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Horologion

Great Compline

Triodion

On Tuesday of the First Week at Compline.

__________

GREAT COMPLINE

PRIEST

Blessed is our God always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

( Amen. )

PRIEST

Glory to You, O God, glory to You.

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, present in all places and filling all things, treasury of good things and giver of life: come; take Your abode in us; cleanse us of every stain, and save our souls, O Good one.

READER

Trisagion Prayers.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

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

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

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

READER

Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Come, let us worship and bow down before God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Him, Christ our King and God.

Psalm 4.

You heard me when I called, O God of my righteousness. You strengthened my heart when I was in distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. How long, O you sons of men, will you be slow of heart? Why do you love vain things and seek after lies? Know that the Lord made His Holy One wondrous; the Lord will hear me when I cry to Him. Be angry, and do not sin; have remorse upon your beds for what you say in your hearts. Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, and hope in the Lord. There are many who say, “Who will show us good things?” O Lord, the light of Your face was stamped upon us. You put gladness in my heart; from their season of wheat, wine, and oil they were multiplied. I will both sleep and rest in peace, for You alone, O Lord, cause me to dwell in hope. [SAAS]

Psalm 6.

O Lord, do not reprove me in Your anger, nor discipline me in Your wrath. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled; and my soul is greatly troubled; but You, O Lord, how long? Return, O Lord, and deliver my soul. Save me because of Your mercy for there is no remembrance of You in death; and in Hades who will give thanks to You? I am weary with my groaning; every single night I will dampen my bed; I will drench my couch with my tears. My eye is troubled by anger; I grow old among all my enemies. Depart from me, all you workers of lawlessness; for the Lord heard the voice of my weeping; the Lord heard my supplication; the Lord received my prayer. Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; let them turn back and be suddenly ashamed. [SAAS]

Psalm 12 (13).

How long, O Lord? Will You forget me to the end? How long will You turn Your face from me? How long will I take counsel in my soul, having grief in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Look upon me and hear me, O Lord my God; enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep in death, lest my enemy say, “I prevailed against him”; those who afflict me greatly rejoice, if I am shaken. But I hope in Your mercy; my heart shall greatly rejoice in Your salvation; I will sing to the Lord, who shows kindness to me; I will sing to the name of the Lord Most High. [SAAS]

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Psalm 24 (25).

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul, O my God. I trust in You; let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies laugh at me. For all who wait upon You shall not be ashamed; let those be ashamed who act lawlessly in vain. Make known Your ways to me, O Lord, and teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation, and on You I wait all the day. Remember Your compassion, O Lord, and Your mercy, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor of my ignorance; but remember me according to Your mercy, because of Your loving-kindness, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He will instruct sinners in His way. He will guide the gentle in judgment; He will teach the gentle His ways. All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth for those who seek His covenant and His testimonies. For Your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my sin, for it is great. Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way He chooses. His soul shall dwell among good things; his seed shall inherit the earth. The Lord is the strength of those who fear Him, and to those who fear Him, His name is the Lord, and He will show them His covenant. My eyes are always toward the Lord, for He shall pluck my feet out of the trap. Look upon me and have mercy on me, for I am only-begotten and poor. The afflictions of my heart have been widened; bring me out of my distresses. Look on my humiliation and my pain and forgive all my sins. Look on my enemies, because they multiply, and they hate me with unjustified hatred. Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, because I hope in You. The innocent and the upright cleave to me because I wait upon You, O Lord. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his afflictions. [SAAS]

Psalm 30 (31).

In You, O Lord, I hope; may I not be ashamed forever; in Your righteousness deliver and rescue me. Incline Your ear to me; rescue me speedily; be to me a God who protects me, and a house of refuge to save me. For You are my strength and my refuge, and for Your name’s sake You will guide and sustain me; for You will bring me out from the snare they hid for me; for You are my protector. Into Your hands I shall entrust my spirit; You redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. You hate those who maintain their empty vanities, but I hope in the Lord. I will greatly rejoice and be glad because of Your mercy, for You beheld my humiliation; You saved my soul from distress, and did not shut me up into the hands of the enemy; You set my feet in a wide place. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am afflicted; my eye is troubled with anger; so are my soul and my stomach. For my life is wasted with grief and my years with sighing; my strength is weakened with poverty, and my bones are troubled. I became a reproach among all my enemies, and especially to all my neighbors, and a fear to all my acquaintances; those who saw me outside fled from me. I am forgotten like one whose heart is lifeless; I was made like a vessel that is utterly broken. For I heard the blame of many who dwell round about when they were gathered together against me, when they plotted to take my life. But as for me, I hope in You, O Lord; I said, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hands; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. Make Your face shine upon Your servant; save me in Your mercy. O Lord, do not let me be ashamed, because I call upon You; let the ungodly be ashamed, and lead them down into Hades. Let deceitful lips become speechless when they speak lawlessness against the righteous with arrogance and contempt. How great, O Lord, is the abundance of Your goodness You hide for those who fear You, which You will work for those who hope in You in the sight of the sons of men. You shall hide them in the secret of Your presence from the disturbance of men; You will shelter them in Your tabernacle from the contradiction of tongues. Blessed is the Lord, for He magnified His mercy in a fortified city. But I said in my ecstasy, “Indeed, I am cast away from the countenance of Your eyes.” Therefore You heard the voice of my supplication when I cried to You. Love the Lord, all you His saints, for the Lord seeks out truth, and He repays those who act with great arrogance. Be courageous, and let your heart be strengthened, all who hope in the Lord. [SAAS]

Psalm 90 (91).

He who dwells in the help of the Most High shall lodge in the shelter of the God of heaven. He shall say to the Lord, “You are my protector and my refuge, my God; I will hope in Him; for He shall free me from the snare of the hunters, and from every troubling word.” He shall overshadow you with His shoulders, and under His wings you shall hope; His truth shall encircle you with a shield. You shall not be frightened by fear at night, nor from an arrow that flies by day, nor by a thing moving in darkness, nor by mishap and a demon of noonday. A thousand shall fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, yet it shall not come near you; but you shall observe with your eyes, and you shall see the reward of sinners. For You, O Lord, are my hope; You made the Most High your refuge. Evils shall not come to you, and a scourge shall not draw near your dwelling; for He shall command His angels concerning you, to keep you in all your ways; in their hands they shall bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone; You shall tread upon the asp and the basilisk, and you shall trample the lion and the dragon. “For he hoped in Me, and I will deliver him; I will shelter him, because he knew My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will hear him; I am with him in affliction, and I will deliver and glorify him. With length of days I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” [SAAS]

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

CHOIR

Mode pl. 2.

God is with us. Know this, O Gentiles, and be defeated. For God is with us. [SAAS]

Give ear, all you to the very ends of the earth. For God is with us.

Be defeated although you are strong. For God is with us.

For even if you should be strong again, you will be defeated again. For God is with us.

Then too, whatever counsel you take, the Lord will scatter it abroad. For God is with us.

And whatever word you shall speak, it will not continue among you. For God is with us.

But do not be afraid of their terror, nor be troubled. For God is with us.

Sanctify the Lord Himself, and He shall be your fear. For God is with us.

So if you trust in Him, He shall be as a sanctuary for you. For God is with us.

I shall wait for God, and I will trust in Him. For God is with us.

Behold, I and the children God gave me. For God is with us.

A people who walk in darkness, behold a great light. For God is with us.

And you who dwell in the country of the shadow of death, upon you a light will shine. For God is with us.

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

And the government will be upon His shoulder. For God is with us.

And of His peace there is no end. For God is with us.

His name will be called the Angel of Great Counsel. For God is with us.

Wonderful Counselor. For God is with us.

Mighty God, Master, Prince of Peace. For God is with us.

Father of the age to come. For God is with us.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. For God is with us.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. For God is with us.

God is with us. Know this, O Gentiles, and be defeated.

For God is with us.

READER (intoned)

Having passed the day, I give thanks to you, Lord; and I ask of you to grant me the evening and the night without sin, O my Savior, and save me. [HC]

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

Now that the day has gone by, I glorify you, Master; I ask of you to grant me the evening and the night without sin, O my Savior, and save me. [HC]

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Having traversed the day, I sing hymns to you, O Holy One; I ask of you to grant me the evening and the night free of plots, * O my Savior, and save me. [HC]

CHOIR

Mode pl. 2.

As a bodiless nature, the Cherubim * ever glorify You with unceasing hymns; [SD]

And the six-winged beings, the Seraphim, * also highly exalt You with endless voice;

The entire array of angelic hosts * sings its praises of You with thrice-holy hymns.

You, O Father, existing before all things, * have Your Son unoriginate with yourself,

And the equally honored Spirit of life; * thus You show that inseparable are the Three.

O all-holy and virgin Mother of God * and you servants and witnesses of the Word,

With the choirs of prophets and martyred saints, * all of you who enjoy everlasting life:

Intercede in great earnest on our behalf, * inasmuch as we all are in dire straits;

So that all of us, freed now from the deceit * of the devil, may sing the angelic hymn:

Holy, Holy, Holy, Thrice-holy Lord, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

READER

The Creed

I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not created, of one essence with the Father, through 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 became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father; And He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen. [GOA]

CHOIR

Mode pl. 2.

O all-holy Lady and Theotokos, intercede for us sinners. (3) [SD]

All you heavenly Hosts of holy Angels and Archangels, intercede for us sinners. (2)

Saint John the Baptist, Prophet and Forerunner of our Lord Jesus Christ, intercede for us sinners. (2)

Holy, glorious Apostles, Prophets, Martyrs, and all Saints, intercede for us sinners. (2)

Devout, God-bearing Fathers, Shepherds, and Teachers of the whole world, intercede for us sinners. (2)

(local patron saint), intercede for us sinners. (2)

O invincible and indestructible and divine power of the precious and life-giving Cross, do not abandon us sinners. (2)

God, be gracious to us sinners. (2)

God, be gracious to us sinners, and have mercy on us.

READER

Trisagion Prayers.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

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

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

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

PRIEST

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

( Amen. )

READER

Mode pl. 4.

O Lord, you know the wakefulness of my enemies, and the weakness of my miserable flesh, for you made man. Therefore, into your hands I shall entrust my spirit. Cover me with the wings of your goodness, lest I sleep unto death; illumine my inner eyes with the delight of your divine words; and awaken me at the right time, that I may sing your glory, as the only good one and true friend of man. [HC]

Verse: Look graciously upon me, and have mercy on me, as you do for those who love your name.

O how awesome is your judgment, Lord! With the Angels standing by, the humans being brought in, the books of life being opened, the works being uncovered and the thoughts being searched! What judgment shall be on me who has been conceived in sin? Who shall extinguish the flames of my fire? Who shall illumine my darkness: Unless you, Lord, have mercy on me as a true friend of man? [HC]

Glory.

Give me tears, Lord, as you did once to the sinful woman; make me worthy to wet your feet, which freed me from the way of error and to offer you as a fragrant ointment, a pure life built in me through repentance; so that I may also hear your cherished words: “Your faith has saved you, go in peace.” [HC]

Both now. Theotokion.

Trusting in your unashamable hope, O Theotokos, I shall be saved; possessing your protection. Most pure one, I shall not be afraid; I shall pursue my enemies and drive them away wearing only your refuge as a breastplate; and asking for your all powerful help, I cry to you: O Lady, save me, through your intercessions and raise me from this dark slumber through the power of the Son and God born from you, so that I may sing your glory. [HC]

Lord, have mercy. (40)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify.

In the name of the Lord, Father, bless!

PRIEST

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

( Amen. )

Prayer of St. Basil

Lord, Lord, who have delivered us from every arrow that flies by day, deliver us from anything that lurks about in darkness. Accept the lifting of our hands as an evening sacrifice. Make us worthy to traverse the time of night blamelessly, untouched by evil, and redeem us from every disturbance and fear caused by the devil. Grant contrition to our souls and concern to our minds about the accounting at your awesome and just judgment. Nail down our bodies with your fear, and deaden our earthly members, so that even in the quiet of our slumber we may be enlightened by the contemplation of your ordinances. Keep away from us every indecent fantasy and harmful desire. Awaken us in the time of prayer rooted in the faith, and thriving in your instructions; through the good will and goodness of your only-begotten Son with whom you are blessed, together with your all holy, good, and life giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. [HC]

READER

Amen.

Come, let us worship and bow down before God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Him, Christ our King and God.

Psalm 50 (51).

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my lawlessness and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my lawlessness, and my sin is always before me. Against You only have I sinned and done evil in Your sight; that You may be justified in Your words, and overcome when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in sins my mother bore me. Behold, You love truth; You showed me the unknown and secret things of Your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; You shall wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow. You shall make me hear joy and gladness; my bones that were humbled shall greatly rejoice. Turn Your face from my sins, and blot out all my transgressions. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your guiding Spirit. I will teach transgressors Your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall greatly rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For if You desired sacrifice, I would give it; You will not be pleased with whole burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built; then You will be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with offerings and whole burnt offerings; then shall they offer young bulls on Your altar. [SAAS]

Psalm 101 (102).

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to You. Do not turn Your face from me; in the day when I am afflicted, incline Your ear to me; in the day when I call upon You, hear me quickly. For my days vanished like smoke, and my bones burned up like firewood. I was cut down like grass, and my heart became withered, for I forgot to eat my bread. Because of the sound of my groaning, my bones cleaved to my flesh. I have become like a pelican in a desert; I have become like an owl in a ruined house; I kept watch, and have become like a sparrow alone on a housetop. My enemies reproached me all day long, and those who praised me swore against me. For I ate ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with weeping because of the wrath of Your countenance and Your anger; for You lifted me up and broke me down. My days were far spent like a shadow, and I am withered like grass. But You, O Lord, remain forever, and Your remembrance is from generation to generation. When You rise up, You shall have compassion on Zion, for it is time to have compassion on her, because the time is come; for Your servants took pleasure in her stones, and they shall have compassion for her dust. And the Gentiles shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth Your glory; for the Lord shall build Zion, and He shall be seen in His glory. He regarded the prayer of the humble, and He did not despise their supplication. Let this be written for another generation, and the people who are created shall praise the Lord; for He looked down from the height of His holy place; the Lord looked upon the earth from heaven, to hear the groaning of those bound, to set free the sons of the slain, to declare the Lord’s name in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem, when the peoples and the kingdoms are gathered together to serve the Lord. He replied to Him in the way of strength, “Declare to me the fewness of my days; take me not away in the midst of my days; Your years are throughout all generations. In the beginning, O Lord, You founded the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands. They shall perish, but You shall remain, and all things shall grow old like a garment, and like a cloak You shall change them, and they shall be changed; but You are the same, and Your years shall not fail. The children of Your servants shall dwell there, and their seed shall be led to prosperity forever.” [SAAS]

PRIEST

Prayer of Manasses, King of Judah

O Lord, Almighty, the God of our Fathers, of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and of their righteous seed; who created the heaven and the earth with all their adornment; who bound the sea by the word of your command; who shut up the abyss and sealed it with your awesome and glorious name; whom all things dread and before whose power they tremble, because the majesty of your glory is unbearable and the threat of your anger against the sinners unendurable; yet the mercy of your promise is both, immeasurable and unfathomable, for you are the Lord most high, compassionate, long-suffering and all merciful, and relent on the wickedness of man. You, Lord, in the multitude of your goodness promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against you, and in your infinite compassion appointed repentance for sinners that they may be saved. Therefore, Lord, the God of the powers, you have not appointed repentance for the righteous, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who have not sinned against you, but you appointed repentance for me the sinner, for I have committed more sins than the grains of the sand of the sea. My transgressions have multiplied, Lord; my transgressions have multiplied, and I am not worthy to look up and see the height of the sky from the multitude of my iniquities, being weighted down by many iron chains, so that I cannot raise my head; there is no respite left for me because I provoked your anger and committed evil before you not having done your will and not having kept your commandments. And now I bend the knee of my heart, beseeching your goodness. I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned and I acknowledge my transgressions; but I beg and ask of you: Forgive me, Lord, forgive me and do not destroy me with my transgressions; do not be angry with me forever and keep my evils in me, and do not condemn me to the depths of the earth; for you are God, the God of those who repent, and in me you shall show all your goodness; for even though I am unworthy, you shall save me according to the multitude of your mercy, and I shall praise you without ceasing all the days of my life. For every heavenly power sings your praises, and yours is the glory unto the ages of ages. [HC]

( Amen. )

READER

Trisagion Prayers.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

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

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

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

PRIEST

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

( Amen. )

CHANTER

Mode pl. 2.

Have mercy on us, Lord have mercy on us. For with nothing to say in our own defense, we sinners offer this supplication to you our Master. Have mercy on us. [SD]

Glory.

Lord have mercy on us, for in You we trust. Be not enraged with us greatly, nor remember our iniquities. But look upon us now, being compassionate, and deliver us from our enemies. For You are our God, and we Your people, all of us the work of Your hands, and now we have invoked Your name. [SD]

Both now. Theotokion.

Open the gate of compassion for us, O blessed Theotokos. For hoping in you, let us not fail in our aim. Through you may we be delivered from adversities. For you are the salvation of the Christian race. [SD]

READER

Lord, have mercy. (40)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify.

In the name of the Lord, Father, bless!

PRIEST

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

( Amen. )

Prayer of St. Mardarios

O Master God, Father Almighty, only-begotten Son, Lord Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit: One Godhead, One Power, have mercy on me, a sinner, and in your knowing ways save me, your unworthy servant; for you are blessed unto the ages of ages. [HC]

READER

Amen.

Come, let us worship and bow down before God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ God our King.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Him, Christ our King and God.

Psalm 69 (70).

O God, [give heed] to help me. [O Lord, make haste to help me.] May those who seek my soul be dishonored and shamed; may those who plot evils against me be turned back and disgraced; may those be turned back immediately who shame me, saying, “Well done! Well done!” May all who seek You greatly rejoice and be glad in You, and let those who love Your salvation always say, “Let God be magnified.” But I am poor and needy; O God, help me. You are my helper and deliverer, O Lord; do not delay. [SAAS]

Psalm 142 (143).

O Lord, hear my prayer; give ear to my supplication in Your truth; answer me in Your righteousness; do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no one living shall become righteous in Your sight. For the enemy persecuted my soul; he humbled my life to the ground; he caused me to dwell in dark places as one long dead, and my spirit was in anguish within me; my heart was troubled within me. I remembered the days of old, and I meditated on all Your works; I meditated on the works of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a waterless land. Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit faints within me; turn not Your face from me, lest I become like those who go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Your mercy in the morning, for I hope in You; make me know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, for to You I flee for refuge. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your good Spirit shall guide me in the land of uprightness. For Your name’s sake, O Lord, give me life; in Your righteousness You shall bring my soul out of affliction. In Your mercy You shall destroy my enemies; You shall utterly destroy all who afflict my soul, for I am Your servant. [SAAS]

Doxology

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, and we thank you, for your great glory. Lord, King, Heavenly God, Father Almighty; only-begotten Son, Lord Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit. Lord God, the Lamb of God, the Son of the Father, who take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, you who take away the sins of the world. Accept our supplication, you who sit at the right of the Father, and have mercy on us. For you are the only Holy One, you are the only Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Every evening I shall bless you, and I shall praise your name forever, and unto the ages of ages. Lord, you have become for us a refuge from generation to generation. I have said: Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against you. Lord, to you I have fled; teach me to do your will, for you are my God. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we shall see light. Extend your mercy to those who know you. Grant, O Lord, that in this night we may be kept without sin. Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our Fathers, and praised and glorified is your name unto the ages. Amen. Let your mercy, Lord, come upon us, just as we have hoped in you. Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your commandments. Blessed are you, O Master, make me understand your commandments. Blessed are you, O Holy One, enlighten me with your commandments. Lord, your mercy remains forever, do not turn away from the works of your hands. To you belongs praise, to you belongs a hymn, to you belongs glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. [HC]

In the first week of Lent, we sing the section of the Great Canon appointed for each day, prefacing each Troparion with the verse: “Have mercy on me, O God. Have mercy on me.” After Ode vi, we sing the Kontakion slowly and melodically. At the end of Ode ix, we sing its Heirmos again.

CHOIR

Ode i. Mode pl. 2. Heirmos.

He became for me a helper and a shelterer for salvation. * He is my God, and I will glorify Him, * the God of my father, and Him will I exalt, * for He is greatly glorified. (2)

Troparia.

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

By my own free choice have I incurred the guilt of Cain’s murder. I have killed my conscience, bringing the flesh to life and making war upon the soul by my wicked actions. [un]

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

O Jesus, I have not been like Abel in his righteousness. Never have I offered You acceptable gifts or godly actions, a pure sacrifice or an unblemished life. [un]

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

Like Cain, O miserable soul, we too have offered, to the Creator of all, defiled actions and a polluted sacrifice and a worthless life: and so we also are condemned. [un]

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

As the potter molds the clay, You fashioned me, giving me flesh and bones, breath and life. But accept me in repentance, O my Maker and Deliverer and Judge. [un]

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

I confess to You, O Savior, the sins I have committed, the wounds of my soul and body, which murderous thoughts, like thieves, have inflicted inwardly upon me. [un]

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

Though I have sinned, O Savior, yet I know that You are full of loving-kindness. You chastise with mercy and are fervent in compassion. You see me weeping and You run to meet me, like the Father calling back the Prodigal Son. [un]

Glory.

Trinity beyond all being, worshipped in Unity, take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Your compassion grant me tears of compunction. [un]

Both now. Theotokion.

O Theotokos, the hope and protection of those who sing your praises, take from me the heavy yoke of sin. O pure Lady, accept me in repentance. [un]

Ode ii. Heirmos.

Attend, O Heaven, and I shall speak and sing in praise of Christ Who took flesh from a Virgin and came to dwell among us. (2)

Troparia.

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

Sin has stripped me of the robe that God once wove for me, and it has sewed for me garments of skin. [un]

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

I am clothed with the raiment of shame as with fig leaves, in condemnation of my self-willed passions. [un]

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

I am clad in a garment that is defiled and shamefully bloodstained by a life of passion and self-indulgence. [un]

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

I have fallen beneath the painful burden of the passions and the corruption of material things; and I am hard pressed by the enemy. [un]

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

Instead of freedom from possessions, O Savior, I pursued a life in love with material things, and now I wear a heavy yoke. [un]

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

I adorned the idol of my flesh with a many-colored coat of shameful thoughts, and I am condemned. [un]

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

I cared only for the outward adornment, and neglected that which is within -- the tabernacle fashioned by God. [un]

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

I discolored with the passions the first beauty of the image, O Savior. But seek me, as once You sought the lost coin, and find me. [un]

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

Like the Harlot I cry to You: I have sinned, I alone have sinned against You. Accept my tears also as sweet ointment, O Savior. [un]

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

Like the Publican I cry to You: Be merciful, O Savior, be merciful to me. For no child of Adam has ever sinned against You as I have sinned. [un]

Glory.

I sing Your praises, One in Three Persons, God of all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. [un]

Both now. Theotokion.

O Theotokos undefiled, Virgin alone worthy of all praise, intercede fervently for our salvation. [un]

Ode iii. Heirmos.

Establish upon the rock of Your commandments my heart, O Master, * sorely shaken as it is, O Lord. * Only You are holy, and again only You are Lord.

Troparia.

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

For me You are the Fountain of life and the Destroyer of death; and from my heart I cry to You before the end: I have sinned, be merciful to me and save me. [un]

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

I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned against You; be merciful to me. For there is no sinner whom I have not surpassed in my offenses. [un]

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

O Savior, I followed the example of those who lived in wantonness in the days of Noah; and like them I am condemned to drown in the Flood. [un]

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

O my soul, you followed Ham, who mocked his father. You did not cover your neighbor’s shame, walking backwards with averted face. [un]

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

Flee, my soul, like Lot from the burning of sin; flee from Sodom and Gomorrah; flee from the flame of every brutish desire. [un]

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

Have mercy, O Lord, have mercy on me, I cry to You, when You come with Your angels to give to every man due return for his deeds. [un]

Glory.

O simple Unity praised in Trinity of Persons, uncreated Nature without beginning, save us who in faith worship Your power. [un]

Both now. Theotokion.

O Mother of God, without knowing man you gave birth within time to the Son, who was begotten outside time from the Father; and, strange wonder! you nurse Him while still remaining Virgin. [un]

Ode iv. Heirmos.

On hearing about Your advent, * O Lord, the Prophet Habakkuk of old was frightened: * that You purposed from a Virgin to be born * and appear to humankind. And thus he said: * O Lord, I have heard Your report and I am frightened. * Glory to Your strength, O Lord my God. (2)

Troparia.

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

Be watchful, O my soul, be full of courage like Jacob the great Patriarch, that you may acquire action with knowledge, and be named Israel, “the mind that sees God”; so shall you reach by contemplation the innermost darkness and gain great merchandise. [un]

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

The great Patriarch had the twelve Patriarchs as children, and so he mystically established for you, my soul, a ladder of ascent through action, in his wisdom setting his children as steps, by which you can mount upwards. [un]

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

You have rivaled Esau the hated, O my soul, and given the birthright of your first beauty to the supplanter; you have lost your father’s blessing and in your wretchedness been twice supplanted, in action and in knowledge. Therefore repent now. [un]

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

Esau was called Edom because of his raging love for women; burning always with unrestrained desires and stained with sensual pleasure, he was named “Edom”, which means the red heat of a soul that loves sin. [un]

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

You have heard, O my soul, of Job justified on a dung-hill, but you have not imitated his fortitude. In all your experiences and trials and temptations, you have not kept firmly to your purpose but have proved inconstant. [un]

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

Once he sat upon a throne, but now he sits upon a dung-hill, naked and covered with sores. Once he was blessed with many children and admired by all, but suddenly he is childless and homeless. Yet he counted the dung-hill as a palace and his sores as pearls. [un]

Glory.

Undivided in Essence, unconfused in Persons, I confess You as God: Triune Deity, one in kingship and throne; and to You I raise the great thrice-holy hymn that is sung on high. [un]

Both now. Theotokion.

You give birth and are a virgin, and in both you remain by nature inviolate. He Who is born makes new the laws of nature, and the womb brings forth without travail. When God so wills, the natural order is overcome; for He does whatever He wishes. [un]

Ode v. Heirmos.

Early in the morning when I rise from night, * give me Your light, I pray, * and direct me in the way of Your divine commandments, * and teach me always to do Your will, O gracious Master. (2)

Troparia.

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

You have heard, my soul, of the basket of Moses: how he was borne on the waves of the river as if in a shrine; and so he avoided the bitter execution of Pharaoh’s decree. [un]

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

You have heard, wretched soul, of the midwives who once killed in its infancy the manly action of self-control: like great Moses, then, be suckled on wisdom. [un]

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

O miserable soul, you have not struck and killed the Egyptian mind, as did Moses the great. Tell me, then, how will you go to dwell through repentance in the wilderness empty of passions? [un]

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

Moses the great went to dwell in the desert. Come, seek to follow his way of life, my soul, that in contemplation you may attain the vision of God in the bush. [un]

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

Picture to yourself, my soul, the rod of Moses striking the sea and making hard the deep by the sign of the Holy Cross. Through the Cross you also can do great things. [un]

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

Aaron offered to God fire that was blameless and undefiled, but Hophni and Phinehas brought to Him, as you have done, my soul, strange fire and a polluted life. [un]

Glory.

We glorify You, O Trinity, the one God. Holy, holy, holy, are You: Father, Son, and Spirit, simple Essence and Unity, worshipped forever. [un]

Both now. Theotokion.

O Virgin inviolate and Mother who has not known man, from you has God, the Creator of the ages, taken human flesh, uniting to Himself the nature of men. [un]

Ode vi. Heirmos.

I cried aloud and shouted with all my heart * unto the tender-loving God, * and He heard my voice from the lowest depths of Hades, * and He raised my life from the pit of corruption. (2)

Troparia.

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

The waves of my sins, O Savior, have returned and suddenly engulfed me, as the waters of the Red Sea engulfed the Egyptians of old and their charioteers. [un]

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

Like Israel before you, you made a foolish choice, my soul; instead of the divine manna you senselessly preferred the pleasure-loving gluttony of the passions. [un]

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

O my soul, you valued the wells of Canaanite thoughts more than the veined Rock, Jesus, the Fountain of Wisdom from which flow the rivers of divine knowledge. [un]

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

O my soul, you preferred the swine’s meat, the flesh-pots and the food of Egypt, to the food of Heaven, as the ungrateful people did of old in the wilderness. [un]

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

When Your servant Moses struck the rock with his rod, he prefigured Your life-giving side, O Savior, from which we all draw the water of life. [un]

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

Like Joshua, the son of Nun, search and spy out the land of your inheritance, O my soul, and take up your dwelling within it, through obedience to the Law. [un]

Glory.

“I am the Trinity, simple and undivided, yet divided in Persons, and I am the Unity by Nature one,” says the Father and the Son and the divine Spirit. [un]

Both now. Theotokion.

Your womb bore God for us, fashioned in our shape. O Theotokos, pray to Him as the Creator of all, that we may be justified through your intercessions. [un]

Kontakion. Mode pl. 2.

My soul, O my soul, rise up! Why are you sleeping? The end draws near and soon you shall be troubled. Watch, then, that Christ your God may spare you, for He is everywhere present and fills all things. [un]

Ode vii. Heirmos.

We sinned, O Lord, and we broke Your law, * we behaved unrighteously before You, * and neither have we kept Your word, nor acted according to the way You commanded for us. * Yet, O God of the fathers, we pray, do not utterly deliver us up. (2)

Troparia.

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

When the Ark was being carried in a cart and the ox stumbled, Uzzah did no more than touch it, but the wrath of God smote him. O my soul, flee from his presumption and respect with reverence the things of God. [un]

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

You have heard of Absalom, and how he rebelled against nature; you know of the unholy deeds by which he defiled his father David’s bed. Yet you have followed him in his passionate and sensual desires. [un]

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

O my soul, you have subjected Your free dignity to your body; for you found in the enemy another Ahitophel, and agreed to all his counsels. But Christ Himself has brought them to nothing and saved you from them all. [un]

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

Solomon, the wonderful, who was full of the grace of wisdom, once did evil in the sight of Heaven and turned away from God. You have become like him, O my soul, by your accursed life. [un]

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

Carried away by sensual passions, he defiled himself. Alas! The lover of wisdom became a lover of harlots and a stranger to God. And you, my soul, in mind have imitated him through your shameful desires. [un]

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

O my soul, you have rivaled Rehoboam, who paid no attention to his father’s counselors, and Jeroboam, that evil servant and renegade of old. But flee from their example and cry to God: I have sinned, take pity on me. [un]

Glory.

O simple and undivided Trinity, O holy and consubstantial Unity: You are praised as Light and Lights, one Holy and three Holies. Sing, O my soul, and glorify Life and Lives, the God of all. [un]

Both now. Theotokion.

We praise you, we bless you, we venerate you, O Mother of God: for you gave birth to One of the undivided Trinity, your Son and God, and you opened the heavenly places to us on earth. [un]

Ode viii. Heirmos.

Him whom the hosts of the heavens glorify, * at whom quake the Cherubim and the Seraphim, * every breath and creation, * extol Him now and bless Him, * and exalt supremely, unto all the ages. (2)

Troparia.

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

You have followed Uzziah, my soul, and have his leprosy in double form: for your thoughts are wicked, and your acts unlawful. Leave what you have, and hasten to repentance. [un]

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

O my soul, you have heard how the men of Nineveh repented before God in sackcloth and ashes. Yet you have not followed them, but are more wicked than all who sinned before the Law and after. [un]

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

You have heard, my soul, how Jeremiah in the muddy pit cried out with lamentations for the city of Zion and asked to be given tears. Follow his life of lamentation and be saved. [un]

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

Jonah fled to Tarshish, foreseeing the conversion of the men of Nineveh; for as a prophet he knew the loving-kindness of God, but he was jealous that his prophecy should not be proved false. [un]

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

My soul, you have heard how Daniel stopped the mouths of the wild beasts in the lions’ den; and you know how the Young Men with Azariah quenched through their faith the flames of the fiery furnace. [un]

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

All the names of the Old Testament have I set before you, my soul, as an example. Imitate the holy acts of the righteous and flee from the sins of the wicked. [un]

We bless Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Father without beginning, coeternal Son, and loving Comforter, the Spirit of righteousness; Begetter of the Word of God, Word of the eternal Father, Spirit living and creative: O Trinity in Unity, have mercy on me. [un]

Both now. Theotokion.

As from purple silk, O undefiled Virgin, the spiritual robe of Emmanuel, His flesh, was woven in your womb. Therefore, we honor you as Theotokos in very truth. [un]

Ode ix. Heirmos.

The birth is ineffable, conceived without the seed of man; the unwed Mother’s * childbirth was free of all corruption. The birth of God * makes new again the natures. * And thus, in Orthodox manner all * generations magnify you as the Mother and the Bride of God. (2)

Troparia.

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

Christ was tempted; the devil tempted Him, showing Him the stones that they might be made bread. He led Him up into a mountain, to see in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. O my soul, look with fear on what happened; watch and pray every hour to God. [un]

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

The Dove Who loved the wilderness, the Lamp of Christ, the voice of one crying aloud, was heard preaching repentance; but Herod sinned with Herodias. O my soul, see that you are not trapped in the snares of the lawless, but embrace repentance. [un]

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

The Forerunner of Grace went to dwell in the wilderness, and Judea and all Samaria ran to hear him; they confessed their sins and were baptized eagerly. But you, my soul, have not imitated them. [un]

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

Marriage is honorable, and the marriage-bed undefiled. For on both Christ has given His blessing, eating in the flesh at the wedding in Cana, turning the water into wine and revealing His first miracle, to bring you, my soul, to a change of life. [un]

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

Christ gave strength to the paralyzed man, and he took up his bed; He raised from the dead the young man, the son of the widow, and the centurion’s servant; He appeared to the woman of Samaria and spoke to you, my soul, of worship in spirit. [un]

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

By the touch of the hem of His garment, the Lord healed the woman with an issue of blood; He cleansed lepers and gave sight to the blind and made the lame walk upright; He cured by His word the deaf and the dumb and the woman bowed to the ground, to bring you, wretched soul, to salvation. [un]

Glory.

Trinity in one Essence, Unity in three Persons, we sing Your praises; we glorify the Father, we magnify the Son, we worship the Holy Spirit, truly one God by nature, Life and Lives, Kingdom without end. [un]

Both now. Theotokion.

Watch over Your city, all-pure Mother of God. For by you she reigns in faith, by you she is made strong; by you she is victorious, putting to flight every temptation, despoiling the enemy and ruling her subjects. [un]

Holy Father Andrew, pray to God for us.

Venerable Andrew, father thrice-blessed, pastor of Crete, cease not to offer prayer for us who sing your praises; that we may be delivered from all danger and distress, from corruption and sin, who honor your memory with faith. [un]

Heirmos.

READER

Trisagion Prayers.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

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

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

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

PRIEST

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

( Amen. )

CHOIR

Mode pl. 2. or: Mode pl. 4.

Lord of the Powers, be with us; for no other helper do we have in tribulations, but You. Lord of the Powers, have mercy on us. [SD]

Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power. [SAAS]

Lord of the Powers, be with us; for no other helper do we have in tribulations, but You. Lord of the Powers, have mercy on us. [SD]

Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness. [SAAS]

Lord of the Powers, be with us; for no other helper do we have in tribulations, but You. Lord of the Powers, have mercy on us. [SD]

Praise Him with the sound of trumpet; praise Him with the harp and lyre. [SAAS]

Lord of the Powers, be with us; for no other helper do we have in tribulations, but You. Lord of the Powers, have mercy on us. [SD]

Praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with strings and flute. [SAAS]

Lord of the Powers, be with us; for no other helper do we have in tribulations, but You. Lord of the Powers, have mercy on us. [SD]

Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with triumphant cymbals. Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. [SAAS]

Lord of the Powers, be with us; for no other helper do we have in tribulations, but You. Lord of the Powers, have mercy on us. [SD]

Praise God in His saints. [SAAS]

Praise Him in the firmament of His power. [SAAS]

Lord of the Powers, be with us; for no other helper do we have in tribulations, but You… Lord of the Powers, have mercy on us. [SD]

CHANTER

Mode 2. (intoned)

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

O Lord, if we did not have Your Saints as intercessors, and Your benevolence being compassionate towards us, how would we dare to extol You, O Savior, whom the Angels bless unceasingly? O Master who know our hearts, we pray You to spare our souls. [SD]

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

O Theotokos, my offenses are indeed very many. * To you I run, O Maiden pure, and I pray for salvation. * Visit my infirm and ailing soul, * and pray for me to your Son and our God, * to grant to me forgiveness for the evils I have done, O only blessed Lady. [SD]

CHOIR

Mode 2.

O all-holy Theotokos, during my lifetime, I pray do not abandon me, nor entrust me to merely human protection; rather you help me yourself and have mercy on me. [SD]

O Mother of God, I have committed my every hope wholly unto you. Keep me under your shelter. [SD]

READER

Lord, have mercy. (40)

O Christ our God, who at all times and at every hour, both in heaven and on earth, are worshipped and glorified, long suffering and plenteous in mercy and compassion; who love the just and show mercy to the sinners; who call all men to salvation through the promise of the blessings to come: Do You, the same Lord, receive also our supplications at this present time, and direct our lives according to Your commandments. Sanctify our souls; purify our bodies; set our minds right; clear up our thoughts, and deliver us from every sorrow, evil and distress. Surround us with Your holy Angels so that being guarded and guided by their presence, we may arrive at the unity of the faith and the knowledge of Your ineffable glory; for blessed are You unto the ages of ages. Amen. [HC]

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify.

In the name of the Lord, Father, bless!

PRIEST

May God have compassion on us and bless us; may his face shine upon us and have mercy on us.

READER

Amen.

PRIEST

We now make three prostrations: i.e. we recite the Prayer of St. Ephrem (quietly or mentally), and with each verse we make a bow or prostration.

While it has become customary for this prayer to be recited by someone aloud, nevertheless the indicated practice is that it be recited inaudibly and mentally by everyone, clergy and congregants alike, with the accompanying bows etc.

Prayer of St. Ephrem

O Lord and Master of my life, do not permit the spirit of laziness and meddling, the lust for power and idle talk to come into me.

Instead, grant me, Your servant, the spirit of prudence, humility, patience and love.

Yes, Lord and King, give me the power to see my own faults and not to judge my brother. For You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Then we make the sign of the cross 12 times, each time saying, “God, be gracious to me a sinner and have mercy on me.” Then we repeat the third verse of the Prayer (quietly or mentally) and make a final bow or prostration.

Yes, Lord and King, give me the power to see my own faults and not to judge my brother. For You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.

READER

Trisagion Prayers.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

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

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

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

PRIEST

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

READER

Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (12)

Prayer to the Virgin

by Paul the Monk of the Monastery of Evergetis

O spotless, unstained, incorruptible, undefiled, pure Virgin, Lady Bride of God, who through your wondrous birth-giving united God the Word with mankind, and linked the fallen nature of our human race with the heavenly; the only hope of the hopeless and the help of the persecuted; the ready support of those who seek refuge in you, and the shelter of all the Christians: do not despise me, the wretched sinner who have defiled myself with shameful thoughts and words and deeds, and through negligence of thought have become slave to the pleasures of life. But as the Mother of our compassionate God, and a friend of man, have compassion on me the sinner and prodigal, and accept this prayer from my impure lips; and using your motherly standing, entreat your Son and our Master and Lord to open unto me the depths of his loving goodness and, overlooking my innumerable faults, to return me to repentance and make me a worthy servant of his commandments. Stand by me forever; in this life as a merciful and compassionate and good and lovingly warm protector and helper, by repulsing the assaults of the adversary and leading me toward salvation; and at the time of my death, by embracing my miserable soul and driving far away from it the dark faces of the evil demons; and at the awesome day of judgment by redeeming me from eternal hell, and proclaiming me an heir of the ineffable glory of your Son and our God. May I enjoy such fate, my Lady, most-holy Theotokos, through your intercession and protection; through the grace and love for mankind of your only-begotten Son, our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ. To whom belong all glory, honor and worship, together with his beginningless Father, and the all holy and good and life giving Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. [HC]

Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ

by Antiochus, Monk of Pandektos

And grant to us, Master, as we depart for sleep, rest of body and soul, and preserve us from the gloomy slumber of sin, and from every dark and nocturnal pleasure. Arrest the drives of passion; extinguish the burning arrows of the Evil One which insidiously fly in our direction; suppress the rebellions of our flesh, and calm our every earthly and material thought. And grant to us, O God, alert mind, prudent thinking, sober heart, light sleep free of any satanic fantasy. Awaken us at the time of prayer rooted in your commandments and having unbroken within us the remembrance of your ordinances. Grant that we may sing your glory through the night by praising and blessing and glorifying your most honorable and majestic name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. [HC]

Most glorious, ever virgin, blessed Theotokos, bring our prayer before your Son and our God, and entreat him, through you, to save our souls. [HC]

The Father is my hope, the Son is my refuge, the Holy Spirit is my shelter, Holy Trinity, glory to you. [HC]

O Mother of God, I have committed my every hope wholly unto you. Keep me under your shelter. [SD]

In the first week of Lent (starting on Clean Monday), the priest now reads the appointed Gospel reading from the Beautiful Gate.

The Gospel

PRIEST

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

CHOIR

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the holy Gospel.

Peace be with all.

CHOIR

And with your spirit.

PRIEST

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Let us be attentive.

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

PRIEST

6:1–13

The Lord said, “Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: Our Father who are in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your 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. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever. Amen.” [RSV]

CHOIR

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

PRIEST

Peace be with all.

CHOIR

And with your spirit.

PRIEST

Let us bow our heads to the Lord.

CHOIR

To You, O Lord.

PRIEST

Most merciful Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, through the intercessions of our all-immaculate Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, heavenly, bodiless powers, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, our fathers among the saints, the great hierarchs and ecumenical teachers Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; Athanasios, Cyril, and John the Merciful, patriarchs of Alexandria, Nicholas, bishop of Myra, Spyridon, bishop of Trimythous, Nektarios of Pentapolis, the wonderworkers; the holy, glorious, great martyrs George the triumphant, Demetrios the myrrh-streamer, Theodore the soldier, and Theodore the general; Menas the wonderworker; Charalambos and Eleutherios, the hieromartyrs; the holy, glorious, and victorious martyrs; the glorious great Martyr and all-laudable Euphemia; the holy and glorious Martyrs Thecla, Barbara, Anastasia, Katherine, Kyriake, Fotene, Marina, Paraskeve and Irene; our venerable and God-bearing fathers; (local patron saint); holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; and all Your saints:

Accept our prayer; grant us forgiveness of our transgressions; protect us under the shelter of Your wings; drive away from us every enemy and adversary; grant peace to our life; Lord, have mercy on us and on Your world; and save our souls, as You are good and benevolent.

CHOIR

Amen.

Let us pray for the peace of the world.

CHOIR (intoned after each petition)

Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST

For the pious and Orthodox Christians.

For our our Archbishop (name).

For our nation.

For the armed forces.

For our absent fathers, brothers and sisters.

For those who help us and those who serve us.

For those who hate us and those who love us.

For those who have asked us, the unworthy, to pray for them.

For the release of the captives.

For those sailing the seas.

For those laid up with illnesses.

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

And for all our fathers and brethren departed this life, those who lie here in peace, and the Orthodox everywhere.

Let us say for ourselves, also: Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.

CHOIR

Mode 1. O Martyrs, extolled.

The Virgin was watching You, O Christ, * as You were unjustly slaughtered, and lamenting she cried aloud, * “O sweetest Son of mine, * how are You suspended * on a cross and dying now? * For You of old suspended the earth on water. O most-merciful * Benefactor, I your handmaiden * and your Mother * pray You not abandon me.” [SD]

PRIEST

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

( Amen. )