struggle against thoughts, / you united contemplation with action, / and through contemplation you attained a perfect mind / and with it boldly conversed with God and the Angels, / always crying out: / Alleluia.

Ikos 10: You are a wall, O most blessed one, / for those who praise your miracles / and all who seek your intercession; / therefore, deliver us, who are lacking in virtue, / from poverty, misfortunes, infirmities, and various afflictions, / as we call upon you with love, saying:

Rejoice, you who deliver us from eternal poverty; / Rejoice, you who bestow imperishable riches.

Rejoice, you who are the inexhaustible food for those who hunger for righteousness; / Rejoice, you who are the inexhaustible drink for those who thirst for life.

Rejoice, you who preserve us from rebellion and strife; / Rejoice, you who free us from bonds and captivity.

Rejoice, glorious intercessor in times of trouble; / Rejoice, greatest defender in times of adversity.

Rejoice, you who have snatched many from destruction; / Rejoice, you who have preserved countless ones unharmed.

Rejoice, for through you sinners escape a cruel death; / Rejoice, for through your intercession the repentant receive eternal life.

Rejoice, Nicholas, great miracle-worker!

Kontakion 11: You, Most Blessed Nicholas, have offered praise to the Most Holy Trinity / more than any other, / in thought, word, and deed; / for you have explained the dogmas of the true faith with great precision, / instructing us through faith, hope, and love / to sing to the One God in the Trinity: / Alleluia.

Ikos 11: A radiant, unquenchable ray / to those dwelling in the darkness of life / we see you, Father Nicholas, chosen by God: / for with the incorporeal lights of the angels / you converse about the uncreated Triune Light / and enlighten the souls of the faithful, / who cry out to you thus:

Rejoice, radiance of the Tri-Solar Light; / Rejoice, morning star of the Sun that never sets.

Rejoice, candle, kindled by the divine flame; / rejoice, for you have extinguished the demonic flame of wickedness.

Rejoice, clear proclamation of the true faith; / rejoice, beautiful radiance of the Gospel’s light.

Rejoice, lightning that burns away heresy; / rejoice, thunder that strikes fear into the hearts of tempters.

Rejoice, teacher of true knowledge; / Rejoice, interpreter of the mysterious mind.

Rejoice, for through you the worship of created things has been trampled underfoot; / Rejoice, for from you we have learned to worship the Creator in the Trinity.

Rejoice, Nicholas, great miracle-worker!

Kontakion 12: Aware of the grace bestowed upon you by God, / we joyfully celebrate your memory as is fitting, / O most glorious Father Nicholas, / and with all our hearts we take refuge in your wondrous intercession; / but your glorious deeds, / like the sand of the sea and the multitude of stars, we cannot count, / and, filled with wonder, we cry out to God: / Alleluia.

Ikos 12: Singing of your miracles, / we praise you, all-praised Nicholas: / for in you God, glorified in the Trinity, has been wondrously glorified; / but even if we offer you, O holy miracle-worker, / a multitude of psalms and songs composed from the heart, / we accomplish nothing equal to the gift of your miracles; / marveling at them, we cry out to you thus:

Rejoice, servant of the King of kings and Lord of lords; / rejoice, companion of His heavenly servants.

Rejoice, help of the faithful; / rejoice, exaltation of the Christian race.

Rejoice, namesake of victory; / Rejoice, renowned crown-bearer.

Rejoice, mirror of all virtues; / Rejoice, strong wall for all who take refuge in you.

Rejoice, our hope after God and the Mother of God; / Rejoice, health of our bodies and salvation of our souls.

Rejoice, for through your intercession we are delivered from eternal death; / Rejoice, for through you we are made worthy of eternal life.

Rejoice, Nicholas, great miracle-worker!

Kontakion 13: O most holy and wondrous Father Nicholas, / comfort of all who mourn! / Accept our present offering / and implore the Lord to deliver us from Gehenna / through your godly intercession, / so that we may sing with you: / Alleluia. (3)

Then Ikos 1 and Kondak 1

Ikos 1: In the likeness of an angel, yet of earthly nature, /—thus did the Creator of all creation reveal you, / for, having beheld the abundant beauty of your soul, O most blessed Nicholas, / He taught all to proclaim to you thus:

Rejoice, one purified from your mother’s womb; / Rejoice, one sanctified even to the very end.

Rejoice, you who amazed your parents at your birth; / Rejoice, you who revealed the strength of your soul immediately after your birth.

Rejoice, branch of the Promised Land; / Rejoice, flower of the Divine Plantation.

Rejoice, virtuous vine of Christ’s vineyard; / rejoice, miraculous tree of Jesus’ paradise.

Rejoice, lily of heavenly growth; / Rejoice, fragrance of Christ.

Rejoice, for through you weeping is driven away; / rejoice, for through you joy is brought.

Rejoice, Nicholas, great miracle-worker!

Kontakion 1: You who defend us, O miracle-worker / and chosen servant of Christ, / pouring out upon the whole world / the priceless myrrh of mercy / and an inexhaustible sea of miracles! / I praise you with love, Saint Nicholas; / and you, who have boldness before the Lord, / deliver me from all afflictions, so that I may cry out to you:

Rejoice, Nicholas, great miracle-worker!

Hymn 7

Irmos: The godly did not honor / the creatures more than the Creator, / but, having bravely overcome the fire that threatened them, / they joyfully sang: / “The Lord and God of our fathers is most praiseworthy, / blessed are You!”

Holy Father Nicholas, pray to God for us.

Saint Nicholas, Holy One of Christ, rejoice: / for you are an inexpressible joy to all! / And extend your helping hand to me, that I may proclaim to you: / “Rejoice, O All-Blessed One!”

When the commanders heard / that they had been released from prison by your command, / they took lamps with candles and brought them to you, / crying out in a loud voice: / “Rejoice, venerable Father, our deliverer!”

Glory: Once you heard the prisoners in the dungeon; / hear me too, Nicholas, / as I bring you the cry of “Rejoice,” / and deliver me from the fire of Gehenna.

And now: Mary, Our Lady, Mother of the Redeemer, / accept me, who repent and / take refuge under Your protection, / so that I may ceaselessly cry out to You: / “Rejoice, O Gracious Mother of God, Ever-Virgin!”

Hymn 8

Irmos: The Child of the Mother of God saved / the pious youths in the furnace: / then as a foreshadowing, now as a reality; / He calls the entire universe to sing to You. / Sing to the Lord, O creatures, / and exalt Him for all ages!

Co-throne with the Apostles, / ministering to the Holy Trinity with the Angels, / most praiseworthy Nicholas, rejoice, / and grant me joy through your prayers.

Helmsman of those tossed by storms, / Rejoice, Nicholas, / and calm the storm of my passions, which have risen up against me through the devil’s assault, / for I can no longer endure it, but I cry out: / “Rejoice, my helper and ardent protector.”

Glory: Oh, what great sorrow / overwhelms me from the demons’ arrows, / and I cannot bear these wounds, / yet there is no doctor to apply a bandage; / but you, Nicholas, apply to me the bandage and balm of your prayers, / so that I may cry out to you: / “Rejoice, venerable father!”

And now: Rejoice, the Burning Bush that was not consumed, / which Moses saw on Sinai, / and the Ladder that Jacob beheld, /—Most Blessed Theotokos, Ever-Virgin!

Hymn 9

The tempter’s arrows surround me / and sinful desires, / but, trusting in your protection, / I take refuge in you, Father, / that you may drive away from me all the temptations of the evil one, / and I cry out to you: / “Rejoice, Nicholas!”

You put the madman’s raving to shame, / and quenched the flame of heresy; / you heard the governors bound in prison, / and accepted their greeting of “Rejoice!”; / and we cry out to you, Nicholas: / “Rejoice, All-Blessed One!”

Glory: You heard Agrika’s plea, / and rescued his son Basil from the emir, / and in an instant restored him to health before his parents from the Saracens; / and through my prayer, deliver my soul— / ailing and burdened by sins— / from the fire of Gehenna, Nicholas.

And now: O Queen, who gave birth to the King of all / and bore Him who bears all creation, / save me, who magnify You, / Most Holy Lady!

Then: It is truly fitting / to glorify You, O Theotokos, / eternally blessed and immaculate, / and Mother of our God. / With the highest honor of the Cherubim / and the incomparable glory of the Seraphim, / You who virginally gave birth to God the Word, / true Mother of God—we magnify You.

The Trisagion. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:

Troparion, Tone 4

Prayer to Saint Nicholas

O all-praised and universally revered bishop, great wonder-worker, holy one of Christ, Father Nicholas, man of God and faithful servant, man of desire, chosen vessel, strong pillar of the Church, most radiant lamp, star that illuminates and lights up the entire universe! You are a righteous man, flourishing like a palm tree, planted in the courts of your Lord; having lived in Mvrah, you have filled the world with the fragrance of mvrah and pour forth an inexhaustible stream of God’s grace. By your procession, most holy Father, the sea was sanctified when your wondrous relics were carried to the city of Bari, so that the name of the Lord might be praised from east to west. O most skillful and wondrous miracle-worker, swift helper, fervent intercessor, most gracious shepherd, who saves the flock of the Word from all misfortunes! We glorify you and extol you as the hope of all Christians, the source of miracles, the defender of the faithful, the most wise teacher, the nourisher of the hungry, the joy of those who weep, the clothing of the naked, the healer of the sick, the helmsman of those sailing the sea, the liberator of captives, the provider and intercessor for widows and orphans, the guardian of chastity, gentle educator of infants, strength of the elderly, guide of those who fast, rest for the laborers, and abundant wealth for the poor and needy. Hear us who pray to you and take refuge under your protection; present your intercession for us before the Most High, and through your godly prayers, obtain all that is beneficial for the salvation of our souls and bodies; preserve this holy abode [or this church], every city and village, and every Christian land and the people living therein from every calamity through your help; for we know, we know how much the prayer of the righteous, working for the good, can accomplish; and you, O righteous one, after the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, we have as our intercessor before the All-Merciful God, and we humbly take refuge in your fervent intercession and protection, O most blessed Father; Preserve us, O vigilant and good Shepherd, from all enemies, pestilence, earthquakes, hail, famine, floods, fire, the sword, and invasions by foreign peoples; and in all our troubles and sorrows, extend to us a helping hand and open to us the doors of God’s mercy; for we are unworthy to look upon the heights of heaven because of our many iniquities; we are bound by the chains of sin, and we have never fulfilled the will of our Creator nor kept His commandments. Therefore, we bow the knees of our contrite and humble hearts before our Creator, and we ask for your fatherly intercession before Him: help us, servant of God, that we may not perish because of our iniquities; deliver us from all evil and from every hostile deed; direct our minds and strengthen our hearts in the true faith, in which, through your intercession and advocacy, we may not be shaken by wounds, threats, pestilence, or any wrath of our Creator, but may we live our lives here in peace and be deemed worthy to see the blessings of the living on earth, glorifying the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the One God glorified and worshiped in the Trinity, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Second Prayer

O All-Holy Nicholas, glorious servant of the Lord, our ardent intercessor, and swift helper in all afflictions! Help me, a sinner and one who is despondent: in this present life, implore the Lord God to grant me forgiveness for all my sins, however much I have sinned from my youth throughout my entire life in deed, word, thought, and all my senses; and at the departure of my soul, help me, a wretched soul, to beseech the Lord God, the Creator of all creation, to deliver me from the torments of Hades and eternal torment, so that I may constantly glorify the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and your merciful intercession, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Third Prayer

O all-gracious Father Nicholas, shepherd and teacher of all who turn with faith to your intercession and call upon you in fervent prayer! Hasten to deliver Christ’s flock from the wolves that seek to destroy it, and protect and preserve every Christian land through your holy prayers from worldly turmoil, earthquakes, invasions by foreign tribes, and civil war; from famine, floods, fire, the sword, and sudden death. And just as you had mercy on the three men who were imprisoned and delivered them from the king’s wrath and from being cut down by the sword, so have mercy on me, who dwell in the darkness of sin in thought, word, and deed, and deliver me from God’s wrath and eternal punishment, so that through your intercession and help, and through His own mercy and grace, Christ God may grant me to live a peaceful and sinless life in this age, and deliver me from the fate of those standing on the left, and make me worthy to stand on the right with all the saints, amen.

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CANON FOR THE SICK

Canon, Tone 3
Hymn 1

Irmos: The sea, parted by the rod like a cross, / through which Israel passed in ancient times as through a desert, / and clearly traces a path within it. / Therefore, let us sing praise to our wondrous God, / for He has been glorified.

Refrain: O merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

On this day of sorrow that has befallen us, / as we fall down before You, Christ our Savior, / we ask for Your mercy. / Ease the suffering of Your servant; / say to us, as You did to the centurion: / “Go; your son is well!”

Refrain: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

With sighs we raise our supplications and prayers / to You: “Son of God, have mercy on us!” / Raise up with a word the one lying on his bed, / just as You raised up the paralytic, saying: / “Take up your bed; / your sins are forgiven!”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Worshiping the image of Your face, O Christ, / we kiss it with faith, / and ask for health for the sick, / imitating the woman with the issue of blood, / who touched the hem of Your garment / and received healing from her infirmity.

Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Most Pure Lady, Mother of God, / known to all as our Helper, / do not despise us who take refuge in You; / pray, as , to Your good Son and our God / to grant health to the sick, / so that he too may glorify You with us.

Hymn 3

Irmos: You who brought all things forth from nothing, / created by the Word and perfected by the Spirit! / Almighty Lord, / strengthen me in Your love.

Refrain: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

Struck down by grievous illnesses, / he cries out to You, Christ, together with us; / grant him bodily health, / as You did to Hezekiah, who prayed to You with weeping.

Refrain: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

Look upon our humility, O Lord, / and do not remember our transgressions, / but for the sake of the faith of the one who is suffering, / as You healed the leper’s disease with a word, / so that Your name may be glorified, Christ our God.

Glory: Do not allow the Church, / which You have sanctified, O Christ, / and in which we pray to You, / to be subjected to reproach; / but raise up invisibly / the one lying on his bed in sickness, / so that the unbelievers may not say: / “Where is their God?”

And now: Stretching out our hands toward Your most pure image, O Mother of God, / we cry out: / “Hear the prayer of Your servants / and save the one who lies ill, / so that, rising from his illness, he may fulfill to You the vows / which his lips uttered in sorrow.”

Sedalen, Tone 8

I, lying on the bed of sin / and wounded by passions, / just as You raised Peter’s mother-in-law / and saved the paralytic carried on a bed, / so now visit me in my sickness, O Merciful One, / You who bore the infirmities of our race. / We know You alone / as long-suffering and merciful, / the gracious Healer of souls and bodies, / Christ our God, / who sends afflictions and heals them anew , / who grants forgiveness to those who repent of their sins, / the One who is merciful and gracious.

Glory: I, a sinner, weep as I lie on my sickbed: / grant me forgiveness, Christ our God, / and raise me up from this illness, / and grant that I may be delivered from those sins / I have committed since my youth, / through the prayers of the Mother of God.

And now: Have mercy and save me, / lift me up from my sickbed, / for my strength has failed within me / and I am overcome by despair. / Most Pure Mother of God, / heal the one who is gravely ill, / for You are the helper of Christians.

Song 4

Irmos: You have shown us Your steadfast love, O Lord, / for You delivered Your Only-Begotten Son / to death for our sake. / Therefore, we cry out to You in gratitude: / “Glory to Your power, O Lord!”

Refrain: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

Restore to life, O Christ, / those who have despaired in their grave illness / and are nearing death, / and grant comfort to those who weep, / so that we may all glorify / Your holy miracles.

Refrain: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

Before You, O Creator, / we repent of our sins, / for You do not desire the death of the sinner. / Revive and grant health to the sick, / so that, having risen, he may serve You, / confessing Your goodness with us.

Glory: Accepting the tears of Manasseh, the repentance of the Ninevites, / and the confession of David, / You quickly saved them; / and now accept our prayers, / grant health to the sick one, / for whom we pray to You.

And now: Grant us Your mercy, O Lady, / as we always hope in You; / intercede for the healing of the sick, / with Your healing hands , O Mother of God, / stretched out toward the Lord God together with the Forerunner.

Song 5

Irmos: You appeared on earth, though invisible, / and willingly associated with mortals, though incomprehensible; / therefore, striving toward You from the break of day, / we sing Your praises, Lover of Mankind.

Refrain: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

The daughter of Jairus, who had already died, / You brought back to life, as God, / and now, Christ God, deliver / the sick one from the gates of death, / for You are the way and the life for all.

Refrain: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

Savior, who brought the widow’s son back to life / and turned her tears into joy! / Save Your servant who is perishing from illness, / so that our sorrow and suffering may also be transformed into joy.

Glory: You healed Peter’s mother-in-law’s fever / with Your touch! / And now, raise up Your ailing servant, / so that he, too, may rise and serve You as she did.

And now: We who are sorrowful, humble, and sinful, / lacking boldness before You, / we cry out to You, Most Pure Mother of God: / implore Your Son, Christ, / to grant this ailing one bodily health.

Hymn 6

Irmos: The deepest abyss of sins has engulfed me, / and my spirit is fainting; / but You, O Lord, stretching out Your mighty hand, / save me, O Helmsman, as You saved Peter.

Refrain: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

O Christ God, possessing an abyss of compassion and mercy, / hear the supplications of Your servants! / For just as You raised Tabitha through Peter’s prayer, / so now raise up the one who lies sick, / having heard the Church that prays to You.

Refrain: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

Healer of our souls and bodies, Christ, / who bore the infirmities of the whole world, / and who raised Eutychus through the hands of Paul, / heal now the one who is suffering / through the prayers of the holy apostles.

Glory: Turn, O Christ, the weeping of the one grieving over his illness into joy, / so that, having received Your mercy, / he may enter Your house with votive offerings, / glorifying You, the One God in the Trinity.

And now: Come, O friends, let us worship, / praying to the Mother of God for the sick. / For she has the power to heal the infirm, / together with the unmercenaries, invisibly / anointing them with spiritual oil.

Kontakion, Tone 3

O Lord, raise up my soul, / which is severely weakened by all manner of sins / and by unrighteous deeds, / through Your divine care, / just as You once raised up the paralytic, / so that I, having been saved, may cry out to You: / “Glory, O Merciful Christ, / to Your might!”

Ikos: Holding the ends of the world / in the palm of Your hand, / Jesus, God, like the Father without beginning, / and reigning over all together with the Holy Spirit, / You appeared in the flesh, healing infirmities; / and drove away passions; You gave the blind the light of sight, / and raised the paralytic with Your divine word, / suddenly commanding him to walk / and to lift the bed that bore him onto his shoulders. / Therefore, we all sing with him and cry out: / “Glory to You, Merciful Christ, / to Your might!”

Hymn 7

Irmos: Once, before the golden image, / the Persian idol, / the three youths did not bow down, / and sang in the midst of the furnace: / “God of our fathers, blessed are You!”

Refrain: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

O Most Holy Cross of Christ, / sacred Tree of Life! / Through You, death has been vanquished and the dead have been raised. / And now, heal and revive the one who is suffering, / just as You did for the maiden who died in the time of Queen Helena.

Refrain: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

Job’s long and bitter illness, / when he prayed amid sores and worms, / You healed with a single word, O Lord. / And now, in the church, we pray to You for the sick: / as You are good, heal him invisibly / through the prayers of Your saints.

Glory: We all know that we must die, / for such is Your will, O God; / but for a little while, O Merciful One, / we ask for health for the sick: / lead him from death to life, / and grant comfort to those who mourn!

And now: Intercede for and help us who are orphans, O Mother of God, / for You know the time and the hour / when to implore Your Son and our God / to grant health to the sick / and forgiveness of all sins.

Hymn 8

Irmos: For the sake of serving the Living God, / the youths in Babylon, having endured threats, / paid no heed to musical instruments, / but, standing in the midst of the flames, / sang a song befitting God, proclaiming: / “Bless the Lord, all the works of the Lord!”

Refrain: O merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

Show mercy in sickness / to Your servant, O Lord, / and heal him quickly, O merciful Christ God, / and do not yet deliver him to mortal condemnation, / that he may offer repentance to You. / For You Yourself have said: / “I do not desire the death of the sinner.”

Refrain: Merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

Merciful Lord, / may Your glorious miracles / now reach us as well: / drive out demons, destroy infirmities, / heal wounds, cure diseases, / and deliver us from witchcraft, sorcery, and / every affliction!

Glory: Having stilled the winds of the sea, Christ, / and turned the disciples’ fear into joy, / now still the grievous illnesses / that afflict Your servant, / so that we may all rejoice, / praising You forever.

And now: Deliver us, O Mother of God, / from the sorrows that surround us, / from various infirmities, poison, and sorcery, / from demonic delusions, and from the slander of evil people, / and from death; we pray to You.

Hymn 9

Irmos: On Mount Sinai, / Moses saw You in a thornbush, / O You who conceived the fire of the Godhead in Your womb without being burned; / Daniel, too, saw You as an unshakable mountain, / a shoot sprouting, as Isaiah cried out, / from the root of David.

Refrain: O merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

Source of life, bestower of mercy, Christ, / do not turn Your face away from us. / Ease the suffering of the one worn down by illness, / and raise him up, as You raised Avgar through the ministry of Thaddeus, / so that he may glorify You forever / with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Refrain: O merciful Lord, hear the prayer of Your servants who pray to You.

Believing in the word of the Gospel, / we seek what You have promised, Christ: / for You said, “Ask, and it will be given to you.” / Therefore, we now stand before You, praying: / raise up from his bed, restored to health, / the one struck down by a severe illness, / so that he may glorify You together with us.

Glory: Tormented by illness, / by invisible inner wounds, / he cries out to You with us, Christ: / not for us, O Lord, not for our sake— / for we are all full of sin— / but through the prayers of Your Mother and the Forerunner, / grant healing to the afflicted, / so that we may all glorify You.

And now: Most Pure Mother of God! / Together with all the saints we call upon You: / with the Angels and Archangels, / with the prophets and patriarchs, / with the Apostles, the venerable ones, and the righteous, / pray to Christ our God / for the gift of health to the one who is suffering, / so that we may all glorify You.

Prayer

O mighty God, who in Your mercy ordain all things for the salvation of the human race, visit Your servant (name), who calls upon the name of Your Christ; forgive his sins and heal him of every bodily and spiritual infirmity. And remove from Your servant all sinful temptations, every affliction, and all the wiles of the enemy; raise him from his sickbed; and grant him to Your Holy Church, healthy in soul and body, so that through good deeds he may glorify the name of Your Christ together with all people. To You we send up glory, together with Your Only-Begotten Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

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ORDER OF SINGING
OF THE TWELVE PSALMS,

as their venerable hermit fathers sang day and night,
as recounted in the patristic writings
and in the lives and martyrdoms of many saints.
This service was brought from the Holy Mountain
by the Venerable Dositheus, Archimandrite of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

Priest: Blessed be our God:

Layperson: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us.

Glory to You, our God, glory to You.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who dwells everywhere and fills all things, Treasure of all good things and Giver of life, come and dwell within us, and cleanse us from every defilement, and save, O Good One, our souls.

The Holy Trinity

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Trinity

Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; O Lord, cleanse us of our sins; O Master, forgive our transgressions; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for the sake of Your name.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Priest: For Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever.

We: Amen.

Reader: Lord, have mercy. (12)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Come, let us worship our King, our God.

Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ, our King and God.

Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ Himself, our King and God.

Psalm 26

The Lord is my light and my Savior; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers drew near to devour my flesh—my oppressors and my enemies—they themselves grew weak and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I have asked of the Lord —this I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to visit His holy temple. For He hid me in His sanctuary on the day of my troubles; He kept me safe in His tabernacle; He set me high upon a rock. And now, behold, He has lifted up my head above my enemies; I have gone around His tabernacle and offered a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; I will sing and make music to the Lord! Hear, O Lord, my voice when I call; have mercy on me and answer me. My heart has said to You, “I will seek the Lord.” My soul has sought You; Your face, O Lord, I seek. Do not turn Your face away from me, and do not be angry with Your servant. Be my helper; do not cast me off or forsake me, O God, my Savior. For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord has taken me in. Give me Your law, O Lord, in Your way, and lead me in the path of righteousness for the sake of my enemies. Do not hand me over to those who persecute me, for unrighteous witnesses have risen up against me—but falsehood has deceived itself. I believe that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Hope in the Lord! Be strong, and let your heart take courage; hope in the Lord!

Psalm 31

Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered! Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute sin, and in whose mouth there is no deceit. For I kept silent; my bones wasted away because I cried out all day long, for day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; I became like one in deep distress when thorns pierced me. I acknowledged my iniquity and did not hide my sin; I said, “I will confess my iniquity to the Lord”—and You forgave the wickedness of my heart. Therefore, every righteous person will pray to You at the proper time—and then, even when the waters rise, they will not come near him. You are my refuge from the distress that has overtaken me; my joy! Deliver me from those who surround me. “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will direct your eyes toward it.” Do not be like a horse or a mule, which have no understanding; they must be restrained with bit and bridle —those who do not obey you. Many are the blows of the sinner, but the Lord’s mercy surrounds those who trust in Him. Rejoice in the Lord, and be glad, you righteous; and boast, all you upright in heart.

Psalm 56

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for my soul takes refuge in You; in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until the wickedness has passed. I will call upon God Most High, the God who has shown me favor. He sent help from heaven and saved me; He put to shame those who trampled on me. God sent His mercy and His truth and rescued my soul from among the young lions. I lay down in distress: the sons of men—their teeth are weapons and arrows, and their tongue is a sharp sword. Ascend to the heavens, O God, and let Your glory be over all the earth. They have set a snare for my feet and bowed down my soul; they have dug a pit before my face—and they have fallen into it! My heart is ready, O God; my heart is ready; I will sing and make music to my glory. Awake, my glory; awake, harp and lyre. I will awake at daybreak! I will praise You among the nations, O Lord; I will sing of You among the peoples. For Your mercy reaches to the heavens, and Your faithfulness to the clouds. Ascend to the heavens, O God, and let Your glory fill the whole earth!

Then: The Trisagion. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:

Troparia, Tone 1

Hasten to open Your fatherly embrace to me: / for I have squandered my life in sin, / gazing indifferently upon the inexhaustible wealth of Your mercies, O Savior! / Do not now despise my impoverished heart, / for to You, O Lord, I cry out in contrition: / “I have sinned, Father, against heaven and before You!”

Glory: When You come, O God, to earth in glory, / the whole world will tremble; / a river of fire flows before the Throne of Judgment, / the books are opened and the mysteries are revealed. / Then deliver me from the unquenchable fire / and grant me to stand at Your right hand, / O most righteous Judge.

And now: We all know You, Mother of God, / who truly appeared as a virgin and after giving birth, / and we turn with love to Your goodness; / for in You we sinners find protection / and in You we have obtained salvation in times of temptation, / O You who are wholly immaculate.

Then: Lord, have mercy, (30). Come, let us worship: (3)

Psalm 33

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall ever be on my lips. My soul shall exult in the Lord—let the humble hear and rejoice. Exalt the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me; He delivered me from all my troubles. Come to Him and be enlightened, and your faces shall not be put to shame. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him; He saved him from all his troubles. The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good—blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Fear the Lord, all you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. The rich have become poor and are starving, but those who seek the Lord will lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the person who desires to live, who wants to see good days? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it: the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their memory from the earth. The righteous cried out, and the Lord heard them; He delivered them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are contrite in spirit. The righteous have many troubles, but the Lord delivers them from them all. The Lord protects all their bones; not one of them will be broken. Death is the lot of the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will stumble. The Lord will deliver the souls of His servants, and all who trust in Him will not stumble.

Psalm 38

I said, “I will guard my ways, so that I may not sin with my tongue.” I set a guard over my lips when the wicked stood before me. I became silent, humbled myself, and kept quiet, as one who has no blessings, and my pain was renewed. My heart grew warm within me, and a fire was kindled in my meditation. I said with my tongue, “Show me, O Lord, my end, and the number of my days—how many they are—so that I may know how little time I have left.” Behold, You have measured out my days by handspans, and my life is as nothing before You; yet all is vanity, every living person. Truly, man is like a passing shadow; he toils in vain; he gathers and does not know for whom he is gathering. And now, who is my support? Is it not the Lord? And my very being comes from You. Deliver me from all my transgressions; You have given me over to the scorn of the foolish! I have become silent and have not opened my mouth, for You have done this. Turn Your blows away from me, for by the strength of Your hand I have perished. In rebukes for iniquity, You have set a man in his place and worn out his soul like a spider’s web; yet every man is but vanity! Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my plea; do not be silent at my tears, for I am a sojourner with You and a stranger, just as all my fathers were. Grant me relief, that I may find rest before I depart and am no more.

Psalm 40

Blessed is the one who considers the poor and needy; the Lord will deliver him in the day of trouble. May the Lord preserve him, keep him alive, and make him blessed on earth; may He not deliver him into the hands of his enemies! May the Lord sustain him on his bed of suffering; You have renewed his bed during his illness. I said, “O Lord, have mercy on me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against You!” My enemies spoke evil against me: “When will he die, and his name perish?” And if anyone came in to look, his heart spoke falsely; he gathered iniquity for himself; he went out, and they conspired together. All my enemies whispered against me; they plotted evil against me; they brought a wicked accusation against me: “Will the one who sleeps ever rise again?” For even a man who was at peace with me, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. But You, O Lord, have mercy on me and raise me up, and I will repay them. I know that You have chosen me, for my enemy will not rejoice over me. And because I am innocent, You have upheld me and established me before Your face forever. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen, amen!

Then: The Threefold Holy One. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: O Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:

Troparia, Tone 4

Visit my humble soul, O Lord, / which has squandered its whole life in sin; / just as You accepted the harlot, so accept me, / and save me.

Glory: All my life I have lived in shame, O Lord, / with harlots, wretched as I am. / Like the prodigal son, I cry out in contrition: / “Heavenly Father, I have sinned; / have mercy and save me; / and do not cast me away, for of my own will I have strayed from You / and have now become destitute because of my fruitless deeds.”

And now: Let us now earnestly take refuge in the Mother of God / we, the sinful and humble, and fall down before Her, / crying out in repentance from the depths of our souls: / “O Lady, help us, having mercy on us, / make haste, for we are perishing from the multitude of our sins! / Do not send Your servants away empty-handed: / for in You alone do we have our hope!”

Then: Lord, have mercy, (30). Come, let us worship: (3)

Psalm 69

O God, turn to my aid; O Lord, hasten to help me. May those who seek my life be put to shame and disgrace; may those who wish me harm be turned back and put to shame; may those who say to me, “All is well, all is well,” be put to shame at once. May all who seek You, O God, rejoice and be glad in You, and may those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let the Lord be exalted.” But I am poor and needy; O God, help me. You are my helper and my deliverer—O Lord, do not delay!

Psalm 70

In You, O Lord, I trust; let me never be put to shame. By Your righteousness, deliver me and set me free; incline Your ear to me and save me. Be my God and my fortress, my stronghold, to save me, for You are my stronghold and my refuge. My God, deliver me from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the lawbreaker and the oppressor. For You are my patience, O Lord; the Lord is my hope from my youth. In You I have taken refuge from the womb; from my mother’s womb You have been my protector; my song is ever of You. Though I have become a wonder to many, You are my mighty helper; may my mouth be filled with praise, that I may sing of Your glory all day long—Your splendor. Do not cast me off in my old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails. For my enemies have spoken against me, and those who lie in wait for my soul have conspired together, saying, “God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is no one to deliver him.” My God, do not be far from me; my God, come to my aid! May those who slander my soul be put to shame and vanish; may those who seek my harm be clothed in shame and disgrace. But I will always trust in You, and I will multiply all praise to You. My lips will proclaim Your truth, Your salvation all day long; for I have not known the teachings of the books. I will enter the temple in the power of the Lord; O Lord, I will remember Your truth, You alone. My God, what You have taught me from my youth, I will proclaim to this day—Your wonders. And even in old age and advanced years, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim Your might to all future generations, Your power and Your righteousness. O God, to the very heights—in what You have done for me, O God—who is like You? How many sorrows and evils You have shown me, and yet, turning to me, You have revived me and brought me up from the depths of the earth. You have multiplied Your greatness upon me; You have turned and comforted me, and brought me up again from the depths of the earth. And I will glorify You among the nations, O Lord; on stringed instruments—Your truth, O God— —I will play for You on the harp, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will rejoice when I sing to You, and my soul, which You have delivered. And my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness all day long, while those who seek my harm will be put to shame and disgraced.

Psalm 76

With my voice I cried out to the Lord, with my voice to God—and He heard me. On the day of my distress I sought God; at night I lifted up my hands to Him—and I was not disappointed. My soul refused to be comforted; I remembered God—and I rejoiced. I pondered—and my spirit grew faint. My eyes kept watch through the night; I was agitated and could not speak; I reflected on days of old and recalled the ages past, pondering them deeply. At night my heart pondered, and my spirit probed: “Will the Lord reject us forever, and will He no longer be gracious? Or will He cut off His mercy for all time, putting an end to His word from generation to generation? Or will God forget to have compassion, or will He withhold His compassion in His anger?” And I said, “Now I have come to understand: this change comes from the right hand of the Most High.” I recalled the works of the Lord; for I will remember Your wonders from the beginning, and ponder all Your works, and meditate on Your deeds. O God, Your way is holy. Who is a great God like our God? You are a God who performs wonders; You have displayed Your power among the nations; You have saved Your people with Your mighty arm—the sons of Jacob and Joseph. The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and were afraid; the depths were in turmoil, the roar of the waters was mighty. The clouds uttered a sound from afar, for Your arrows flew. The voice of Your thunder resounded throughout the heavens; Your lightning illuminated the universe; the earth trembled and quaked. Your path is in the sea, and Your ways are in the mighty waters, yet no one recognizes Your footprints. You led Your people like sheep by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Then: The Holy Trinity. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: O Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:

Troparia, Tone 6

I ponder that dreadful day / and mourn my wicked deeds. / How shall I answer the Immortal King? / Or how dare I, a prodigal, look upon the Judge? / Merciful Father, Only-Begotten Son, / Holy Spirit, have mercy on me!

Glory: In the valley of weeping, / in the place You have appointed, / when You sit down, O Merciful One, to render righteous judgment, / do not expose my secret sins / nor put me to shame before the Angels, / but spare me, O God, and have mercy on me.

Then: O Lord, have mercy, (30). Come, let us worship: (3)

Psalm 101

O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come before You. Do not turn Your face away from me on the day I am in distress; incline Your ear to me on the day I call upon You; hear me quickly. For my days have vanished like smoke, and my bones have withered like dry twigs. I have been cut down like grass, and my heart has withered, so that I have forgotten to eat my bread. Because of the sound of my groaning, my bones have clung to my flesh. I have become like a pelican in the wilderness; I have become like an owl among the ruins. I have not slept and have become like a bird sitting alone on the roof. All day long my enemies reviled me, and those who praised me swore by me. For I ate ashes like bread, and I mixed my drink with tears because of Your anger and Your wrath, for You lifted me up only to cast me down. My days have faded like a shadow, and I have withered like grass. But You, O Lord, remain forever, and Your memory endures from generation to generation. You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for the time has come to show her mercy; the time has come, for Your servants love her stones and mourn over her dust. The nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory; for the Lord will rebuild Zion and appear in His glory. He has looked upon the prayer of the humble and has not despised their supplication. Let this be written down for a future generation, and the people yet to be formed will praise the Lord, for He has looked down from His holy height, The Lord has looked down from heaven to earth to hear the groans of the captives, to set free the children of those who have been slain, to proclaim in Zion the name of the Lord— —and His praise in Jerusalem, when the nations gather together and the kings come to serve the Lord. He turned to Him on the way, in the days of his strength: “Make known to me my few days; do not take me away in the midst of my days; Your years endure from generation to generation.” In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands; they will perish, but You will remain; all of them will wear out like a garment, and like a robe You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will never end. The sons of Your servants will find refuge, and their descendants will be established forever.

The Prayer of Manasseh, King of Judah

O Almighty Lord, God of our fathers—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and of their righteous seed, You who created heaven and earth with all their splendor, who bound the sea with the word of Your command, who confined the abyss and sealed it with Your awesome and glorious Name, whom all fear, and tremble before the face of Your power, for no one can stand before the splendor of Your glory, and Your terrible wrath against sinners is unbearable! Yet the mercy of Your promise is boundless and unfathomable; for You are the Most High Lord, merciful, long-suffering, and abounding in mercy, and You have compassion on the evil deeds of mankind. You, O Lord, in the abundance of Your goodness, have promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against You, and in the abundance of Your compassion, You have ordained repentance for sinners as a means of salvation. Behold, O Lord, God of Hosts, You did not require repentance of the righteous Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who did not sin against You, but You have required repentance of me, a sinner, because I have sinned more than the number of grains of sand in the sea. My iniquities have multiplied, O Lord; my iniquities have multiplied, and I am unworthy to lift up my eyes and behold the heights of heaven because of the multitude of my wrongdoings. I am bound by many iron chains, so that I cannot lift up my head, and I find no relief, for I have aroused Your wrath and done evil in Your sight: I have not fulfilled Your will nor kept Your commandments. And now I bow the knees of my heart, in need of Your goodness. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I know my iniquities ; but I beseech You: forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and do not destroy me with my iniquities; do not, in Your everlasting wrath, remember my evil deeds, and do not condemn me to the deepest places of the earth. For You, O God, are the God of those who repent, and You will show me all Your goodness; for You will save me, though I am unworthy, by Your great mercy, and I will praise You unceasingly all the days of my life, for all the heavenly hosts sing Your praises, and Your glory endures forever and ever. Amen.

Daily Doxology

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we thank You for Your great glory. Lord, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty, Lord, Only-Begotten Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit! Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. You who take away the sins of the world, accept our prayer; You who sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For You alone are Holy; You alone are the Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Every day I will bless You and praise Your name forever and ever. Lord, You have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: “Lord, have mercy on me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.” Lord, I have taken refuge in You; teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we will see light. Extend Your mercy to those who know You. Grant, O Lord, that we may be preserved from sin on this day. Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our fathers, and Your name is to be praised and glorified forever. Amen. May Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we put our hope in You. Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your commandments. Blessed are You, O Lord; enlighten me with Your commandments. Blessed are You, O Holy One; enlighten me with Your commandments. Lord, Your mercy endures forever; do not despise the works of Your hands. Praise is due to You, song is due to You, glory is due to You, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer of Saint Eustratius

I magnify and exalt You, O Lord, for You have looked upon my humility and have not delivered me into the hands of my enemies, but have saved my soul from calamities. And now, O Lord, may Your hand cover me and may Your mercy come upon me, for my soul is in turmoil and suffers as it departs from this wretched and corrupt body of mine, fearing that the enemy’s evil scheme might somehow encounter it and cast it down into darkness because of the sins I have committed in this life, whether knowingly or unknowingly. Be merciful to me, O Lord, and may my soul not see the gloomy and dark gaze of the evil demons, but may Your radiant and luminous Angels receive it. Give glory to Your holy name, and by Your power lift me up to Your divine judgment seat. When I am judged, may the hand of the prince of this world not take hold of me to drag me, a sinner, into the depths of hell, but stand before me and be my Savior and Defender. For even these bodily torments are a joy to Your servants. Have mercy, O Lord, on my soul, defiled by the passions of this life, and accept it, purified by repentance and confession, for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.

Then: The Holy Trinity. Glory, and now: Most Holy Trinity: O Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now: Our Father:

Troparia, Tone 8

With a merciful eye, O Lord, / look upon my humility: / for little by little my life is drawing to a close, / and my deeds offer me no salvation. / Therefore I pray: / “With a merciful eye, O Lord, / look upon my humility / and save me!”

Glory: My life is coming to an end, / and Your dreadful throne is being prepared; / my life is passing away, / judgment awaits me, threatening me with fiery torment / and an unquenchable flame. / Grant me streams of tears and quench its power, / You who desire the salvation of all people.

And now: You who were born of the Virgin for our sake / and endured the crucifixion, / who by death overthrew death / and revealed the resurrection as God, / do not despise, O Good One, those created by Your hand ; / show Your love for mankind, O Merciful One, / accept the Mother of God who gave birth to You, interceding for us, / and save, O our Savior, those who have lost all hope.

Then: Lord, have mercy, (30). And the dismissal.

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RULE ON DEFILEMENT

When anyone is tempted in a dream by the devil’s work, he shall rise from his bed and make prostrations, saying:

O God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Then the usual opening.

Come, let us worship our King, God.

Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ, our King and God.

Come, let us worship and prostrate ourselves before Christ Himself, our King and God.

Psalm 50

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the abundance of Your lovingkindness, blot out my transgressions; wash me completely from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You alone have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight—so that You may be justified in Your words and prevail when You are put on trial. For behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and my mother bore me in sin. For behold, You have loved truth; You have revealed to me the hidden and secret things of Your wisdom. You will sprinkle me with hyssop—and I will be cleansed; You will wash me—and I will be whiter than snow; You will let me hear joy and gladness—and my humbled bones will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your mighty Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your ways, and the ungodly will turn to You. Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, O God of my salvation; then my tongue will rejoice in Your truth . O Lord, You will open my lips, and my lips will proclaim Your praise. For if You had desired sacrifices, I would have offered them—but You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Bless Zion, O Lord, in Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt—then You will accept with favor the sacrifice of righteousness, the offering and the burnt offerings; then they will lay young bulls upon Your altar.

And the troparia, tone 7

Good Shepherd, who laid down Your soul for us! / You know the secrets of my heart and all I have done: / O Only Good One, guide me, whose mind has strayed, / and deliver me from the wolf, O Lamb of God, / and have mercy on me.

Weighed down by the slumber of despondency, / I am darkened by the allure of sin: / but grant me the dawn of repentance, / enlightening the eyes of my mind, Christ God, / the light of my soul, and save me.

Entangled in the mist of sin and the pleasures of this life, / the mind of my wretched soul gives birth to various passions / and does not come to thoughts of contrition. / But have mercy, Savior, on my humiliation, / and grant me a spirit of contrition, / so that I too, being saved, may cry out to Your mercy before the end: / “Lord, Christ my Savior! / Save me, who am despairing and unworthy!”

Just as one who has fallen into the hands of robbers and been wounded, / so have I fallen into many sins, / and my soul is wounded. / To whom shall I turn, O guilty one? / —Only to You, the merciful Healer of souls: / pour out upon me, O God, Your great mercy.

Glory: Like the prodigal son, I too have come, O Merciful One! / Accept me, Father, as I return, / as one of Your servants, O God, and have mercy on me.

And now, to the Mother of God: Deliver us, O Mother of God, / from the sins that have enslaved us: / for we, the faithful, have no other hope but You, / and the Lord born of You.

Then: Lord, have mercy (40).

And 50 prostrations, with the prayer:

O God, be merciful to me, and forgive me, a sinner, for the sake of Your Holy Name.

Then the prayer of St. Basil the Great

Once again, I, wretched as I am, have been overcome by my mind and by the evil habit of serving sin. Once again, the prince of darkness and the father of sensual pleasures has made me his captive, and like a submissive slave, he compels me to serve his will and the lusts of the flesh. And what am I to do, my Lord, my Redeemer, and my Advocate for those who trust in You, if not to return to You once more, to lament, and to beg for mercy for what I have done? But I fear and tremble that, though I constantly confess my sins and promise to turn away from evil, yet by sinning every hour and failing to fulfill my vow to You, my God, Your long-suffering might not be provoked to indignation. And who can endure Your wrath, O Lord! But knowing Your great compassion and the depths of Your love for humanity, I once again entrust myself to Your mercy and cry out to You: For whatever I have sinned, forgive me! Have mercy on me, a fallen one; extend Your helping hand to me, who am mired in the mire of pleasures. Do not abandon, O Lord, Your creation to be corrupted by my lawlessness and my sins; but, moved by Your customary mercy and goodness, deliver me from the filth and defilement of the flesh and from the passionate thoughts that constantly defile my wretched soul. Behold, O Lord, as You see, there is no clean spot in it, but it is all leprous, and the whole body is covered with sores. Therefore, You Yourself, Lover of mankind, Healer of souls and bodies, and Source of mercy, purify it with the flow of my tears, pouring them out abundantly from my eyes; pour out Your love for mankind upon me, and grant me healing and purification, and heal my wound, and do not turn Your face away from me, lest the fire of despair consume me like kindling. But as You, the truthful God, have said that there is great joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, so deal with me, a sinner, and do not close the ears of Your mercy to my prayer of repentance, but open them, and like incense, direct it before Your face. For You, the Creator, know the weakness of human nature, the ease with which one stumbles in youth, and the heaviness of the body; and You do not look upon sins, but accept the repentance of those who call upon You in truth. For blessed and glorified is Your most honored and majestic Name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Second Prayer,
also of Saint Basil

Most merciful, incorruptible, spotless, and sinless Lord, cleanse me, Your unworthy servant, from every defilement of the flesh and the soul, and from the impurity that has befallen me through my inattention and despondency, along with all my other transgressions, and make me a stranger to defilement, Lord, through the goodness of Your Christ, and sanctify me by the inspiration of Your Most Holy Spirit; so that, having awakened from the mist of the devil’s unclean phantoms and all defilement, I may be deemed worthy, with a clear conscience, to open my defiled and unclean lips and sing Your all-holy name, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Third Prayer

Lord, our God, forgive me, as You are good and love mankind, for all in which I have sinned today in word, deed, and thought. Grant me peaceful and tranquil sleep. Send Your guardian angel to protect and preserve me from all evil. For You are the guardian of our souls and bodies, and to You we send up glory—to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit—now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Fourth Prayer,
St. John Chrysostom

1. Lord, do not deprive me of Your heavenly blessings.

2. Lord, deliver me from eternal torment.

3. Lord, whether I have sinned in thought, word, or deed—forgive me.

4. Lord, deliver me from all ignorance, forgetfulness, thoughtlessness, and callous indifference.

5. Lord, deliver me from every temptation.

6. Lord, enlighten my heart, which is clouded by evil desires.

7. Lord, I have sinned as a human being, but You, as a generous God, have mercy on me, seeing the weakness of my soul.

8. Lord, send Your grace to help me, so that I may glorify Your holy name.

9. Lord Jesus Christ, inscribe me, Your servant, in the Book of Life and grant me a blessed end.

10. Lord, my God, although I have done nothing good before You, grant me, by Your grace, to make a good beginning.

11. Lord, sprinkle the dew of Your grace upon my heart.

12. Lord of heaven and earth, remember me, Your sinful servant, wretched and unclean, in Your Kingdom. Amen.

1. Lord, accept me in repentance and do not forsake me.

2. Lord, lead me not into temptation.

3. Lord, grant me good thoughts.

4. Lord, grant me tears, a remembrance of death, and contrition.

5. Lord, grant me the thought of confessing my thoughts.

6. Lord, grant me humility, the subduing of my will, and obedience.

7. Lord, grant me steadfastness, long-suffering, and meekness.

8. Lord, plant within me the root of goodness—the fear of You.

9. Lord, grant that I may love You with all my soul, mind, and heart, and keep Your will in all things.

10. Lord, protect me from evil people, demons, passions, and every unworthy deed.

11. Lord, as You command, Lord, as You know, Lord, as You desire—may Your will be done in me.

12. Lord, may Your will be done, not mine, through the intercession and supplications of the Most Holy Mother of God and all Your saints, for You are blessed forever. Amen.

Fifth Prayer,
to the Most Holy Mother of God

Most Holy Lady, Mother of God, by Your holy and all-powerful intercessions, drive away from me, Your humble and wretched servant, despondency, forgetfulness, foolishness, sloth, and all evil, deceitful, and blasphemous thoughts from my poor heart and my clouded mind, and quench the flame of my passions, for I am wretched and miserable. And deliver me from many and pernicious memories and intentions, and free me from all evil deeds, for all generations bless You, and Your most honored name is glorified forever and ever. Amen.

Then: We magnify You, the one who, with the highest honor of the Cherubim and the incomparable glory of the Seraphim, gave birth as a virgin to God the Word, the true Mother of God.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Lord, bless us.

And the dismissal

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints, save me, a sinner.

Prayer Against Defilement

O Lord our God, the only Good and merciful One, the only Holy One who rests among the saints! You revealed to Your supreme , the Apostle Peter, in a vision that nothing You have created for human nourishment and enjoyment should be considered unclean or impure, and through Your chosen vessel, the Apostle Paul, You commanded that all things are pure for those who are pure: You Yourself, Most Holy Lord, by the invocation of Your awesome and most pure Name, and by the sign of the Holy and Life-giving Cross, bless and purify me, Your servant (name), who have been defiled by every evil spirit, from every poisonous fantasy and divination, from every lawlessness and every deception, from every sorcery and every vanity, and from every infirmity and every sickness, and from every hostile wickedness of the devil. And now, grant me, Your unworthy servant (name), through Your mercy, to serve Your Most Holy Mysteries. And first, purify my soul and body from every defilement, and forgive every sin, whether willful or unwitting, in which I have sinned throughout all the days of my life, in deed, word, and thought, day and night, and up to this very hour. And grant me, O Lord, to perform this awe-inspiring ministry in the presence of the Heavenly Hosts, and to partake of Your Most Pure Mysteries—not for judgment or condemnation, but for the forgiveness of sins, for the coming of the Holy Spirit, and for life in eternal joy, which You have prepared for Your true servants. Preserve me, Almighty Lord, from every sin and malice; keep me free from defilement and vice, and from every wile of the hostile devil; and grant me, O Lord, to serve You in holiness and righteousness until my last day, hour, and death.

For You bless and sanctify all things, Christ our God, and to You we send up glory, together with Your Beginningless Father and Your Most Holy, Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Back to Table of Contents.

PRAYER BOOK

Table of Contents

Introduction

OPENING PRAYERS

Prayer to the Holy Spirit 3

The Holy Trinity 4

Prayer to the Holy Trinity

The Lord’s Prayer

Notes

MORNING PRAYERS

Troparia to the Most Holy Trinity

Prayer to the Holy Trinity

Psalm 50

The Creed

Prayer 1, St. Macarius the Great*

Prayer 2, by the same author*

Prayer 3, by the same author*

Prayer 4, by the same author*

Prayer 5, St. Basil the Great

Prayer 6, by the same author

Prayer 7. Midnight Hymnto the Most Holy Theotokos*

Prayer 8,to our Lord Jesus Christ*

Prayer 9, to the Angel,Guardian of Human Life*

Prayer 10.Closing Morning Prayerto the Most Holy Mother of God*

A Prayer of Invocation to the Saint,whose name you bear

Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos

Troparion to the Crossand a prayer for the Fatherland

Prayer for the Living

For the departed

Note

MEMORIAL

For the Living

For the departed

CLOSING PRAYERS

Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos

PRAYERS BEFORE SLEEP

Penitential Troparia, Tone 6

Prayer 1, St. Macarius the Greatto God the Father*

Prayer 2, St. Antiochusto the Lord Jesus Christ*

Prayer 3, [by the Venerable Ephrem the Syrian]To the Holy Spirit*

Prayer 4,St. Macarius the Great*

Prayer 5*

Prayer 6*

Prayer 7, by Saint John Chrysostom:24 prayers corresponding to the hours of the day and night1

(The same prayers in the Slavonic version

Prayer 8,to our Lord Jesus Christ*

Prayer 9, to the Most Holy Mother of GodBy Peter, a monk of Studion*

Prayer 10,Most Holy Mother of God*

Prayer 11,To the Holy Guardian Angel*

Kontakion to the Mother of God

Prayer of Saint John

Daily Confession of Sins*

Prayer of Saint John of Damascus*

Troparia, Tone 2

Prayer to the Holy Cross*

Notes

SEQUENCE FOR HOLY COMMUNIONOF THE DIVINE AND LIFE-GIVING MOST PURE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST O

Psalm 22

Psalm 23

Psalm 115

Troparia, Tone 8

On Holy Thursday*

Psalm 50

Canon, Tone 2Hymn 1

Hymn 3

Hymn 4

Song 5

Song 6

Kontakion, Tone 2

Hymn 7

Song 8

Hymn 9

Penitential troparia, tone 6

Prayer 1,St. Basil the Great

Prayer 2,St. John Chrysostom

Prayer 3,St. Simeon Metaphrastes

Prayer 4,St. John of Damascus

Prayer 5,St. Basil the Great

Prayer 6,St. Symeon the New Theologian

Prayer 7,St. John Chrysostom*

Prayer to the Holy Spirit ³

The Holy Trinity ⁴

Prayer 7. Midnight Hymn
to the Most Holy Theotokos*

Prayer 8,
to our Lord Jesus Christ*

Prayer 9, to the Angel,
Guardian of Human Life*

Prayer 10.
Closing Morning Prayer
to the Most Holy Mother of God*

A Prayer of Invocation to the Saint,
whose name you bear

Troparion to the Cross
and a prayer for the Fatherland

Prayer 1, St. Macarius the Great
to God the Father*

Prayer 2, St. Antiochus
to the Lord Jesus Christ*

Prayer 3, [by the Venerable Ephrem the Syrian]
To the Holy Spirit*

Prayer 4,
St. Macarius the Great*

Prayer 7, by Saint John Chrysostom:
24 prayers corresponding to the hours of the day and night1

Prayer 8,
to our Lord Jesus Christ*

Prayer 9, to the Most Holy Mother of God
By Peter, a monk of Studion*

Prayer 10,
Most Holy Mother of God*

Prayer 11,
To the Holy Guardian Angel*

SEQUENCE
FOR HOLY COMMUNION
OF THE DIVINE AND LIFE-GIVING MOST PURE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST O

Canon, Tone 2
Hymn 1

Prayer 1,
St. Basil the Great

Prayer 2,
St. John Chrysostom

Prayer 3,
St. Simeon Metaphrastes

Prayer 4,
St. John of Damascus

Prayer 5,
St. Basil the Great

Prayer 6,
St. Symeon the New Theologian

Prayer 7,
St. John Chrysostom*

Prayer 10,
St. John of Damascus

Prayer 11,
St. John Chrysostom

Prayer 2,
St. Basil the Great

Prayer 3,
St. Simeon Metaphrastes

To Saint John Chrysostom,
Troparion, Tone 8

To Saint Basil the Great,
Troparion, Tone 1

To Saint Gregory the Dialogist,
Troparion, Tone 4

CANON WITH AKATHIST
TO OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST*

Canon, Tone 2
Ode 1

CANON OF REPENTANCE
TO OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST*

Canon, Tone 6 .
Ode 1

CANON WITH AKATHIST
TO THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD

Canon, Tone 4, composed by the Venerable Joseph.
Song 1

Akathist to the Most Blessed
Our Lady, the Mother of God
and Ever-Virgin Mary,
Tone 8

PRAYER CANON
TO THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD.
(SUNG IN TIMES OF EVERY SPIRITUAL SORROW AND TRIAL)
COMPOSED BY THE MONK THEOSTRICT

Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos, Tone 8.
Ode 1