Great Compline

Great Compline

Great Compline 



The audible prayers of the 

Priest: are in Bold, Times New Roman. 



The parts that may be sung by the 

Choir: are gray, and in a sans-serif type.



The parts of the 

Reader: are in smaller, Sans-serif type



Rubrics are red, in Italics



Headings are centered, in a Larger, Red TypeGreat Compline Page 50 of 50

Great Compline Page 49 of 50

The priest, vested in the epatrachial, gives the blessing:

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

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

O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present
and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come
and dwell in us, and cleanse us of all impurity, and save our souls, O
Good One. 

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

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

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O
Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, 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, both now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

Our Father, Who art in the Heavens, 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 forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 

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
the ages of ages. 

Reader: Amen. Lord have mercy. (12 times) 

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

O come, let us worship God our King. 

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

O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and
God. 

And if it be the first week of Great Lent, we begin with Psalm 69,
otherwise we 

skip Psalm 69, and continue at Psalm 4:



PSALM 69



O God, be attentive unto helping me; O Lord, make haste to help me. 

Let them be shamed 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. 

And having completed this, we chant the Great Canon. But if it is not
the first week of Great Lent, after ?O Come Let us worship-¦ we begin
with: 



PSALM 4



When I called upon Thee, O God of my righteousness, Thou didst hearken
unto me; in mine affliction Thou hast enlarged me. 

Have compassion on me and hear my prayer. 

ye sons of men, how long will ye be slow of heart? Why do ye love
vanity, and seek after falsehood? 

Know also that the Lord hath made wondrous His holy one; the Lord will
hearken unto me when I cry unto Him. 

Be angry, and sin not; feel compunction upon your beds for what ye say
in your hearts. 

Sacrifice a sacrifice of righteousness, and hope in the Lord. Many say:
Who will show unto us good things? 

The light of Thy countenance, O Lord, hath been signed upon us; Thou
hast given gladness to my heart. 

From the fruit of their wheat, wine, and oil are they multiplied. 

In peace in the same place I shall lay me down and sleep. 

For Thou, O Lord, alone hast made me to dwell in hope.



PSALM 6



O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger, nor chasten me in Thy wrath. 

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, O Lord, for my bones
are troubled, and my soul is troubled greatly; but Thou, O Lord, how
long? 

Turn to me again, O Lord, deliver my soul; save me for Thy mercy's sake.


For in death there is none that is mindful of Thee, and in hades who
will confess Thee? 

I toiled in my groaning; every night I will wash my bed, with tears will
I water my couch. 

Through wrath is mine eye become troubled, I have grown old among all
mine enemies. 

Depart from me all ye that work vanity, for the Lord hath heard the
voice of my weeping. 

The Lord hath heard my supplication, the Lord hath received my prayer. 

Let all mine enemies be greatly put to shame and be troubled, let them
be turned back, and speedily be greatly put to shame.



PSALM 12



How long, O Lord, wilt Thou utterly forget me? How long wilt Thou turn
Thy face away from me? 

How long shall I take counsel in my soul with grievings in my heart by
day and by night? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? 

Look upon me, hear me, O Lord my God; enlighten mine eyes, lest at any
time I sleep unto death. 

Lest at any time mine enemy say: I have prevailed against him. 

They that afflict me will rejoice if I am shaken; but as for me, I have
hoped in Thy mercy. My heart will rejoice in Thy salvation. 

I will sing unto the Lord, Who is my benefactor, and I will chant unto
the name of the Lord Most High.

----------Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God. (Thrice) 

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice) 

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



PSALM 24



Unto Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul. 



O my God, in Thee have I trusted; let me never be put to shame, nor let
mine enemies laugh me to scorn. 



Yea, let none that wait on Thee be put to shame; let them be ashamed
which are lawless without a cause. 



Make Thy ways, O Lord, known unto me and teach me Thy paths. 



Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, for Thou art God my Savior; for on
Thee have I waited all the day long. 



Remember Thy compassions; O Lord, and Thy mercies, for they are from
everlasting. 



The sins of my youth and mine ignorances remember not; according to Thy
mercy remember Thou me, for the sake of Thy goodness, O Lord. 



Good and upright is the Lord; therefore will He set a law for them that
sin in the way. 



He will guide the meek in judgment, He will teach the meek His ways. 



All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth, unto them that seek after
His covenant and His testimonies. 



For the sake of Thy name, O Lord, be gracious unto my sin; for it is
great. 



Who is the man that feareth the Lord? He will set him a law in the way
which He hath chosen. 



His soul shall dwell among good things, and his seed shall inherit the
earth. 



The Lord is the strength of them that fear Him, and His covenant shall
be manifested unto them. 



Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He it is that will draw my feet
out of the snare. 



Look upon me, and have mercy on me; for I am one only-begotten and poor.




The afflictions of my heart are multiplied; bring me out from my
necessities. 



Behold my lowliness and my toil, and forgive all my sins. 



Look upon my enemies, for they are multiplied, and with an unjust hatred
they have hated me. 



Keep my soul and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I have hoped
in Thee. 



The innocent and the upright have cleaved unto me, for I waited on Thee,
O Lord. 



Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his afflictions. 

PSALM 30



In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me not be put to shame in the age to
come; in Thy righteousness deliver me, and rescue me. 



Bow down Thine ear unto me, make haste to rescue me, be Thou unto me a
God to defend me and a house of refuge to save me. 



For my strength and my refuge art Thou, and for Thy name's sake wilt
Thou guide me and nourish me. 



Thou wilt bring me out of this snare which they have hid for me, for
Thou art my defender, O Lord. 



Into Thy hands I will commit my spirit; Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord
God of truth. 



Thou hast hated them that cling to empty vanities; but I have hoped in
the Lord. 



I will rejoice and be glad in Thy mercy, for Thou hast regarded my
lowliness; Thou hast saved my soul out of necessities, 



And hast not shut me up in the hands of enemies; Thou hast set my feet
in a spacious place. 



Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am afflicted; mine eye is troubled with
anger, as also my soul and my belly. 



For my life is spent with grief, and my years with groanings; my
strength hath grown weak in poverty, and my bones are troubled. 



I am become a reproach among all mine enemies, and greatly for my
neighbors also, and a fear to mine acquaintances. They that saw me
without fled from me. 



I am forgotten by the heart like a dead man. I am become like a broken
vessel. 



For I have heard the reproach of many that dwell round about; when they
assembled together against me, they devised to take away my life. 



But as for me, I have hoped in Thee, O Lord; I said: Thou art my God; in
Thy hands are my lots. 



Deliver me from the hands of mine enemies, and from them that persecute
me. 



Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant, save me in Thy mercy. 



O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I have called upon Thee; let the
ungodly be put to shame and let them be brought down into hades. 



Speechless be the deceitful lips which speak iniquity against the
righteous man with arrogance and contempt. 



How great is the multitude of Thy goodness, O Lord, which Thou hast hid
for them that fear Thee, which Thou hast wrought for them that hope in
Thee before the sons of men. 



Thou shalt hide them in the secrecy of Thy presence from the disturbance
of men; Thou shalt shelter them in the tabernacle from contradiction of
tongues. 



Blessed is the Lord, for He hath made His mercy wondrous in a fortified
city. 



But as for me, I said in mine ecstasy: I am cast away from the presence
of Thine eyes. Therefore hast Thou heard the voice of my supplication
when I cried unto Thee. 



O love ye the Lord, all ye His saints, for the Lord requireth truth; and
unto them that act with exceeding pride, He rendereth them their due. 



Be ye manful, and let your heart be strengthened, all ye that hope in
the Lord. 

PSALM 90



He that dwelleth in the help of the Most High shall abide in the shelter
of the God of heaven. 

He shall say unto the Lord: Thou art my helper and my refuge. He is my
God, and I will hope in Him. 

For He shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunters and from every
troubling word. 

With His shoulders will He overshadow thee, and under His wings shalt
thou have hope. 

With a shield will His truth encompass thee; thou shalt not be afraid
for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day, 

Nor for the thing that walketh in darkness, nor for the mishap and demon
of noonday. 

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand,
but unto thee shall it not come nigh. 

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and thou shalt see the reward of
sinners. 

For Thou, O Lord, art my hope. Thou madest the Most High thy refuge; 

No evils shall come nigh thee, and no scourge shall draw nigh unto thy
dwelling. 

For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy
ways. 

On their hands shall they bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy
foot against a stone. 

Upon the asp and basilisk shalt thou tread, and thou shalt trample upon
the lion and dragon. 

For he hath set his hope on Me, and I will deliver him; I will shelter
him because he hath known My name. 

He shall cry unto Me, and I will hearken unto him. I am with him in
affliction, and I will rescue him and glorify him. 

With length of days will I satisfy him, and I will show him My
salvation. 

----------

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

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

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice) 

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

----------

Then we chant these verses with sweet melody, not rapidly, but slowly,
and with loud voice (On Friday evening this is read, and everything from
here to ?I BELIEVE-¦ is read, not chanted):

Choir: God is with us, understand, O ye nations, and submit yourselves:
for God is with us. (Twice, if there are two choirs)

Reader: Hearken ye unto the ends of the earth.

Choir: FOR GOD IS WITH US.

For if ye again strengthen yourselves, ye shall again be vanquished.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

And whatsoever counsel ye shall take, the Lord shall bring it to nought.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

And the word, whatsoever ye speak, shall not remain with you.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

And of your fear we shall be neither afraid nor in dread.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

But the Lord our God, Him will we hallow, and he shall be fear unto us.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

And if I be trusting in Him, He shall be unto me sanctification.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

And I will be hoping in Him, and shall be saved by Him.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

The people that walk in darkness have seen a great light.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

Ye that dwell in the region and shadow of death, a light shall shine
upon you.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

Whose government is upon His shoulder.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

And of His peace there is no end.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

And His name shall be called Angel of Great Counsel.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

Wonderful Counselor.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

Mighty God, Ruler, Prince of Peace.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

Father of the age to come.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

Choir: God is with us, understand, O ye nations, and submit yourselves:
for God is with us. (Twice, if there are two choirs)

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

Choir: God is with us.

Reader: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Choir: God is with us. For God is with us!



And immediately these Troparia: 



Choir 1: The day being past, I give Thee thanks, O Lord; * the evening,
I pray, together with the night * without sin grant me, O Savior, * and
save me.

Choir 2: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

The day being past, I glorify Thee, O Master; * the evening, I pray,
together with the night * without temptation grant me, O Savior, * and
save me.

Choir 1: Both now and ever, * and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The day being past, I hymn Thee, O Holy One; * the evening, I pray,
together with the night * without peril grant me, O Savior, * and save
me. 

Then the two choirs together, alternating phrases:

In the Sixth Tone: 

The bodiless nature of the Cherubim * with unceasing hymns glorify Thee.
* The six-winged beings, the Seraphim, * with never-ceasing voices
supremely exalt Thee. * And all the ranks of the Angels * praise Thee
with thrice-holy hymns. * For before all art Thou the existing Father, *
and Thou hast Thy co-unoriginate Son; * and bearing the co-honorable
Spirit of life, * Thou dost manifest the Indivisible Trinity. * O Most
holy Virgin Mother of God, * and ye eyewitnesses of the Word and
servants, * all the choirs both of Prophets and Martyrs, * as those that
have attained unto life immortal, * supplicate earnestly for us all, *
for we all are in distress; * that, being delivered from the delusion of
the evil one, * we may cry out the angelic hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy,
Thrice-holy Lord, * have mercy and save us. Amen.



And immediately, in a lower voice, the reader:



Reader: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and
the 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 ages; Light of Light, true God of true 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 the heavens, and was incarnate
of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man; And was
crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And
arose again on the third day according to the Scriptures; And ascended
into the heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; And shall
come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose
kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the 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. In One,
Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the
remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, And the life
of the age to come. Amen. 

----------

And immediately, ?O most holy Lady-¦; all are said twice except the
first verse, ?O most holy Lady-¦, which is said Thrice. The verses are
alternated by each choir.

And with each one we make a prostration, except on Friday evenings, when
this is read instead of being chanted, we make a bow:

O most holy Lady Theotokos, intercede for us sinners. (Thrice)

O all ye Heavenly Host of the holy Angels and Archangels, intercede for
us sinners. (Twice)

O holy John, Prophet and Forerunner and Baptist of our Lord Jesus
Christ, intercede for us sinners. (Twice)

O holy glorious Apostles, Prophets, and Martyrs, and all the Saints,
intercede for us sinners. (Twice)

O our holy and God-bearing fathers, pastors, and ecumenical teachers,
intercede for us sinners. (Twice)

O (patron saint of the temple), intercede for us sinners. (Twice)

O Invincible and incomprehensible and divine power of the precious and
life-giving Cross, forsake not us sinners. (Twice)

O God, cleanse us sinners. (Twice)

O God, cleanse us sinners, and have mercy on us.

----------

Then the reader: 

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, both now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O
Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, 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, both now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

Our Father, Who art in the Heavens, 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 forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 

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
the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen. 

----------

Then the following Troparia, unless there be a feast, in which case we
say the Troparion of the Feast



On Monday and Wednesday evenings, in the Second Tone:



Enlighten mine eyes, O Christ God, lest at any time I sleep unto death,
lest at any time mine enemy say: I have prevailed against him.

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

Be my soul-s helper, O God, for I pass through the midst of many snares;
deliver me out of them, and save me, O Good One, for Thou art the Lover
of Mankind.

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

Theotokion: 

Seeing that we have no boldness on account of our many sins, do thou
beseech Him that was born of thee, O Virgin Theotokos for the
supplication of a mother availeth much to win the Master's favor.
Disdain not the prayers of sinners, O all-pure one, for merciful and
mighty to save is He Who deigned also to suffer for our sake.

On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, these troparia, in the Eighth Tone:

O Lord, Thou knowest the unsleeping vigilance of mine invisible enemies,
and the weakness of my miserable flesh knowest Thou Who hast fashioned
me: Into Thy hands, therefore, I will commit my spirit; shelter me with
the wings of Thy goodness, lest at any time I sleep unto death, and
enlighten the eyes of my mind to the enjoyment of Thy divine words, and
raise me up in a seasonable time unto Thy glorification, for Thou alone
art good and the Lover of mankind.

Stichos: Look upon me and hear me, O Lord my God.

How terrible is Thy judgment, O Lord, with the angels standing round
about, the men being led in, the books opened, the deeds examined, the
thoughts weighed. What judgment shall be awarded unto me who was
conceived in sins? Who shall quench the flame for me, who shall
enlighten the darkness for me, if not Thou, O Lord Who hast mercy on me,
as the Lover of mankind.

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

Grant me tears, O God, as Thou didst once give to the sinning woman, and
vouchsafe me to moisten Thy feet which have freed me from the path of
delusion, and to offer to Thee as fragrant myrrh a pure life, fashioned
in me by repentance, that I may hear Thy desired voice: Thy faith hath
saved thee, go in peace.

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



Theotokion: Having in thee, O Theotokos, a hope that cannot be put to
shame, I shall be saved; having obtained thy mediation, O most pure one,
I shall not fear. I shall pursue enemies and triumph over them, having
covered myself, as in a breastplate, only with thy protection; and
imploring thine all-powerful aid, I cry unto thee: O Sovereign Lady,
save me through thine intercessions, and raise me up from somber sleep
to thy glorification, by the might of the Son of God who was incarnate
of thee.



On Friday evenings, the troparion of the Saturday commemoration



----------

And after the Troparia: 

Reader: Lord have mercy. (Forty Times) 

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

More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than
the Seraphim; who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the
very Theotokos, thee do we magnify. 

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

Reader: Amen. 

And this prayer of Basil the Great:

Reader: O Lord, O Lord, Who hast delivered us from every arrow that
flieth by day, deliver us from everything that walketh in darkness.
Receive as an evening sacrifice the lifting up of our hands. Vouchsafe
us also to pass through the course of the night without blemish,
untempted by evil. And deliver us from every anxiety and fear that come
to us from the devil. Grant unto our souls compunction, and unto our
thoughts solicitude concerning the trial at Thy dread and righteous
judgment. Nail down our flesh with the fear of Thee, and mortify our
earthly members, that in quietness of sleep we may be enlightened by the
vision of Thy judgments. Take from us every unseemly dream and
pernicious carnal desire. Raise us up at the hour of prayer, fortified
in faith and advancing in Thy commandments; through the benevolence and
goodness of Thine Only-begotten Son, with Whom Thou art blessed,
together with Thy most-holy and good and life creating Spirit, now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O come, let us worship God our King. 

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

O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and
God. 

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 hast 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 101



O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto Thee. 



Turn not Thy face away from me; in the day when I am afflicted, incline
Thine ear unto me. 



In the day when I call upon Thee, quickly hearken unto me. 



For my days are vanished like smoke, and my bones consumed like wood for
the burning. 



I am smitten like grass, and withered is my heart, for I forgot to eat
my bread. 



By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bone hath cleaved unto my
flesh. 



I am become like a pelican of the wilderness, I am like an owl in a
ruined house. 



I have watched, and am like a sparrow that sitteth alone upon the
house-top. 



The whole day long mine enemies reproached me, and they that praised me
made an oath against me. 



For before the face of Thy wrath and Thine anger I ate ashes like bread,
and my drink I mingled with weeping; for after uplifting me, Thou hast
dashed me down. 



My days like a shadow have declined, and I like grass am withered. 



But Thou, O Lord, for ever abidest, and Thy remembrance is unto
generation and generation. 



Thou shalt rise up and have pity upon Sion, for it is time to have
compassion on her, yea, the time is come. 



For Thy servants have taken pleasure in her stones, and they shall feel
pity for her dust. 



And the nations shall fear Thy name, O Lord, and all the kings of the
earth Thy glory. 



For the Lord shall build up Sion, and He shall be seen in His glory. 



He hath regarded the prayer of the humble, and hath not despised their
supplication. 



Let this be written for another generation, and the people that is being
created shall praise the Lord. 



For He hath looked out from His holy height, the Lord from heaven hath
looked upon the earth, 



To hear the groaning of them that be in fetters, to loose the sons of
the slain, 



To declare in Sion the name of the Lord, and His praise in Jerusalem, 



When the peoples are gathered together, and the kings to serve the Lord.




He answered Him in the way of his strength: The fewness of my days
declare unto me. 



Take me not away at the half of my days; in generations and generations
are Thy years. 



In the beginning, O Lord, Thou didst lay the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the works of Thy hands. 



They shall perish, but Thou abidest; and all like a garment shall grow
old, 



And as a vesture shalt Thou fold them, and they shall be changed; but
Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail. 



The sons of Thy servants shall have their dwelling, and their seed for
ever shall be guided aright.



The Prayer of Manasses, King of Judea: 



O Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers, of Abraham, and Isaac, and
Jacob, and of their righteous seed; 

Who hast made heaven and the earth with all their majesty; Who hast
bound the sea by the word of Thy commandment; 

Who hast closed the abyss, and sealed it by Thy terrible and glorious
name; of Whom all things are afraid, and tremble from the presence of
Thy might; 

for no one can endure the majesty of Thy glory, and unbearable is the
wrath of Thy threatening toward sinners, but immeasurable and
unsearchable is the mercifulness of Thy promise; 

for Thou art the Lord most High, compassionate, long-suffering, and
plenteous in mercy, and repentest of the evils of men: 

Thou, O Lord, according to the multitude of Thy goodness, hast promised
penitence and forgiveness to them that have sinned against Thee, and in
the multitude of Thy compassions hast decreed repentance for the
salvation of sinners. 

Thou, therefore, O Lord God of hosts, hast not appointed repentance for
the righteous, for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who have not sinned
against Thee, but hast laid repentance upon me a sinner, for I have
sinned more than the number of the sands of the sea. 

Mine iniquities are multiplied, and I am not worthy to look upon and to
see the height of heaven for the multitude of mine iniquities. 

For I am bowed down with many iron bands so that I cannot lift up my
head, and there is no release for me, because I have provoked Thine
anger, and done evil before Thee, neither having done Thy will, nor
having kept Thy commandments; 

and now I bow the knees of my heart, beseeching of Thee clemency. 

I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I know mine iniquities; but
imploring I pray Thee: Loose me, O Lord, loose me, and destroy me not
with mine iniquities. 

Neither in enmity forever keep mine evils, neither condemn me to the
nethermost parts of the earth. 

For Thou, O God, art the God of them that repent, and upon me Thou wilt
show all Thy goodness; for Thou shalt save me who am unworthy, according
to the plenitude of Thy mercy, 

and I will praise Thee continually throughout the days of my life: for
all the heavenly hosts hymn Thee, and Thine is the glory unto the ages
of ages. Amen.

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

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

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O
Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, 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, both now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

Our Father, Who art in the Heavens, 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 forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 

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
the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen. 

And these Troparia in the Sixth Tone: 

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; * for at loss for any
defense, * this prayer do we sinners offer unto thee as Master: have
mercy on us.

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

Lord, have mercy on us; * for we have hoped in Thee, be not angry with
us greatly, * neither remember our iniquities; * but look upon us now as
Thou art compassionate, * and deliver us from our enemies, * for Thou
art our God, and we, Thy people; * all are the works of Thy hands, and
we call upon Thy name.

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

Theotokion: The door of compassion open unto us, * O blessed Theotokos,
* for hoping in thee, let us not perish; * through thee may we be
delivered from adversities, * for thou art the salvation of the
Christian race.

Reader: Lord have mercy. (Forty Times) 

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

More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than
the Seraphim; who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the
very Theotokos, thee do we magnify. 

In the name of the Lord, father (master) bless.

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

Reader: Amen. 

O Sovereign God, the Father Almighty, O Lord, the Only-begotten Son,
Jesus Christ, and O Holy Spirit, one Godhead, one Power: Have mercy on
me a sinner, and by the judgments which Thou knowest, save me, Thine
unworthy servant; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O come, let us worship God our King. 

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

O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and
God. 



(Psalm 69 is omitted at this point when the Great Canon is read in the
First Week of Great Lent)



PSALM 69 



O God, be attentive unto helping me; O Lord, make haste to help me. 

Let them be shamed 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 judgment 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 hear Thy mercy in the morning; for in Thee have I put my
hope. 

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 all them that afflict my soul, for I am Thy
servant.



THE DOXOLOGY



(Read, not sung) 

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

We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give
thanks to Thee for Thy great glory. 

O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty; O Lord, the
only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and O 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, 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 night will I bless Thee, and I will praise Thy Name forever, yea,
forever and forever. 

Lord, thou hast been our refuge in generation and generation. 

I said: O Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul, for I have sinned
against Thee. 

O Lord, unto Thee have I fled for refuge, teach me to do Thy will, for
Thou art my God. 

For in 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 unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in Thee. 

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes. 

Blessed art Thou, O Master, give me understanding of Thy statutes. 

Blessed art Thou, O Holy One, enlighten me by Thy statutes. 

O Lord, Thy mercy endureth forever; disdain not the works of Thy hands. 

To Thee is due praise, to Thee is due a song, to Thee glory is due, to
the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and
unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

----------

After this, if it is not the first week of Lent, we say a canon to a
saint of the commemorative cycle (from the Menaion), or to the Theotokos
(from the Octoechos). And after the completion of the canon and
stichera, we chant: 

Choir: It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever blessed and
most blameless, and Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim,
and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without
corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we
magnify. Prostration.



----------

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, both now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O
Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, 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, both now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

Our Father, Who art in the Heavens, 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 forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 

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
the ages of ages. 

Reader: Amen. 

----------

Then we chant in a loud voice, and slowly, in the Sixth Tone (except on
Friday evenings we omit this entirely and say the Kontakion of the
Saturday commemoration): 



Choir: O Lord of hosts, be with us, * for beside Thee, * we have no
other helper in adversity; * O Lord of hosts, have mercy on us. 

(If there be two choirs, the second choir repeateth)

And the first choir chanteth the stichos and refrain:

Stichos 1: Praise ye God in His saints, praise Him in the firmament of
His power.



O Lord of hosts, be with us-

And the second choir: 

Stichos 2: Praise Him for His mighty acts, praise Him according to the
multitude of His greatness.

O Lord of hosts, be with us-

The first choir: 

Stichos 3: Praise Him with the sound of Trumpet, praise Him with the
psaltery and harp.

O Lord of hosts, be with us-

The second choir: 

Stichos 4: Praise Him with timbrel and dance, praise Him with strings
and flute.

O Lord of hosts, be with us-

The first choir: 

Stichos 5: Praise Him with tuneful cymbals, praise Him with cymbals of
jubilation. Let every breath praise the Lord.

O Lord of hosts, be with us-

Then both choirs, having come down from the kleros together, chant this
stichos:

Stichos 6: Praise ye God in His saints, praise Him in the firmament of
His power.

O Lord of hosts, be with us-

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

O Lord, if we had not had Thy saints as intercessors, * and Thy goodness
being merciful to us, * how should we have dared, O Savior, to hymn
Thee, * Whom angels do unceasingly glorify? * O Thou that knowest the
hearts, spare our souls.

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

Greatly multiplied, O Theotokos, are my sins, * and unto thee have I
fled, O pure one, * imploring salvation. * Do thou visit mine enfeebled
soul, * and pray to thy Son and our God * that He grant me forgiveness
for the evil I have done, O thou only blessed one.



O all-holy Theotokos, * throughout my lifetime forsake me not, * to
human protection entrust me not, * but do thou thyself defend me and
have mercy on me.



All my hope I place in thee, * O Mother of God, * keep me under thy
protection.

----------

Reader: Lord, have mercy. (forty times) 



The Prayer of the Hours: 

Reader: Thou Who at all times and every hour, in heaven and on earth,
art worshipped and glorified, O Christ God, Who art long-suffering,
plenteous in mercy, most compassionate, Who loveth the righteous and
hast mercy on sinners, Who callest all to salvation through the promise
of good things to come: Receive, O Lord, our prayers at this hour, and
guide our life toward Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, make chaste
our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our intentions, and deliver us
from every sorrow, evil and pain. Compass us about with Thy holy angels,
that, guarded and guided by their array, we may attain to the unity of
the faith and the knowledge of Thine unapproachable glory; for blessed
art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

Lord have mercy. (Thrice) 

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

More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than
the Seraphim; who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the
very Theotokos, thee do we magnify. 

In the name of the Lord, father (master) bless. 

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

Reader: Amen. 

And then the Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian 

(on Friday evenings, the prayer of St. Ephraim is not said):

The Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian



Priest: O Lord and Master of my life, a spirit of idleness, despondency,
ambition, and idle talking give me not. 

Prostration

Priest: But rather a spirit of chastity, humble-mindedness, patience,
and love bestow upon me Thy servant. 

Prostration 

Priest: Yea, O Lord King, grant me to see my own failings and not
condemn my brother; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

Prostration

Then twelve reverences. With each one we say:

Priest: O God, cleanse me a sinner.

Then, the entire prayer without a break:

Priest: O Lord and Master of my life, a spirit of idleness, despondency,
ambition, and idle talking give me not. But rather a spirit of chastity,
humble-mindedness, patience, and love bestow upon me Thy servant. Yea, O
Lord King, grant me to see my own failings and not condemn my brother;
for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

Prostration

----------

Then the Reader immediately continues with the  Trisagion:  

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, both now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O
Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, 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, both now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

Our Father, Who art in the Heavens, 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 forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 

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
the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)

Save, help, and protect us, O Virgin Theotokos. 

The Supplicatory Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos, of Paul the monk of
the Monastery of Evergetides (Of the Benefactress)



O undefiled, untainted, uncorrupted, most pure, chaste Virgin, Thou
Bride of God and Sovereign Lady, who didst unite the Word of God to
mankind through thy most glorious birth giving, and hast linked the
apostate nature of our race with the heavenly; who art the only hope of
the hopeless, and the helper of the struggling, the ever-ready
protection of them that hasten unto thee, and the refuge of all
Christians: Do not shrink with loathing from me a sinner, defiled, who
with polluted thoughts, words, and deeds have made myself utterly
unprofitable, and through slothfulness of mind have become a slave to
the pleasures of life. But as the Mother of God Who loveth mankind, show
thy love for mankind and mercifully have compassion upon me a sinner and
prodigal, and accept my supplication, which is offered to thee out of my
defiled mouth; and making use of thy motherly boldness, entreat thy Son
and our Master and Lord that He may be pleased to open for me the bowels
of His loving kindness and graciousness to mankind, and, disregarding my
numberless offenses, will turn me back to repentance, and show me to be
a tried worker of His precepts. And be thou ever present unto me as
merciful, compassionate and well disposed; in the present life be thou a
fervent intercessor and helper, repelling the assaults of adversaries
and guiding me to salvation, and at the time of my departure taking care
of my miserable soul, and driving far away from it the dark countenances
of the evil demons; lastly, at the dreadful day of judgment delivering
me from torment eternal and showing me to be an heir of the ineffable
glory of thy Son and our God; all of which may I attain, O my Sovereign
Lady, most holy Theotokos, in virtue of thine intercession and
protection, through the grace and love to mankind of thine only begotten
Son, our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, to Whom is due all
glory, honor and worship, together with His unoriginate Father, and His
Most Holy and good and life creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages
of ages. Amen. 

Another Prayer; to our Lord Jesus Christ, by Antiochus the monk 



And grant unto us, O Master, in the coming sleep, rest for body and
soul, and preserve us from the gloomy slumber of sin, and from every
dark and nocturnal sensuality. Subdue the impulses of passions,
extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one that are cunningly hurled
against us, assuage the rebellions of our flesh, and every earthly and
fleshly subtlety of ours lull to sleep. And grant unto us, O God, a
watchful mind, chaste thought, a sober heart, a sleep gentle and free
from every satanic illusion. Raise us up at the time of prayer firmly
grounded in Thy judgments. All the night long grant us a doxology, that
we may hymn and bless and glorify Thy most honorable and majestic name:
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and
unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

----------

At this point, according the to usage of Holy Trinity Monastery, the
Prayers approaching sleep are said.



If these prayers are not to be said at this time, skip to page
48.Prayers Approaching Sleep 



Prayer I, of St. Macarius the Great. 



O Eternal God and King of all creation, Who hast vouchsafed me to arrive
at this hour, forgive me the sins that I have committed this day in
deed, word, and thought; and cleanse, O Lord, my lowly soul of all
impurity of flesh and spirit, and grant me, O Lord, to pass the sleep of
this night in peace; that, rising from my lowly bed, I may please Thy
most holy name all the days of my life, and thwart the enemies, fleshly
and bodiless, that war against me. And deliver me, O Lord, from vain
thoughts and evil desires which defile me. 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 the ages of ages. Amen.



Prayer II, of St. Antiochus:



O Ruler of all, Word of the Father, O Jesus Christ, Thou Who art
perfect: for the sake of the plenitude of Thy mercy, never depart from
me, but always remain in me, Thy servant. O Jesus, Good Shepherd of Thy
sheep, deliver me not over to the sedition of the serpent, and leave me
not to the will of Satan, for the seed of corruption is in me. But do
Thou, O Lord, worshipful God, Holy King, Jesus Christ, as I sleep, guard
me by the Unwaning Light, Thy Holy Spirit, by Whom Thou didst sanctify
Thy disciples. O Lord, grant me, thine unworthy servant, Thy salvation
upon my bed. Enlighten my mind with the light of understanding of Thy
Holy Gospel; my soul, with the love of Thy Cross; my heart, with the
purity of Thy word; my body, with Thy passionless passion. Keep my
thoughts in Thy humility, and raise me up at the proper time for Thy
glorification. For most glorified art Thou together with Thine
unoriginate Father, and the Most Holy Spirit, unto the ages. Amen.



Prayer III, to the Most Holy Spirit:



O Lord, Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, show compassion and
have mercy on me, Thy sinful servant, and loose me from mine
unworthiness, and forgive all wherein I have sinned against Thee today
as a man, and not only as a man, but even worse than a beast, my sins
voluntary and involuntary, known and unknown, whether from youth, and
from evil suggestion, or whether from brazenness and despondency. If I
have sworn by Thy name, or blasphemed it in my thoughts; or grieved
anyone, or have become angry about anything; or have lied, or slept
needlessly, or if a beggar hath come to me and I disdained him; or if I
have grieved my brother, or have quarreled, or have condemned anyone; or
if I have been boastful, or prideful, or angry; if, as I stood at
prayer, my mind hath been distracted by the wiles of this world, or by
thoughts of depravity; if I have overeaten, or have drunk excessively,
or laughed frivolously; if I have thought evil, or have seen the beauty
of another and been wounded thereby in my heart; if I have said improper
things, or derided my brother's sin when mine own sins are countless; if
I have been neglectful of prayer, or have done some other wrong that I
cannot remember, for all of this and more than this have I done: have
mercy, O Master my Creator, on me Thy downcast and unworthy servant, and
loose me, and remit, and forgive me, for Thou art good and the Lover of
mankind, so that, lustful, sinful, and wretched as I am, I may lie down
and sleep and rest in peace. And I shall worship, and hymn, and glorify
Thy most honorable name, together with the Father and His Only-begotten
Son, now and ever, and unto the ages. Amen.



Prayer IV, of St. Macarius the Great



What shall I offer Thee, or what shall I give Thee, O greatly-gifted,
immortal King, O compassionate Lord Who lovest mankind? For though I
have been slothful in pleasing Thee, and have done nothing good, Thou
hast led me to the close of this day that is past, establishing the
conversion and salvation of my soul. Be merciful to me a sinner, bereft
of every good deed, raise up my fallen soul which hath become defiled by
countless sins, and take away from me every evil thought of this visible
life. Forgive my sins, O Only Sinless One, in which I have sinned
against Thee this day, known or unknown, in word, and deed, and thought
and in all my senses. Do Thou Thyself protect and guard me from every
opposing circumstance, by Thy Divine authority and power and
inexpressible love for mankind. Blot out, O God, blot out the multitude
of my sins. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me from the net of the Evil
One, and save my passionate soul, and overshadow me with the light of
Thy countenance when Thou shalt come in glory; and cause me, uncondemned
now, to sleep a dreamless sleep, and keep Thy servant untroubled by
thoughts, and drive away from me all satanic deeds; and enlighten for me
the eyes of my heart with understanding, lest I sleep unto death. And
send me an angel of peace, a guardian and guide of my soul and body,
that he may deliver me from mine enemies; that, rising from my bed, I
may offer Thee prayers of thanksgiving. Yea, O Lord, hearken unto me,
Thy sinful and wretched servant, in confession and conscience; grant me,
when I arise, to be instructed by Thy sayings; and through Thine angels
cause demonic despondency to be driven far from me: that I may bless Thy
holy name, and glorify and extol the most pure Theotokos Mary, whom Thou
hast given to us sinners as a protectress, and accept her who prayeth
for us. For I know that she exemplifieth Thy love for mankind and
prayeth for us without ceasing. Through her protection, and the sign of
the precious Cross, and for the sake of all Thy saints, preserve my
wretched soul, O Jesus Christ our God: for holy art Thou, and most
glorious for ever. Amen.



Prayer V



O Lord our God, as Thou art good and the Lover of mankind, forgive me
wherein I have sinned today in word, deed, and thought. Grant me
peaceful and undisturbed sleep; send Thy guardian angel to protect and
keep me from evil. For Thou art the Guardian of our souls and bodies,
and unto Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to
the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 



Prayer VI



O Lord our God, in Whom we believe and Whose Name we invoke above every
name, grant us, as we go to sleep, relaxation of soul and body, and keep
us from all dreams, and dark pleasures; stop the onslaught of the
passions and quench the burnings that arise in the flesh. Grant us to
live chastely in deed and word, that we may obtain a virtuous life, and
not fall away from Thy promised blessings; for blessed art Thou for
ever. Amen.



Prayer VII, of St. John Chrysostom, according to the number of hours of
day and night: 



O Lord, deprive me not of Thy heavenly good things. 

O Lord, deliver me from the eternal torments. 

O Lord, if I have sinned in mind or thought, in word or deed, forgive
me. 

O Lord, deliver me from all ignorance, forgetfulness, faint-heartedness,
and stony insensibility. 

O Lord, deliver me from every temptation. 

O Lord, enlighten my heart which evil desire hath darkened. 

O Lord, as a man I have sinned, but do Thou, as the compassionate God,
have mercy on me, seeing the infirmity of my soul. 

O Lord, send Thy grace to my help, that I may glorify Thy holy name. 

O Lord Jesus Christ, write me Thy servant in the Book of Life, and grant
me a good end. 

O Lord my God, even though I have done nothing good in Thy sight, yet
grant me by Thy grace to make a good beginning. 

O Lord, sprinkle into my heart the dew of Thy grace. 

O Lord of heaven and earth, remember me Thy sinful servant, shameful and
unclean, in Thy kingdom. Amen.



O Lord, accept me in penitence. 

O Lord, forsake me not. O Lord, lead me not into temptation. 

O Lord, grant me good thoughts. 

O Lord, grant me tears, and remembrance of death, and compunction. 

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

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

O Lord, grant me patience, courage, and meekness. 

O Lord, implant in me the root of good, Thy fear in my heart. 

O Lord, vouchsafe me to love Thee with all my soul and thoughts, and in
all things to do Thy will. 

O Lord, protect me from evil men, and demons, and passions, and from
every other unseemly thing. 

O Lord, Thou knowest that Thou doest as Thou wilt: Thy will be done also
in me a sinner; for blessed art Thou unto the ages. Amen.



Prayer VIII, to our Lord Jesus Christ



O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of Thy most honorable
Mother, and Thy bodiless angels, Thy Prophet and Forerunner and Baptist,
the God-inspired apostles, the radiant and victorious martyrs, the holy
and God-bearing fathers, and through the intercessions of all the
saints, deliver me from the besetting presence of the demons. Yea, my
Lord and Creator, Who desirest not the death of the sinner, but rather
that he be converted and live, grant conversion also to me, wretched and
unworthy; rescue me from the mouth of the pernicious serpent, who is
yawning to devour me and take me down to Hades alive. Yea, my Lord, my
Comfort, Who for my miserable sake wast clothed in corruptible flesh,
draw me out of misery, and grant comfort to my miserable soul. Implant
in my heart to fulfill Thy commandments, and to forsake evil deeds, and
to obtain Thy blessings; for in Thee, O Lord, have I hoped, save me.









Prayer IX, to the Most Holy Theotokos



O good Mother of the Good King, most pure and blessed Theotokos Mary, do
thou pour out the mercy of thy Son and our God upon my passionate soul,
and by thine intercessions guide me unto good works, that I may pass the
remaining time of my life without blemish, and attain paradise through
thee, O Virgin Theotokos, who alone art pure and blessed.



Prayer X, to the Holy Guardian Angel



O Angel of Christ, my holy guardian and protector of my soul and body,
forgive me all wherein I have sinned this day, and deliver me from all
opposing evil of mine enemy, lest I anger my God by any sin. Pray for
me, a sinful and unworthy servant, that thou mayest show me forth worthy
of the kindness and mercy of the All-holy Trinity, and of the Mother of
my Lord Jesus Christ, and of all the saints. Amen.



Then, the Kontakion of the Theotokos:



To Thee the Champion Leader, we thy servants dedicate a feast of victory
and of thanksgiving, as ones rescued out of sufferings, O Theotokos; but
as thou art one with might which is invincible, from all dangers that
can be, do thou deliver us, that we may cry to thee: Rejoice, thou Bride
unwedded!



Most glorious Ever-Virgin, Mother of Christ God, present our prayer to
thy Son and our God, that through thee our souls may be saved



All my hope I place in thee, O Mother of God: keep me under thy
protection.



O Virgin Theotokos, disdain not me a sinner, needing thy help and thy
protection, and have mercy on me, for my soul hath hoped in thee.



Then the prayer of St. Joannicius: 



My hope is the Father, my refuge is the Son, my protection is the Holy
Spirit: O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.



The end of the prayers approaching sleep. 



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Here, the Order of Great Compline is resumed: 

Priest: Glory to Thee, O God, our hope, glory to Thee. 

Choir: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both
now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy.
(Thrice)  Father, bless.

The priest saith aloud, while we prostrate ourselves to the earth
(except on Fridays, when the lesser dismissal is used:) 

Priest: O Master plenteous in mercy, O Lord Jesus Christ our God:
Through the intercessions of our immaculate Lady Theotokos and
Ever-virgin Mary; through the power of the precious and life-giving
Cross; through the mediations of the honorable, heavenly Bodiless Hosts,
of the honorable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John; of the
holy glorious, and all-praised apostles; of the holy, glorious, and
victorious martyrs; of our holy and God-bearing fathers, (the patron
saint of the temple); of the holy and Righteous Ancestors of God Joachim
and Anna; of (the Saints of the day) and of all the saints: make our
prayer acceptable; grant us the remission of our sins; shelter us with
the shelter of Thy wings; drive away from us every enemy and adversary;
make our life peaceful, O Lord; have mercy on us and on Thy world, and
save our souls, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind.

Choir: Amen.

The Rite of Forgiveness 



Then, making a prostration, the priest saith to the brethren (sisters,
congregation):

Priest: Bless, (holy master and) holy fathers (mothers) and brethren,
and forgive me a sinner, all wherein I have sinned this day in deed,
word, and through all my senses. 

And the brethren (sisters) (congregation) reply: 

May God forgive and have mercy on thee, holy father. 

And they make a prostration, asking this forgiveness: 

Bless me, holy father, and forgive all wherein I have sinned this day in
deed, word, and thought, and in all my senses, and pray for me a sinner.


Priest: Through His grace may God forgive and have mercy on us all. 

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And he saith this Ectenia: 

Priest: Let us pray for the Orthodox episcopate of the Russian Church;
for our lord the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan N., First Hierarch of
the Russian Church Abroad; for our lord the Most Reverend (Archbishop or
Bishop N., whose diocese it is) and all our brethren in Christ. 

Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Quietly, slowly, and repeatedly, until the
petitions are finished )

Priest: For the suffering Russian land and its Orthodox people both in
the homeland and in the diaspora, and for their salvation; for this
land, its authorities and armed forces, and for every Christian land. 

For them that hate us and them that love us. 

For them that are kind to us and them that serve us. 

For them that have asked us unworthy ones to pray for them. 

For the deliverance of the imprisoned. 

For our fathers and brethren that have passed on before us. 

For those sailing upon the sea. 

For those bedridden in infirmities. 

Let us pray for the abundance of the fruits of the earth. 

And for every Orthodox Christian soul. 

Let us bless pious kings (rulers), Orthodox hierarchs, and the founders
of this holy habitation. 

Our parents, and all that have passed on before us, our fathers,
brethren, and the Orthodox here and everywhere laid to rest. 

Let us say also for ourselves. 

Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice 

Priest: For the sake of the intercessions of Thy most pure Mother of
(the patron saint of the temple), and all the saints, O Lord Jesus
Christ our God, have mercy on us. 

Choir: Amen.



And we venerate the holy icons and receive a blessing from the priest
(superior) (bishop).

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