Great Compline
Note: The translation used is primarily that of
Fr. Lawrence of Jordanville. The order of
service is based primarily on the Reader Service Typikon by Bishop Daniel (the
Old Rite Bishop of the
Senior Reader: Through
the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on
us.
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.
Senior Reader:
O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.
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 is
the first week of Great Lent, we begin with Psalm 69, otherwise 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 then 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:
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. O 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
The we chant these
verse 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: 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.
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.
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.
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:
I believe in one God, the Father
Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, begotten of
the Father before all 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, except the last verse, are said twice, but “O most holy Lady…”, is said
thrice. [If you have two choirs, they alternate, if only one, the choir could
alternate with the Reader] 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.
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.
Senior Reader:
O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen. And
he reads the following troparia:
Then the following Troparia, unless
there be a feast, in which case we say the Troparion of the Feast (such as Nativity,
the Forty Martyrs, the Finding of the Precious Head of the Forerunner, etc.):
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.
Then,
continue:
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.
Senior Reader: 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:
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
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
The Prayer of Manasseh, 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.
Senior Reader: O Lord,
Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen.
And these troparia in the Sixth Tone:
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy
on us; * for at a 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.
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.
Senior Reader: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord
Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen.
O Master 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
(Omit, if it is the first week of Lent)
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)
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 ever.
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. 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:
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.
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.
Senior Reader: O Lord,
Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.
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):
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 two choirs, this is repeated by the second choir)
Stichos 1: Praise ye God in His saints, praise Him in the
firmament of His power.
O Lord of hosts, be with us…
Stichos 2: Praise Him for His mighty acts, praise Him
according to the multitude of His greatness.
O Lord of hosts, be with us…
Stichos 3: Praise Him with the sound of Trumpet, praise Him with the psaltery and
harp.
O Lord of hosts, be with us…
Stichos 4: Praise Him with timbrel and dance, praise Him with strings and flute.
O Lord of hosts, be with us…
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…
Stichos 6 [if two choirs, this is
sung by both]: 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)
Thou Who at all times and at every
hour, in heaven and on earth, art worshipped and glorified, O Christ God, Who
art long-suffering, plenteous in mercy, most compassionate, Who lovest 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.
Senior Reader: 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):
Senior Reader: O
Lord and Master of my life, a spirit of idleness, despondency, ambition, and
idle talking give me not. Prostration
But rather a spirit of chastity,
humble-mindedness, patience, and love bestow upon me Thy servant. Prostration
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:
O God, cleanse me a sinner.
Then, the entire prayer
without a break:
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
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.
Senior Reader: O Lord,
Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen. Lord, have
mercy. (Twelve times)
The Supplicatory
Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos
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.
A 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 precepts and
keeping steadfastly within us the memory of 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.
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)
O Lord, bless.
Senior Reader (Facing the East, rather than facing the people): O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, of our holy and God-bearing fathers, of _____ (The Patron of the Temple ), of _____ (saints of the day), and all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind.
Choir: Amen.
Senior Reader: Remit, pardon,
forgive, O God, our offenses, both voluntary and involuntary, in deed and word,
in knowledge and ignorance, by day and by night, in mind and thought; forgive
us all things, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind.
Choir: Amen.
Senior Reader: O Lord, Lover
of mankind, forgive them that hate and wrong us. Do good to them that do good. Grant our brethren and kindred their saving
petitions and life eternal; visit the infirm and grant them healing. Guide those at sea. Journey with them that travel. Help Orthodox Christians to struggle. To them that serve and are kind to us grant
remissions of sins. On them that have charged
us, the unworthy, to pray for them, have mercy according to Thy great
mercy. Remember, O Lord, our fathers and
brethren departed before us, and grant them rest where the light of Thy
countenance shall visit them. Remember,
O Lord, our brethren in captivity, and deliver them from every misfortune. Remember, O Lord, those that bear fruit and
do good works in Thy holy churches, and grant them their saving petitions and
life eternal. Remember also, O Lord, us
Thy lowly and sinful and unworthy servants, and enlighten our minds with the
light of Thy knowledge, and guide us in the way of Thy commandments; through
the intercessions of our most pure Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary,
and of all Thy saints, for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Choir: Lord, have
mercy. (Thrice)
Senior Reader: Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
Choir: Amen.
Return to the Reader
Service Horologion