LITTLE COMPLINE

Reader: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Priest: Glory to thee, O God, glory to thee.

O heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things, the Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come, and abide in us, cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O good One.

The Trisagion Prayers

Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (Thrice)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God, visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name=s sake.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Priest: For thine 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.

Reader: Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O come, let us worship and fall down before God our King. (Metania)

O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. (Metania)

O come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God. (Metania)

(Psalm 50) Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only have I sinned and done this evil before thee, that thou mightest be justified in thy words, and prevail when thou art judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, thou has loved truth; the hidden and secret things of thy wisdom hast thou made manifest unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice. Turn thy face away from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and with thy governing Spirit establish me. I shall teach transgressors thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn back unto thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had given it; with whole-burnt offerings thou shalt not be pleased. A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in thy good pleasure unto Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

(Psalm 69) O God, be attentive unto helping me; O Lord, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul. Let them be turned back and brought to shame that desire evils against me. Let them be turned back straightway in shame that say unto me: Well done! Well done! Let them be glad and rejoice in thee all that seek after thee, O God, and let them that love thy salvation say continually: The Lord be magnified. But as for me, I am poor and needy; O God, come unto mine aid. My Helper and my Deliverer art thou, O Lord; make no long tarrying.

(Psalm 142) O Lord, hear my prayer, give ear unto my supplication in thy truth; hearken unto me in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgement with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath humbled my life down to the earth. He hath sat me in darkness as those that have been long dead, and my spirit within me is become despondent; within me my heart is troubled. I remembered days of old, I meditated on all thy works, I pondered on the creations of thy hands. I stretched forth my hands unto thee; my soul thirsteth after thee like a waterless land. Quickly hear me, O Lord; my spirit hath fainted away. Turn not thy face away from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for unto thee have I lifted up my soul. Rescue me from mine enemies, O Lord; unto thee have I fled for refuge. Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God. Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness; for thy name=s sake, O Lord, shalt thou quicken me. In thy righteousness shalt thou bring my soul out of affliction, and in thy mercy shalt thou utterly destroy mine enemies. And thou shalt cut off them that afflict my soul, for I am thy servant.

 

The Little Doxology

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men.

We hymn thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks unto thee for thy great glory.

O Lord, King, heavenly God, Father Almighty; O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Spirit.

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, thou that takest away the sins of the world.

Receive our prayer, thou that sittest at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us. For thou only art holy, thou only art the Lord, O Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Every evening will I bless thee, and I will praise thy name forever; yea, forever and ever.

Lord, thou hast been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: Lord, be merciful unto me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.

Lord, I have fled unto thee: teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God; for with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

O continue thy mercy unto them that know thee.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is thy name forever. Amen.

Let thy mercy be upon us, O Lord, even as we have set our hope on thee.

Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes. Blessed art thou, O Master: make me to understand thy commandments. Blessed art thou, O Holy One: enlighten me with thy precepts.

Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever. O despise not the works of thy hands.

To thee belongeth worship, to thee belongeth praise, to thee belongeth glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

The Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible;

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, Begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, Begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made:

Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man;

And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried;

And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;

And ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father;

And He shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead, Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets;

And I believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.

I look for the Resurrection of the dead,

And the Life of the world to come. Amen.

Continue by contritely chanting the following Canon of Preparation in tone 2.

FOR HOLY COMMUNION

First Ode

(Heirmos) Come, O people, let us all sing to Christ God, who divided the sea and made a way for the nation which he had brought up out of the bondage of Egypt; for he is glorious.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

O compassionate Lord, may thy holy Body and thy precious Blood become the bread of everlasting life to me and the healing of manifold diseases.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Defiled as I am, O Christ, by unbecoming deeds, I am not worthy of the communion of thine immaculate Body and divine Blood. Nevertheless, make thou me worthy thereof.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

O thou blessed bride of God, the good soil which grew the untilled Grain that saveth the world: Grant that partaking thereof I may be saved.

Third Ode

(Heirmos) By establishing me on the rock of faith, thou hast enlarged my mouth over mine enemies, and my spirit rejoiceth when I sing: There is none holy as our God, and none righteous beside thee, O Lord.

O thou all-holy table that held the Bread of life, which, for mercy=s sake, came from above and giveth new life unto the world: Grant that I may now, unworthy as I am, taste thereof in fear and live thereby.

 

Fourth Ode

(Heirmos) From a virgin didst thou come, not as an ambassador, nor as an angel, but the very Lord himself incarnate, and didst save me, the whole man. Wherefore I cry to thee: Glory to thy power, O Lord.

O most merciful One, when thou didst take flesh for our sake, thou wast willing to be slain as a lamb for the sins of men. Wherefore, I beseech thee, cleanse my sins also.

O Lady, propitiate in my behalf him who was born of thee, and preserve me, thy supplicating servant, pure and undefiled, so that by receiving the spiritual pearl I may be sanctified.

 

Fifth Ode

(Heirmos) O Giver of light and sovereign Creator of the ages, guide us in the light of thy commandments, for we know no other God than thee.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

O God and Word of God, may the live coal of thy Body be to the enlightenment of my darkness, and thy Blood to the cleansing of my defiled soul.

O Mary, Mother of God, thou revered tabernacle of sweet fragrance: Make me, by thy prayers, a chosen vessel, that I may receive the holy gifts of thy Child.

 

Sixth Ode

(Heirmos) Whirled about in the abyss of sin, I appeal to the unfathomable abyss of thy compassion: From corruption raise me up, O God.

O God, O holy Word of God, wholly sanctify me now approaching thy divine mysteries, through the supplications of thy holy mother.

(Kontakion in tone 2, to the melody Seeking things on high)

Disdain me not to receive now, O Christ, the bread which is thy Body and thy divine Blood and to partake, O Master, of thine immaculate and dread mysteries, wretched as I am, and may it not be to me for judgement, but for eternal and immortal life.

Seventh Ode

(Heirmos) When the golden image was worshipped in the plain of Deira, thy three children trampled underfoot the ungodly decree; and though cast into the midst of the flames, as ones refreshed they sang: Blessed art thou, the God of our fathers.

O thou who art favoured of God, who didst beyond understanding bear the Saviour Christ, I, thine impure servant, desiring now to approach the immaculate mysteries, pray thee, who art pure, cleanse me from all defilement of flesh and spirit.

 

Eighth Ode

(Heirmos) O ye works, praise the Lord God, who descended into the fiery furnace with the Hebrew children and changed the flames into dew, and exalt him above all unto all ages.

I tremble in taking this fire lest I should be consumed as wax and grass. O dread mystery! O the compassion of God! How is it that I, an earthly creature, partake of the divine Body and Blood and am made incorruptible?

 

Ninth Ode

(Heirmos) The Son of the unoriginate Father, our God and Lord, hath appeared to us incarnate of a virgin to enlighten those in darkness and to gather the dispersed; therefore, the all-hymned Theotokos we magnify.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

O taste and see that the Lord is good, who for our sake was made like unto us of old and once for all offered up himself as an offering to his Father and is now forever slain, sanctifying those who partake of him.

God took flesh from thy pure blood. Therefore, do all generations hymn thee, O Lady, and the hosts of spiritual powers glorify thee; for through thee they clearly beheld the Master of all endued with human nature.

It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, the ever blessed and all-blameless, and the mother of our God. More honourable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim, thou who without stain bearest God the Word and art truly Theotokos: We magnify thee.

(Trisagion prayers) Holy God. Glory. All-holy Trinity. Lord, have mercy. Glory. Our Father…

Priest: For thine 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.

Reader: Amen.

O God of our fathers, who ever dealest with us according to thy goodness, remove not thy mercy from us; but by their intercessions direct our lives in peace.

In all the world, thy Church, arrayed in the blood of thy martyrs as in purple and fine linen, crieth through them unto thee, O Christ our God: Send down thy compassion upon thy people; give peace to thy commonwealth and to our souls, great mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

With the saints give rest, O Christ, to the souls of thy servants, where there is neither sickness nor sorrow nor sighing but life everlasting.

Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Through the intercessions of all the saints and of the Theotokos, grant us thy peace, O Lord, and have mercy upon us, for thou alone art compassionate.

Lord, have mercy. (Forty times)

Thou who, at all times and at every hour, both in heaven and on earth art worshipped and glorified, O Christ God, long-suffering, plenteous in mercy and compassion, who lovest the just and showest mercy to sinners, who callest all men to salvation through the promise of good things to come: Do thou, the same Lord, receive also our supplications at this present hour, and direct our lives according to thy commandments. Sanctify our souls; purify our bodies; set aright our minds; cleanse our thoughts; and deliver us from all calamity, wrath and distress. Compass us round about with thy holy angels; that, guided and guarded by their host, we may attain unto the unity of the faith, and unto the comprehension of thine ineffable glory. For blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

More honourable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim, thou who without stain bearest God the Word and art truly Theotokos: We magnify thee.

Reader: Bless, father, in the name of the Lord.

Priest: May God have compassion upon us and bless us; may he show the light of his countenance upon us and be merciful unto us.

Reader: Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

O Lady, Bride of God, spotless, blameless, pure and immaculate Virgin, thou who without corruption, by thy glorious birth-giving, has united God the Word to man and joined the fallen nature of our race to heavenly things; who alone art the hope of the hopeless, the help of those who do battle; the ready help of those who flee unto thee and the refuge of all Christians: Despise me not, an accursed sinner, though I have rendered myself unworthy by my shameful thoughts, words and deeds, and through indolence have become a slave to the pleasures of life; but as the Mother of the God who lovest mankind, mercifully have compassion upon me, a sinner and a prodigal, and receive my prayer, though it be offered unto thee by unworthy lips; and using thy boldness as a mother, importune thy Son, our Lord and Master, that he may open to me also the tender compassions of his goodness so as to overlook my numberless transgressions and turn me to repentance and show me forth as a zealous doer of his commandments. And because thou art merciful, compassionate and benevolent, be thou ever near me in this present life as an ardent help and protection, defending me from the assaults of adversaries and leading me to salvation. And at the time of my departure from this life, care for my miserable soul, and drive far from it the dark visions of evil demons; and in the fearful day of judgement, deliver me from eternal punishment, and present me as an inheritor of the ineffable glory of thy Son, our God. May this be my lot, O Lady, most holy Theotokos, through thy mediation and help, through the grace and love toward mankind of thine only-begotten Son, our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom are due all glory, honour and worship, with his unoriginate Father and his all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

And grant unto us, O Master, when we depart to sleep, repose of body and soul; and protect us from the murky sleep of sin and from all the dark pleasures of the night. Calm the impulses of passions, and quench the fiery darts of evil which are craftily thrown against us; check the turbulence of our flesh, and still all earthly and material thoughts. And grant us, O God, a watchful mind, a prudent reason, a vigilant heart, a tranquil sleep free from all the fantasies of Satan. Raise us up again at the time of prayer strengthened in thy commandments, holding steadfastly within us the remembrance of thy judgements. Grant us grace to glorify thee all through the night, that we may praise and bless and glorify thine all-honourable and majestic name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O most glorious, ever-virgin, blessed Theotokos, present our prayer to thy Son our God, and intercede with him that through thee he may save our souls.

 

The Father is my Hope;
The Son is my Refuge;
The Holy Spirit is my Protection;
O Holy Trinity: Glory to thee.

 

In thee, O Mother of God, I place all my hope; keep me under thy protection.

 

O holy angel who accompanieth my wretched soul and lowly life, forsake me not, and depart not from me because of my extravagance and wickedness. Give not access to the evil demon to rule with his might this mortal body of mine, but hold me by my wretched, feeble hand; lead me in the path of salvation. Yea, o holy angel of God, guardian and protector of my wretched soul and body, forgive me all wherewith I have heretofore saddened thee all the days of my life. And though this day I have sinned, be thou my shelter this night. Keep me from all the wiles of the enemy, that I may not anger God with any sin. Intercede with the Lord for me, that He may confirm me in His fear and show me forth as a worthy servant of His goodness. Amen.

 

Priest: Glory to thee, O Christ our God and our Hope, glory to thee.

Reader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

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

On the day on which you are to partake of the immaculate Body and precious Blood, say:

FOR HOLY COMMUNION

Reader: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Priest: Glory to thee, O God, glory to thee.

O heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things, the Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come, and abide in us, cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O good One.

(Trisagion prayers) Holy God. Glory. All-holy Trinity. Lord, have mercy. Glory. Our Father…

Priest: For thine 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.

Reader: Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O come, let us worship and fall down before God our King. (Metania)

O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. (Metania)

O come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God. (Metania)

(Psalm 22) The Lord is my shepherd, and I shall not want. In a place of green pasture, there hath he made me to dwell; beside the water of rest hath he nurtured me. He hath converted my soul, he hath led me on the paths of righteousness for his name=s sake. For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me. Thou hast prepared a table before me in the presence of them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil, and thy cup which filleth me, how excellent it is! And thy mercy shall pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.

 

(Psalm 23) The earth is the Lord=s, and the fulness thereof, the world, and all that dwell therein. He hath founded it upon the seas, and upon the rivers hath he prepared it. Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that is innocent in hands and pure in heart, who hath not received his soul in vain, and hath not sworn deceitfully to his neighbour. Such a one shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his Saviour. This is the generation of them that seek the Lord, of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your gates, O ye princes; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting gates, and the King of glory shall enter in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in war. Lift up your gates, O ye princes; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting gates, and the King of glory shall enter in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.

 

(Psalm 115) I believed, wherefore I spake; I was humbled exceedingly. As for me, I said in mine ecstasy: Every man is a liar. What shall I render unto the Lord for all that he hath rendered unto me? I will take the cup of salvation, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. My vows unto the Lord will I pay in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. O Lord, I am thy servant; I am thy servant and the son of thy handmaid. Thou hast broken my bonds asunder. I will sacrifice a sacrifice of praise unto thee, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. My vows unto the Lord will I pay in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to thee, O God. (Thrice)

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Lord, have mercy. (Forty times)

[Now make as many prostrations as are prescribed by your rule of prayer.]

If thou desirest, O man, to eat the Body of the Master, approach in fear, lest thou be scorched; for it is fire. And, before drinking the divine Blood unto communion, reconcile thyself to them that have wronged thee. Then dare to eat the mystical food. Before partaking of the dread sacrifice of the life-giving Body of the Master, after this manner and in fear and trembling, pray:

 

1. A Prayer of St. Basil the Great

O Lord, Master, Jesus Christ our God, Fountain of life and immortality, Creator of all things visible and invisible, co-everlasting and co-eternal Son of the unoriginate Father, who in thine exceeding goodness didst become incarnate in the latter days and was crucified and slain for us ungrateful and wicked men and by thine own Blood didst refashion our nature corrupted by sin: Do thou thyself, O immortal King, receive the repentance of me, the sinner; incline thine ear unto me, and hear my words, for I have sinned, O Lord; I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and I am not worthy to lift up my eyes to the height of thy glory, for I have affronted thy goodness and transgressed thy commandments and disobeyed thine ordinances. But thou, O Lord who rememberest not evil but art long-suffering and of great mercy, hast not given me over to perish in my lawlessness but dost ever await my return. For, O thou who lovest mankind, thou hast said, by thy prophet, >I desire not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should return and live,= because thou dost not wish, O Master, to destroy the work of thy hands, neither dost thou take pleasure in the destruction of the human race but desirest that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of truth. Wherefore I, although unworthy both of heaven and of earth and of this transitory life, even I, the wretched one, having wholly yielded myself to sin and become a slave to pleasures and having defiled thine image within me, who am thy creation and thy work, despair not of my salvation; but trusting in thine infinite compassion, I draw nigh unto thee. Receive me, O Christ, thou that lovest mankind, as thou didst receive the harlot, the thief, the publican and the prodigal son. Take away the heavy burden of my sins. O thou that takest away the sin of the world and healest the infirmities of men and callest all that are weary and heavy-laden to thyself and givest them rest; thou that camest not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance, cleanse thou me from every stain of flesh and spirit, and teach me to fulfill holiness in thy fear, that with the witness of my conscience pure, I may receive a portion of thy holy things and be united to thy holy Body and Blood and may have thee, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, dwelling and abiding in me. Yea, O Lord Jesus Christ my God, grant that the partaking of thine immaculate and life-giving mysteries may not be to my condemnation, nor may I become infirm in soul and body by receiving unworthily thereof, but grant that, even unto my last breath, I may partake of a portion of thy holy things without condemnation, unto the communion of the Holy Spirit, as a provision for eternal life, and for a good defence at thy fearful judgement seat; so that I, as a partner with all thine elect, may also receive those undefiled good things which thou hast prepared for them that love thee, O Lord, in whom thou are glorified forever. Amen.

 

2. Another Prayer of St. Basil the Great

O Lord, I know that I receive unworthily thine immaculate Body and precious Blood; I know that I am guilty and that I eat and drink condemnation to myself, not discerning the Body and Blood of Christ my God. But trusting in thy compassion I come unto thee who hast said, >Whosoever eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me and I in him.= Therefore, O Lord, have compassion on me and make not an example of me, the sinner. But do unto me according to thy mercy, and grant that these holy things may be for me unto the healing, purification, enlightenment, protection, salvation and sanctification of soul and body, and to the expulsion of every evil imagination, wicked deed or work of the devil, which operateth within my mind and members. May they move me to boldness and love toward thee, to amend and keep firm my life, and may they ever be in me unto the increase of virtue, unto the keeping of thy commandments, unto the communion of the Holy Spirit, as a provision of eternal life and for a good defence at thy fearful judgement seat, and not unto judgement nor unto condemnation.

 

3. A Prayer of St. John Chrysostom

O Lord my God, I know that I am not worthy nor sufficient that thou shouldest enter under the roof of the house of my soul, for it is all deserted and in ruins, and thou hast not a worthy place in me to lay thy head. But as from the heights of thy glory thou didst humble thyself, so now bear me in my humility; as thou didst deign to lie in the cave in a manger of dumb animals, so deign now also to come into the manger of my dumb soul and soiled body. As thou didst not refrain from entering and eating with sinners in the house of Simon the leper, so also vouchsafe to enter the house of my humble, leprous and sinful soul. As thou didst not reject the harlot and sinner, like unto me, who approached and touched thee, so also have pity on me, a sinner, as I approach and touch thee, and as thou didst not loathe the filthy mouth of her who drew near to kiss thee, neither loathe my mouth which is more filthy, nor my unclean lips, nor my yet more unclean tongue. But grant that the fiery coal of thine all-holy Body and precious Blood be for the sanctification, enlightenment and strengthening of my wretched soul and body, for the relief from the burden of my many transgressions, for my preservation against every demonic activity, for the trampling down and averting of my careless and evil habits, for the mortification of passion, for obedience to thy commandments, for growth in thy divine grace and for the inheritance of thy kingdom. For it is not with presumption that I approach thee, O Christ God, but I come trusting in thine indescribable goodness, lest that through long absence from communion with thee I may become the prey of the invisible wolf. Wherefore, I pray thee, O Master who alone art holy, sanctify my soul and body, my mind and heart, my reins and bowels, and renew me entirely. Implant in my members the fear of thee, and make thy sanctification to be inalienable from me. Be thou my Helper and Guide, directing my life in peace, vouchsafing me to stand at thy right hand with thy saints; through the prayers and intercessions of thine all-immaculate Mother, of thy bodiless servitors and immaculate powers, and of all the saints who from all ages have been well-pleasing unto thee. Amen.

 

4. Another Prayer of St. John Chrysostom

O Lord Master, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under the roof of my soul; but for that thou desirest, O Lover of mankind, to dwell in me, I make bold to draw near. Thou biddest me to open the doors which thou alone hast made, and thou dost enter with thy love for man. Thou dost enter and enlighten my darkened reasoning. I believe that thou wilt so do. For thou didst not turn from the harlot when she came to thee with tears. Neither didst thou reject the publican who repented, nor the thief when he acknowledged thy kingdom. Nor didst thou despise the persecutor when he was converted. But all who came to thee in repentance thou didst reckon among thy friends, O thou who art alone blessed, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

5. Another Prayer of St. John Chrysostom

O Lord Jesus Christ, my God, absolve, remit, be gracious and forgive me, thy sinful, unprofitable and unworthy servant, my sins, offences and transgressions, by which from my youth even unto this present day and hour I have sinned against thee, in knowledge or in ignorance, whether of words or deeds, whether in thought or imagination, in my own counsels and in all my senses. And by the intercessions of her who bore thee without seed, Mary, thine all-immaculate and ever-virgin Mother, my only hope which maketh not ashamed, my protection and my salvation, vouchsafe that I may partake without condemnation of thine immaculate, immortal, life-giving and dread mysteries, for the forgiveness of sins and unto life eternal, unto the sanctification, enlightenment, strength, healing and complete obliteration of my evil thoughts and imaginings and intents, of night fantasies and the evil spirits of darkness; for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory and the honour and the worship, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

6. A Prayer of St. John of Damascus

O Lord, Master Jesus Christ, our God, who alone hath power to forgive men of their sins, for thou art good and lovest mankind: Forgive me all transgressions that I have committed in knowledge or in ignorance, and make me worthy to receive without condemnation thy divine, glorious, immaculate and life-giving mysteries, not unto punishments nor unto increase of sins, but unto purification and sanctification and a pledge of the life and kingdom to come, as a protection and a help and an averting of the adversaries, and unto the blotting out of my many trespasses. For thou art a God of mercy and compassions and love toward mankind, and unto thee we ascribe glory, together with thy Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

7. A Prayer of St. Simeon the New Theologian

From filthy lips, from a loathsome heart, from an unclean tongue, from a polluted soul, receive my prayer, O my Christ; and despise not my words, neither my manner nor mine impudence. Suffer me to speak boldly that which I desire, O my Christ. Nay, rather, teach me that which it becometh me to do and to speak. I have sinned more than the harlot who, learning where thou wast lodging, bought ointment and dared to anoint thy feet, O Christ, my Master and my God. Inasmuch as thou didst not reject her who came to thee from her heart, neither loathe thou me, O Word, but grant me also to hold and kiss thy feet and to dare to anoint them with a flood of tears, as with very precious ointment. Wash me with my tears and purify me thereby, O Word. Forgive my transgression, and grant me pardon. Thou knowest the multitude of mine evil deeds. Thou knowest too my bruises, and thou seest my wounds. But thou knowest likewise my faith and beholdest my zeal, and thou hearest my sighs. No tear is hidden from thee, O my God, my Maker, my Deliverer, nor even a part thereof. Thine eyes knew that which I had not yet done, for in thy book is written that which I will do. Behold, my lowliness. Behold, my weariness. Forgive me all my sins, O God of all, that with a pure heart and fearful mind and contrite soul, I may partake of thine immaculate and all-pure mysteries, wherewith every man who eateth and drinketh thereof with a pure heart is enlivened and made divine. For thou, O Master, didst say, >Whosoever eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him.= True in all ways is the word of my Lord and God; for he who partaketh of the divine and deifying gifts is in no way alone but is with thee, O my Christ, thou tri-radiant Sun who illumineth the world. Suffer me not to dwell apart from thee, O Giver of life, who art my Breath, my Life, my Joy, the Salvation of the world. Wherefore I draw nigh unto thee, as thou seest, with tears and a contrite soul, beseeching that I may be delivered from my transgressions and may partake without condemnation of thy life-bestowing and blameless mysteries, that, as thou hast said, thou mayest abide with me, the thrice-wretched, lest if I be found without thy grace, the tempter should craftily beguile me and entice me away from thy deifying words. For this cause I fall down before thee and earnestly cry unto thee: As thou didst accept the prodigal son and the harlot when she came to thee, so also receive me, who am as a harlot and a prodigal, O compassionate One. Turning to thee now with a contrite soul, I know, O Saviour, that no man hath so sinned against thee as I, nor done the things that I have done. Yet this also I know, that neither the magnitude of the transgressions, nor the multitude of the sins surpasseth the great long-suffering of my God and his exceeding love toward mankind. But with the oil of compassion thou dost cleanse and enlighten them that earnestly repent, bounteously making them partakers of the light and communicants of thy divinity. And strange though it be to angels and to the minds of men, thou dost oft-times converse with them as with thy true friends. These things maketh me bold; these things giveth me wing, O my Christ. And emboldened by thy rich bounty toward us, in joy and trembling I, who am as grass, do partake of fire. And lo, a strange wonder! I am inexplicably bedewed, even as of old the burning bush was not consumed. Now with thankful mind, with thankful heart, with thankfulness in all my members, my soul and my flesh, I worship, magnify and glorify thee, O my God, who art blessed both now and unto the ages.

 

8. A Prayer of St. Simeon the Translator

O Lord, Jesus Christ, the Wisdom, Peace and Power of God, who alone art pure and undefiled, who for the compassion of thine ineffable love for mankind didst take our entire nature from the pure and virginal blood of her who bore thee in a manner beyond nature by the descent of the divine Spirit and the good will of the unoriginate Father, who didst accept the life-giving and saving passion, the cross, the nails, the spear and death: Mortify the soul-corrupting passions of my body, O thou who by thy burial didst lead captive the kingdom of hades. Bury under good thoughts my evil counsels and scatter abroad the evil spirits, O thou who by thy life-giving, third-day resurrection didst raise the forefathers who had fallen, raise me up, who slippeth in sin, placing before me the ways of repentance. O thou who by thy glorious ascension didst vouchsafe that the flesh which thou hadst assumed should sit at the right hand of the Father, thereby ennobling it, so prepare me that, by partaking of thy holy mysteries, I may attain a portion at thy right hand with the saved. O thou who by the descent of the comforting Spirit didst make thy sacred disciples precious vessels, show me, also, to appear a vessel for his descent. O thou who art about to come and judge the world with righteousness, be well pleased, O my Maker and my Creator, that I too may welcome thee in the clouds with all thy saints, that I may ceaselessly glorify and hymn thee, with thine unoriginate Father and thine all-holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

 

9. Another Prayer of St. John of Damascus

I stand before the doors of thy temple, and yet I refrain not from my terrible thoughts. But do thou, O Christ God, who didst justify the publican and hadst mercy on the Canaanite woman and opened the gates of paradise to the thief, open unto me the compassion of thy love toward mankind, and receive me as I approach and touch thee, like the harlot and the woman with the issue of blood; for the one, by embracing thine immaculate feet, received the forgiveness of her sins, and the other, by but touching the hem of thy garment, received healing. And I, most sinful, dare to partake of thy whole Body. Let me not be consumed, but receive me as thou didst receive them, and enlighten the senses of my soul, consuming the accusations of my sins, through the intercessions of her that without seed gave thee birth, and of the heavenly powers; for thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.

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

Last modified: March 20, 1999
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