Great Compline: The Audible Prayers of The Are in Bold, Times New Roman

Great Compline
The audible prayers of the

Priest: are in Bold, Times New Roman.
The parts that may be sung by the

Choir: are gray, and in a sans-serif type.
The parts of the

Reader: are in smaller, Sans-serif type
Rubrics are red, in Italics
Headings are centered, in a Larger, Red Type

Great Compline
The priest, vested in the epatrachial, gives the blessing:
Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the
Priest:
ages of ages.
Reader: Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere
present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of
life: Come and dwell in us, and cleanse us of all impurity, and
save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both
now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins.
O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our
infirmities for Thy name's sake.
Lord have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both
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.
For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the
Priest:
glory; of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Great Compline Page 3 of 50

Reader: Amen. Lord have mercy. (12 times)
O come, let us worship God our King.
O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ our King and
God.
O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our
King and God.
And if it be the first week of Great Lent, we begin with Psalm 69, otherwise we
skip Psalm 69, and continue at Psalm 4:
PSALM 69
O God, be attentive unto helping me; O Lord, make haste to help

me.
Let them be shamed and confounded that seek after my soul. Let
them be turned back and brought to shame that desire evils
against me.
Let them be turned back straightway in shame that say unto me:
Well done! Well done!
Let them be glad and rejoice in Thee all that seek after Thee, O
God, and let them that love Thy salvation say continually: The
Lord be magnified.
But as for me, I am poor and needy; O God, come unto mine aid.
My helper and my deliverer art Thou, O Lord; make no long
tarrying.

And having completed this, we chant the Great Canon. But if it is not the first week of
Great Lent, after “O Come Let us worship…” we begin with:
PSALM 4
When I called upon Thee, O God of my righteousness, Thou didst

hearken unto me; in mine affliction Thou hast enlarged me.
Have compassion on me and hear my prayer.
ye sons of men, how long will ye be slow of heart? Why do ye
love vanity, and seek after falsehood?
Know also that the Lord hath made wondrous His holy one; the
Lord will hearken unto me when I cry unto Him.
Be angry, and sin not; feel compunction upon your beds for what
ye say in your hearts.
Sacrifice a sacrifice of righteousness, and hope in the Lord. Many
say: Who will show unto us good things?
The light of Thy countenance, O Lord, hath been signed upon us;
Thou hast given gladness to my heart.
From the fruit of their wheat, wine, and oil are they multiplied.
In peace in the same place I shall lay me down and sleep.
For Thou, O Lord, alone hast made me to dwell in hope.
PSALM 6
O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger, nor chasten me in Thy

wrath.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, O Lord, for
my bones are troubled, and my soul is troubled greatly; but Thou,
O Lord, how long?
Turn to me again, O Lord, deliver my soul; save me for Thy
mercy's sake.
For in death there is none that is mindful of Thee, and in hades
who will confess Thee?
I toiled in my groaning; every night I will wash my bed, with tears
will I water my couch.
Through wrath is mine eye become troubled, I have grown old
among all mine enemies.
Depart from me all ye that work vanity, for the Lord hath heard the
voice of my weeping.
The Lord hath heard my supplication, the Lord hath received my
prayer.
Let all mine enemies be greatly put to shame and be troubled, let
them be turned back, and speedily be greatly put to shame.
PSALM 12
How long, O Lord, wilt Thou utterly forget me? How long wilt Thou
turn Thy face away from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul with grievings in my
heart by day and by night? How long shall mine enemy be exalted
over me?
Look upon me, hear me, O Lord my God; enlighten mine eyes,
lest at any time I sleep unto death.
Lest at any time mine enemy say: I have prevailed against him.
They that afflict me will rejoice if I am shaken; but as for me, I
have hoped in Thy mercy. My heart will rejoice in Thy salvation.
I will sing unto the Lord, Who is my benefactor, and I will chant
unto the name of the Lord Most High.
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Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God. (Thrice)
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

PSALM 24
Unto Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul.
O my God, in Thee have I trusted; let me never be put to shame,

nor let mine enemies laugh me to scorn.
Yea, let none that wait on Thee be put to shame; let them be
ashamed which are lawless without a cause.
Make Thy ways, O Lord, known unto me and teach me Thy paths.
Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, for Thou art God my Savior;
for on Thee have I waited all the day long.
Remember Thy compassions; O Lord, and Thy mercies, for they

are from everlasting.
The sins of my youth and mine ignorances remember not;

according to Thy mercy remember Thou me, for the sake of Thy
goodness, O Lord.
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore will He set a law for them
that sin in the way.
He will guide the meek in judgment, He will teach the meek His
ways.
All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth, unto them that seek
after His covenant and His testimonies.

For the sake of Thy name, O Lord, be gracious unto my sin; for it
is great.
Who is the man that feareth the Lord? He will set him a law in the
way which He hath chosen.
His soul shall dwell among good things, and his seed shall inherit
the earth.
The Lord is the strength of them that fear Him, and His covenant
shall be manifested unto them.
Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He it is that will draw my
feet out of the snare.
Look upon me, and have mercy on me; for I am one only-
begotten and poor.
The afflictions of my heart are multiplied; bring me out from my

necessities.
Behold my lowliness and my toil, and forgive all my sins.
Look upon my enemies, for they are multiplied, and with an unjust
hatred they have hated me.
Keep my soul and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I
have hoped in Thee.
The innocent and the upright have cleaved unto me, for I waited
on Thee, O Lord.
Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his afflictions.

PSALM 30
In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me not be put to shame in the

age to come; in Thy righteousness deliver me, and rescue me.
Bow down Thine ear unto me, make haste to rescue me, be Thou
unto me a God to defend me and a house of refuge to save me.
For my strength and my refuge art Thou, and for Thy name's sake
wilt Thou guide me and nourish me.
Thou wilt bring me out of this snare which they have hid for me,
for Thou art my defender, O Lord.
Into Thy hands I will commit my spirit; Thou hast redeemed me, O
Lord God of truth.
Thou hast hated them that cling to empty vanities; but I have
hoped in the Lord.
I will rejoice and be glad in Thy mercy, for Thou hast regarded my
lowliness; Thou hast saved my soul out of necessities,
And hast not shut me up in the hands of enemies; Thou hast set
my feet in a spacious place.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am afflicted; mine eye is troubled

with anger, as also my soul and my belly.
For my life is spent with grief, and my years with groanings; my

strength hath grown weak in poverty, and my bones are troubled.
I am become a reproach among all mine enemies, and greatly for

my neighbors also, and a fear to mine acquaintances. They that
saw me without fled from me.

I am forgotten by the heart like a dead man. I am become like a
broken vessel.
For I have heard the reproach of many that dwell round about;
when they assembled together against me, they devised to take
away my life.
But as for me, I have hoped in Thee, O Lord; I said: Thou art my
God; in Thy hands are my lots.
Deliver me from the hands of mine enemies, and from them that
persecute me.
Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant, save me in Thy mercy.
O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I have called upon Thee;
let the ungodly be put to shame and let them be brought down
into hades.
Speechless be the deceitful lips which speak iniquity against the

righteous man with arrogance and contempt.
How great is the multitude of Thy goodness, O Lord, which Thou

hast hid for them that fear Thee, which Thou hast wrought for
them that hope in Thee before the sons of men.
Thou shalt hide them in the secrecy of Thy presence from the
disturbance of men; Thou shalt shelter them in the tabernacle
from contradiction of tongues.
Blessed is the Lord, for He hath made His mercy wondrous in a

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

O love ye the Lord, all ye His saints, for the Lord requireth truth;
and unto them that act with exceeding pride, He rendereth them
their due.
Be ye manful, and let your heart be strengthened, all ye that hope

in the Lord.
PSALM 90
He that dwelleth in the help of the Most High shall abide in the
shelter of the God of heaven.
He shall say unto the Lord: Thou art my helper and my refuge. He
is my God, and I will hope in Him.
For He shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunters and from
every troubling word.
With His shoulders will He overshadow thee, and under His wings
shalt thou have hope.
With a shield will His truth encompass thee; thou shalt not be
afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day,
Nor for the thing that walketh in darkness, nor for the mishap and
demon of noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right
hand, but unto thee shall it not come nigh.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and thou shalt see the
reward of sinners.
For Thou, O Lord, art my hope. Thou madest the Most High thy
refuge;
No evils shall come nigh thee, and no scourge shall draw nigh
unto thy dwelling.
For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all
thy ways.
On their hands shall they bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash
thy foot against a stone.
Upon the asp and basilisk shalt thou tread, and thou shalt trample
upon the lion and dragon.
For he hath set his hope on Me, and I will deliver him; I will shelter
him because he hath known My name.
He shall cry unto Me, and I will hearken unto him. I am with him in
affliction, and I will rescue him and glorify him.
With length of days will I satisfy him, and I will show him My
salvation.
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Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God. (Thrice)
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

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Then we chant these verses with sweet melody, not rapidly, but slowly, and with loud
voice (On Friday evening this is read, and everything from here to “I BELIEVE…” is
read, not chanted):
Choir: Godis 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: Godis 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:
The day being past, I give Thee thanks, O Lord; *

Choir 1:
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
Choir 2:
Holy Spirit.
The day being past, I glorify Thee, O Master; * the
evening, I pray, together with the night * without
temptation grant me, O Savior, * and save me.
Choir 1: Both now and ever, * and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
The day being past, I hymn Thee, O Holy One; * the
evening, I pray, together with the night * without peril grant
me, O Savior, * and save me.
Then the two choirs together, alternating phrases:
In the Sixth Tone:
The bodiless nature of the Cherubim * with unceasing
hymns glorify Thee. * The six-winged beings, the
Seraphim, * with never-ceasing voices supremely exalt
Thee. * And all the ranks of the Angels * praise Thee with
thrice-holy hymns. * For before all art Thou the existing
Father, * and Thou hast Thy co-unoriginate Son; * and
bearing the co-honorable Spirit of life, * Thou dost
manifest the Indivisible Trinity. * O Most holy Virgin Mother
of God, * and ye eyewitnesses of the Word and servants, *
all the choirs both of Prophets and Martyrs, * as those that
have attained unto life immortal, * supplicate earnestly for
us all, * for we all are in distress; * that, being delivered
from the delusion of the evil one, * we may cry out the
angelic hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy, Thrice-holy Lord, * have
mercy and save us. Amen.
And immediately, in a lower voice, the reader:
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven

Reader:
and the earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, begotten of
the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God;
begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by Whom all
things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came
down from the heavens, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and
the Virgin Mary, and became man; And was crucified for us under
Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And arose again on
the third day according to the Scriptures; And ascended into the
heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; And shall
come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead;
Whose kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the
Lord, the Giver of life; Who proceedeth from the Father; Who with
the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who
spake by the prophets. In One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic
Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for
the resurrection of the dead, And the life of the age to come.
Amen.
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And immediately, “O most holy Lady…”; all are said twice except the first verse, “O most
holy Lady…”, which is said Thrice. The verses are alternated by each choir.
And with each one we make a prostration, except on Friday evenings, when this is read
instead of being chanted, we make a bow:
O most holy Lady Theotokos, intercede for us sinners.

(Thrice)
O all ye Heavenly Host of the holy Angels and Archangels,

intercede for us sinners. (Twice)
O holy John, Prophet and Forerunner and Baptist of our
Lord Jesus Christ, intercede for us sinners. (Twice)
O holy glorious Apostles, Prophets, and Martyrs, and all
the Saints, intercede for us sinners. (Twice)
O our holy and God-bearing fathers, pastors, and
ecumenical teachers, intercede for us sinners. (Twice)
O (patron saint of the temple), intercede for us sinners. (Twice)
O Invincible and incomprehensible and divine power of the
precious and life-giving Cross, forsake not us sinners.
(Twice)
O God, cleanse us sinners. (Twice)

O God, cleanse us sinners, and have mercy on us.
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Then the reader:
Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.
(Thrice)
forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from the evil one.
Priest:
Reader: Amen.
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Then the following Troparia, unless there be a feast, in which case we say the Troparion
of the Feast

On Monday and Wednesday evenings, in the Second Tone:
Enlighten mine eyes, O Christ God, lest at any time I sleep

unto death, lest at any time mine enemy say: I have
prevailed against him.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Be my soul’s helper, O God, for I pass through the midst
of many snares; deliver me out of them, and save me, O
Good One, for Thou art the Lover of Mankind.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion:
Seeing that we have no boldness on account of our many

sins, do thou beseech Him that was born of thee, O Virgin
Theotokos for the supplication of a mother availeth much
to win the Master's favor. Disdain not the prayers of
sinners, O all-pure one, for merciful and mighty to save is
He Who deigned also to suffer for our sake.

On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, these troparia, in the
Eighth Tone:
O Lord, Thou knowest the unsleeping vigilance of mine
invisible enemies, and the weakness of my miserable flesh
knowest Thou Who hast fashioned me: Into Thy hands,
therefore, I will commit my spirit; shelter me with the wings
of Thy goodness, lest at any time I sleep unto death, and
enlighten the eyes of my mind to the enjoyment of Thy
divine words, and raise me up in a seasonable time unto
Thy glorification, for Thou alone art good and the Lover of
mankind.
Stichos: Look upon me and hear me, O Lord my God.
How terrible is Thy judgment, O Lord, with the angels
standing round about, the men being led in, the books
opened, the deeds examined, the thoughts weighed. What
judgment shall be awarded unto me who was conceived in
sins? Who shall quench the flame for me, who shall
enlighten the darkness for me, if not Thou, O Lord Who
hast mercy on me, as the Lover of mankind.
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.

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

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.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus
Priest:
Christ our God, have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen.
And this prayer of Basil the Great:
Reader: O Lord, O Lord, Who hast delivered us from every arrow

that flieth by day, deliver us from everything that walketh in
darkness. Receive as an evening sacrifice the lifting up of our
hands. Vouchsafe us also to pass through the course of the night
without blemish, untempted by evil. And deliver us from every
anxiety and fear that come to us from the devil. Grant unto our
souls compunction, and unto our thoughts solicitude concerning
the trial at Thy dread and righteous judgment. Nail down our flesh
with the fear of Thee, and mortify our earthly members, that in
quietness of sleep we may be enlightened by the vision of Thy
judgments. Take from us every unseemly dream and pernicious
carnal desire. Raise us up at the hour of prayer, fortified in faith
and advancing in Thy commandments; through the benevolence
and goodness of Thine Only-begotten Son, with Whom Thou art
blessed, together with Thy most-holy and good and life creating
Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
God.
King and God.
PSALM 50
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and

according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my
transgression.
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my

sin.
For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me.
Against Thee only have I sinned and done this evil before Thee,
that Thou mightest be justified in Thy words, and prevail when
Thou art judged.
For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my

mother bear me.
For behold, Thou hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of
Thy wisdom hast Thou made manifest unto me.
Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean;

Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.
Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be
humbled, they shall rejoice.
Turn Thy face away from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within

me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy
Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and with Thy governing
Spirit establish me.
I shall teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn
back unto Thee.
Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my

salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness.
O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy
praise.
For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had given it; with whole-burnt
offerings Thou shalt not be pleased.
A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and

humbled God will not despise.
Do good, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Sion, and let the
walls of Jerusalem be builded.
Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with

oblation and whole-burnt offerings.
Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.
PSALM 101
O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto Thee.
Turn not Thy face away from me; in the day when I am afflicted,
incline Thine ear unto me.
In the day when I call upon Thee, quickly hearken unto me.
For my days are vanished like smoke, and my bones consumed

like wood for the burning.

I am smitten like grass, and withered is my heart, for I forgot to
eat my bread.
By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bone hath cleaved

unto my flesh.
I am become like a pelican of the wilderness, I am li ke an owl in a

ruined house.
I have watched, and am like a sparrow that sitteth alone upon the
house-top.
The whole day long mine enemies reproached me, and they that
praised me made an oath against me.
For before the face of Thy wrath and Thine anger I ate ashes like
bread, and my drink I mingled with weeping; for after uplifting me,
Thou hast dashed me down.
My days like a shadow have declined, and I like grass am

withered.
But Thou, O Lord, for ever abidest, and Thy remembrance is unto
generation and generation.
Thou shalt rise up and have pity upon Sion, for it is time to have
compassion on her, yea, the time is come.
For Thy servants have taken pleasure in her stones, and they
shall feel pity for her dust.
And the nations shall fear Thy name, O Lord, and all the kings of
the earth Thy glory.
For the Lord shall build up Sion, and He shall be seen in His
glory.

He hath regarded the prayer of the humble, and hath not
despised their supplication.
Let this be written for another generation, and the people that is
being created shall praise the Lord.
For He hath looked out from His holy height, the Lord from
heaven hath looked upon the earth,
To hear the groaning of them that be in fetters, to loose the sons

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

Jerusalem,
When the peoples are gathered together, and the kings to serve
the Lord.
He answered Him in the way of his strength: The fewness of my

days declare unto me.
Take me not away at the half of my days; in generations and

generations are Thy years.
In the beginning, O Lord, Thou didst lay the foundation of the

earth, and the heavens are the works of Thy hands.
They shall perish, but Thou abidest; and all like a garment shall
grow old,
And as a vesture shalt Thou fold them, and they shall be

changed; but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.
The sons of Thy servants shall have their dwelling, and their seed
for ever shall be guided aright.

The Prayer of Manasses, King of Judea:
O Lord Almighty, the God of our fathers, of Abraham, and Isaac,

and Jacob, and of their righteous seed;
Who hast made heaven and the earth with all their majesty; Who
hast bound the sea by the word of Thy commandme nt;
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)
----------
forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from the evil one.
Priest:
Reader: Amen.

And these Troparia in the Sixth Tone:
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; * for at loss

for any defense, * this prayer do we sinners offer unto thee
as Master: have mercy on us.
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.
The door of compassion open unto us, * O
Theotokion:
blessed Theotokos, * for hoping in thee, let us not perish; *
through thee may we be delivered from adversities, * for
thou art the salvation of the Christian race.
Reader: Lord have mercy. (Forty Times)
In the name of the Lord, father (master) bless.

Priest:
Reader: Amen.
O Sovereign God, the Father Almighty, O Lord, the Only-begotten
Son, Jesus Christ, and O Holy Spirit, one Godhead, one Power:
Have mercy on me a sinner, and by the judgments which Thou
knowest, save me, Thine unworthy servant; for blessed art Thou
unto the ages of ages. Amen.
God.
King and God.
(Psalm 69 is omitted at this point when the Great Canon is read in the First Week of
Great Lent)
PSALM 69
O God, be attentive unto helping me; O Lord, make haste to help

me.
Let them be shamed and confounded that seek after my soul.
Let them be turned back and brought to shame that desire evils
against me.
Let them be turned back straightway in shame that say unto me:
Well done! Well done!
Let them be glad and rejoice in Thee all that seek after Thee, O
God, and let them that love Thy salvation say continually: The
Lord be magnified.
But as for me, I am poor and needy; O God, come unto mine aid.
My helper and my deliverer art Thou, O Lord; make no long
tarrying.
PSALM 142

O Lord, hear my prayer, give ear unto my supplication in Thy
truth; hearken unto me in Thy righteousness.
And enter not into judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy sight
shall no man living be justified.
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath humbled my life
down to the earth.
He hath sat me in darkness as those that have been long dead,
and my spirit within me is become despondent; within me my
heart is troubled.
I remembered days of old, I meditated on all Thy works, I
pondered on the creations of Thy hands.
I stretched forth my hands unto Thee; my soul thirsteth after Thee
like a waterless land.
Quickly hear me, O Lord; my spirit hath fainted away.
Turn not Thy face away from me, lest I be like unto them that go
down into the pit.
Cause me to hear Thy mercy in the morning; for in Thee have I

put my hope.
Cause me to know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for
unto Thee have I lifted up my soul.
Rescue me from mine enemies, O Lord; unto Thee have I fled for
refuge. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God.
Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness; for Thy
name's sake, O Lord, shalt Thou quicken me.
In Thy righteousness shalt Thou bring my soul out of affliction,
and in Thy mercy shalt Thou utterly destroy mine enemies.
And Thou shalt cut off all them that afflict my soul, for I am Thy
servant.

THE DOXOLOGY
(Read, not sung)
Reader:Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and good

will among men.
We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify
Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory.
O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty; O Lord, the
only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and O Holy Spirit. O Lord God,
Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the
world; have mercy on us; Thou that takest away the sins of the
world, receive our prayer; Thou that sittest at the right hand of the
Father, have mercy on us.
For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord, O Jesus Christ, to
the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Every night will I bless Thee, and I will praise Thy Name forever,
yea, forever and forever.
Lord, thou hast been our refuge in generation and generation.
I said: O Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul, for I have sinned
against Thee.
O Lord, unto Thee have I fled for refuge, teach me to do Thy will,
for Thou art my God.
For in Thee is the fountain of life, in Thy light shall we see light.
O continue Thy mercy unto them that know Thee.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers, and praised
and glorified is Thy name unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped
in Thee.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.
Blessed art Thou, O Master, give me understanding of Thy
statutes.
Blessed art Thou, O Holy One, enlighten me by Thy statutes.
O Lord, Thy mercy endureth forever; disdain not the works of Thy
hands.
To Thee is due praise, to Thee is due a song, to Thee glory is
due, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
----------
After this, if it is not the first week of Lent, we say a canon to a saint of the
commemorative cycle (from the Menaion), or to the Theotokos (from the Octoechos).
And after the completion of the canon and stichera, we chant:
Choir:It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever

blessed and most blameless, and Mother of our God.
More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare
more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption
gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do
we magnify. Prostration.
----------

(Thrice)
from the evil one.
Priest:
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

Choir:
have no other helper in adversity; * O Lord of hosts, have
mercy on us.
(If there be two choirs, the second choir repeateth)
And the first choir chanteth the stichos and refrain:
Praise ye God in His saints, praise Him in the firmament

Stichos 1:
of His power.
O Lord of hosts, be with us…
And the second choir:
Praise Him for His mighty acts, praise Him according to

Stichos 2:
the multitude of His greatness.
The first choir:
Praise Him with the sound of Trumpet, praise Him with

Stichos 3:
the psaltery and harp.
The second choir:
Stichos 4:Praise Him with timbrel and dance, praise Him with
strings and flute.
The first choir:
Stichos 5:Praise Him with tuneful cymbals, praise Him with cymbals
of jubilation. Let every breath praise the Lord.
Then both choirs, having come down from the kleros together, chant this stichos:
Praise ye God in His saints, praise Him in the firmament

Stichos 6:
of His power.
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.
Greatly multiplied, O Theotokos, are my sins, * and unto
thee have I fled, O pure one, * imploring salvation. * Do
thou visit mine enfeebled soul, * and pray to thy Son and
our God * that He grant me forgiveness for the evil I have
done, O thou only blessed one.
O all-holy Theotokos, * throughout my lifetime forsake me

not, * to human protection entrust me not, * but do thou
thyself defend me and have mercy on me.
All my hope I place in thee, * O Mother of God, * keep me

under thy protection.
----------
Reader: Lord, have mercy. (forty times)
The Prayer of the Hours:

Reader: Thou Who at all times and every hour, in heaven and on
earth, art worshipped and glorified, O Christ God, Who art long-
suffering, plenteous in mercy, most compassionate, Who loveth
the righteous and hast mercy on sinners, Who callest all to
salvation through the promise of good things to come: Receive, O
Lord, our prayers at this hour, and guide our life toward Thy
commandments. Sanctify our souls, make chaste our bodies,
correct our thoughts, purify our intentions, and deliver us from
every sorrow, evil and pain. Compass us about with Thy holy
angels, that, guarded and guided by their array, we may attain to
the unity of the faith and the knowledge of Thine unapproachable
glory; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
In the name of the Lord, father (master) bless.
Priest:
Reader: Amen.
And then the Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian
(on Friday evenings, the prayer of St. Ephraim is not said):

The Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian
O Lord and Master of my life, a spirit of idleness,

Priest:
despondency, ambition, and idle talking give me not.
Prostration
But rather a spirit of chastity, humble-mindedness,

Priest:
patience, and love bestow upon me Thy servant.
Prostration
Yea, O Lord King, grant me to see my own failings and

Priest:
not condemn my brother; for blessed art Thou unto the ages
of ages. Amen.
Prostration
Then twelve reverences. With each one we say:
Priest: O God, cleanse me a sinner.

Then, the entire prayer without a break:
O Lord and Master of my life, a spirit of idleness,

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

(Thrice)
from the evil one.
Priest:
Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)
Save, help, and protect us, O Virgin Theotokos.

The Supplicatory Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos, of Paul
the monk of the Monastery of Evergetides (Of the
Benefactress)
O undefiled, untainted, uncorrupted, most pure, chaste Virgin,

Thou Bride of God and Sovereign Lady, who didst unite the Word
of God to mankind through thy most glorious birth giving, and hast
linked the apostate nature of our race with the heavenly; who art
the only hope of the hopeless, and the helper of the struggling,
the ever-ready protection of them that hasten unto thee, and the
refuge of all Christians: Do not shrink with loathing from me a
sinner, defiled, who with polluted thoughts, words, and deeds
have made myself utterly unprofitable, and through slothfulness of
mind have become a slave to the pleasures of life. But as the
Mother of God Who loveth mankind, show thy love for mankind
and mercifully have compassion upon me a sinner and prodigal,
and accept my supplication, which is offered to thee out of my
defiled mouth; and making use of thy motherly boldness, entreat
thy Son and our Master and Lord that He may be pleased to open
for me the bowels of His loving kindness and graciousness to
mankind, and, disregarding my numberless offenses, will turn me
back to repentance, and show me to be a tried worker of His
precepts. And be thou ever present unto me as merciful,
compassionate and well disposed; in the present life be thou a
fervent intercessor and helper, repelling the assaults of
adversaries and guiding me to salvation, and at the time of my
departure taking care of my miserable soul, and driving far away
from it the dark countenances of the evil demons; lastly, at the
dreadful day of judgment delivering me from torment eternal and
showing me to be an heir of the ineffable glory of thy Son and our
God; all of which may I attain, O my Sovereign Lady, most holy
Theotokos, in virtue of thine intercession and protection, through
the grace and love to mankind of thine only begotten Son, our
Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, to Whom is due all glory,
honor and worship, together with His unoriginate Father, and His
Most Holy and good and life creating Spirit, now and ever, and
unto ages of ages. Amen.
Another Prayer; to our Lord Jesus Christ, by Antiochus the
monk
And grant unto us, O Master, in the coming sleep, rest for body
and soul, and preserve us from the gloomy slumber of sin, and
from every dark and nocturnal sensuality. Subdue the impulses of
passions, extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one that are
cunningly hurled against us, assuage the rebellions of our flesh,
and every earthly and fleshly subtlety of ours lull to sleep. And
grant unto us, O God, a watchful mind, chaste thought, a sober
heart, a sleep gentle and free from every satanic illusion. Raise us
up at the time of prayer firmly grounded in Thy judgments. All the
night long grant us a doxology, that we may hymn and bless and
glorify Thy most honorable and majestic name: of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the
ages of ages. Amen.
----------
At this point, according the to usage of Holy Trinity Monastery, the Prayers approaching
sleep are said.
If these prayers are not to be said at this time, skip to page 48.

Prayers Approaching Sleep
Prayer I, of St. Macarius the Great.
O Eternal God and King of all creation, Who hast vouchsafed me

to arrive at this hour, forgive me the sins that I have committed
this day in deed, word, and thought; and cleanse, O Lord, my
lowly soul of all impurity of flesh and spirit, and grant me, O Lord,
to pass the sleep of this night in peace; that, rising from my lowly
bed, I may please Thy most holy name all the days of my life, and
thwart the enemies, fleshly and bodiless, that war against me.
And deliver me, O Lord, from vain thoughts and evil desires which
defile me. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory:
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and
ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer II, of St. Antiochus:
O Ruler of all, Word of the Father, O Jesus Christ, Thou Who art
perfect: for the sake of the plenitude of Thy mercy, never depart
from me, but always remain in me, Thy servant. O Jesus, Good
Shepherd of Thy sheep, deliver me not over to the sedition of the
serpent, and leave me not to the will of Satan, for the seed of
corruption is in me. But do Thou, O Lord, worshipful God, Holy
King, Jesus Christ, as I sleep, guard me by the Unwaning Light,
Thy Holy Spirit, by Whom Thou didst sanctify Thy disciples. O
Lord, grant me, thine unworthy servant, Thy salvation upon my
bed. Enlighten my mind with the light of understanding of Thy
Holy Gospel; my soul, with the love of Thy Cross; my heart, with
the purity of Thy word; my body, with Thy passionless passion.
Keep my thoughts in Thy humility, and raise me up at the proper
time for Thy glorification. For most glorified art Thou together with
Thine unoriginate Father, and the Most Holy Spirit, unto the ages.
Amen.
Prayer III, to the Most Holy Spirit:

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

immortal King, O compassionate Lord Who lovest mankind? For
though I have been slothful in pleasing Thee, and have done
nothing good, Thou hast led me to the close of this day that is
past, establishing the conversion and salvation of my soul. Be
merciful to me a sinner, bereft of every good deed, raise up my
fallen soul which hath become defiled by countless sins, and take

away from me every evil thought of this visible life. Forgive my
sins, O Only Sinless One, in which I have sinned against Thee
this day, known or unknown, in word, and deed, and thought and
in all my senses. Do Thou Thyself protect and guard me from
every opposing circumstance, by Thy Divine authority and power
and inexpressible love for mankind. Blot out, O God, blot out the
multitude of my sins. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me from the
net of the Evil One, and save my passionate soul, and
overshadow me with the light of Thy countenance when Thou
shalt come in glory; and cause me, uncondemned now, to sleep a
dreamless sleep, and keep Thy servant untroubled by thoughts,
and drive away from me all satanic deeds; and enlighten for me
the eyes of my heart with understanding, lest I sleep unto death.
And send me an angel of peace, a guardian and guide of my soul
and body, that he may deliver me from mine enemies; that, rising
from my bed, I may offer Thee prayers of thanksgiving. Yea, O
Lord, hearken unto me, Thy sinful and wretched servant, in
confession and conscience; grant me, when I arise, to be
instructed by Thy sayings; and through Thine angels cause
demonic despondency to be driven far from me: that I may bless
Thy holy name, and glorify and extol the most pure Theotokos
Mary, whom Thou hast given to us sinners as a protectress, and
accept her who prayeth for us. For I know that she exemplifieth
Thy love for ma nkind and prayeth for us without ceasing. Through
her protection, and the sign of the precious Cross, and for the
sake of all Thy saints, preserve my wretched soul, O Jesus Christ
our God: for holy art Thou, and most glorious for ever. Amen.
Prayer V
O Lord our God, as Thou art good and the Lover of mankind,
forgive me wherein I have sinned today in word, deed, and
thought. Grant me peaceful and undisturbed sleep; send Thy
guardian angel to protect and keep me from evil. For Thou art the
Guardian of our souls and bodies, and unto Thee do we send up
glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer VI
O Lord our God, in Whom we believe and Whose Name we

invoke above every name, grant us, as we go to sleep, relaxation
of soul and body, and keep us from all dreams, and dark
pleasures; stop the onslaught of the passions and quench the
burnings that arise in the flesh. Grant us to live chastely in deed
and word, that we may obtain a virtuous life, and not fall away
from Thy promised blessings; for blessed art Thou for ever. Amen.
Prayer VII, of St. John Chrysostom, according to the number

of hours of day and night:
O Lord, deprive me not of Thy heavenly good things.

O Lord, deliver me from the eternal torments.
O Lord, if I have sinned in mind or thought, in word or deed,
forgive me.
O Lord, deliver me from all ignorance, forgetfulness, faint-
heartedness, and stony insensibility.
O Lord, deliver me from every temptation.
O Lord, enlighten my heart which evil desire hath darkened.
O Lord, as a man I have sinned, but do Thou, as the
compassionate God, have mercy on me, seeing the infirmity of
my soul.
O Lord, send Thy grace to my help, that I may glorify Thy holy
name.
O Lord Jesus Christ, write me Thy servant in the Book of Life, and
grant me a good end.
O Lord my God, even though I have done nothing good in Thy
sight, yet grant me by Thy grace to make a good beginning.
O Lord, sprinkle into my heart the dew of Thy grace.
O Lord of heaven and earth, remember me Thy sinful servant,
shameful and unclean, in Thy kingdom. Amen.
O Lord, accept me in penitence.

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

O Lord, grant me good thoughts.
O Lord, grant me tears, and remembrance of death, and
compunction.
O Lord, grant me the thought of confessing my sins.
O Lord, grant me humility, chastity, and obedience.
O Lord, grant me patience, courage, and meekness.
O Lord, implant in me the root of good, Thy fear in my heart.
O Lord, vouchsafe me to love Thee with all my soul and thoughts,
and in all things to do Thy will.
O Lord, protect me from evil men, and demons, and passions,
and from every other unseemly thing.
O Lord, Thou knowest that Thou doest as Thou wilt: Thy will be
done also in me a sinner; for blessed art Thou unto the ages.
Amen.
Prayer VIII, to our Lord Jesus Christ
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of Thy most
honorable Mother, and Thy bodiless angels, Thy Prophet and
Forerunner and Baptist, the God-inspired apostles, the radiant
and victorious martyrs, the holy and God-bearing fathers, and
through the intercessions of all the saints, deliver me from the
besetting presence of the demons. Yea, my Lord and Creator,
Who desirest not the death of the sinner, but rather that he be
converted and live, grant conversion also to me, wretched and
unworthy; rescue me from the mouth of the pernicious serpent,
who is yawning to devour me and take me down to Hades alive.
Yea, my Lord, my Comfort, Who for my miserable sake wast
clothed in corruptible flesh, draw me out of misery, and grant
comfort to my miserable soul. Implant in my heart to fulfill Thy
commandments, and to forsake evil deeds, and to obtain Thy
blessings; for in Thee, O Lord, have I hoped, save me.

Prayer IX, to the Most Holy Theotokos
O good Mother of the Good King, most pure and blessed

Theotokos Mary, do thou pour out the mercy of thy Son and our
God upon my passionate soul, and by thine intercessions guide
me unto good works, that I may pass the remaining time of my life
without blemish, and attain paradise through thee, O Virgin
Theotokos, who alone art pure and blessed.
Prayer X, to the Holy Guardian Angel
O Angel of Christ, my holy guardian and protector of my soul and

body, forgive me all wherein I have sinned this day, and deliver
me from all opposing evil of mine enemy, lest I anger my God by
any sin. Pray for me, a sinful and unworthy servant, that thou
mayest show me forth worthy of the kindness and mercy of the
All-holy Trinity, and of the Mother of my Lord Jesus Christ, and of
all the saints. Amen.
Then, the Kontakion of the Theotokos:
To Thee the Champion Leader, we thy servants dedicate a feast

of victory and of thanksgiving, as ones rescued out of sufferings,
O Theotokos; but as thou art one with might which is invincible,
from all dangers that can be, do thou deliver us, that we may cry
to thee: Rejoice, thou Bride unwedded!
Most glorious Ever-Virgin, Mother of Christ God, present our

prayer to thy Son and our God, that through thee our souls may
be saved
All my hope I place in thee, O Mother of God: keep me under thy

protection.
O Virgin Theotokos, disdain not me a sinner, needing thy help and

thy protection, and have mercy on me, for my soul hath hoped in
thee.
Then the prayer of St. Joannicius:
My hope is the Father, my refuge is the Son, my protection is the

Holy Spirit: O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.
The end of the prayers approaching sleep.
----------

Here, the Order of Great Compline is resumed:
Priest: Glory to Thee, O God, our hope, glory to Thee.

Choir: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice) Father, bless.
The priest saith aloud, while we prostrate ourselves to the earth (except on Fridays,
when the lesser dismissal is used:)
Priest:O Master plenteous in mercy, O Lord Jesus Christ our

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

The Rite of Forgiveness
Then, making a prostration, the priest saith to the brethren (sisters, congregation):
Bless, (holy master and) holy fathers (mothers) and brethren,

Priest:
and forgive me a sinner, all wherein I have sinned this day in
deed, word, and through all my senses.
And the brethren (sisters) (congregation) reply:
May God forgive and have mercy on thee, holy father.

And they make a prostration, asking this forgiveness:
Bless me, holy father, and forgive all wherein I have sinned
this day in deed, word, and thought, and in all my senses,
and pray for me a sinner.
Through His grace may God forgive and have mercy
Priest:
on us all.
----------
And he saith this Ectenia:
Let us pray for the Orthodox episcopate of the Russian

Priest:
Church; for our lord the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan
N., First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad; for our
lord the Most Reverend (Archbishop or Bishop N., whose
diocese it is) and all our brethren in Christ.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Quietly, slowly, and repeatedly, until the petitions
are finished )
For the suffering Russian land and its Orthodox people

Priest:
both in the homeland and in the diaspora, and for their
salvation; for this land, its authorities and armed forces, and
for every Christian land.
For them that hate us and them that love us.

For them that are kind to us and them that serve us.
For them that have asked us unworthy ones to pray for
them.
For the deliverance of the imprisoned.
For our fathers and brethren that have passed on before us.
For those sailing upon the sea.
For those bedridden in infirmities.
Let us pray for the abundance of the fruits of the earth.
And for every Orthodox Christian soul.
Let us bless pious kings (rulers), Orthodox hierarchs, and
the founders of this holy habitation.
Our parents, and all that have passed on before us, our
fathers, brethren, and the Orthodox here and everywhere
laid to rest.
Let us say also for ourselves.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice
For the sake of the intercessions of Thy most pure
Priest:
Mother of (the patron saint of the temple), and all the saints, O Lord
Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
Choir: Amen.
And we venerate the holy icons and receive a blessing from the priest (superior)
(bishop).
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Great Compline: The Audible Prayers of The Are in Bold, Times New Roman

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Great Compline: The Audible Prayers of The Are in Bold, Times New Roman

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Great Compline

The audible prayers of the

The parts that may be sung by the

The parts of the

Rubrics are red, in Italics

Headings are centered, in a Larger, Red Type

Great Compline Page 3 of 50

skip Psalm 69, and continue at Psalm 4:

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

Great Compline Page 4 of 50

When I called upon Thee, O God of my righteousness, Thou didst

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

Great Compline Page 6 of 50

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

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,

Remember Thy compassions; O Lord, and Thy mercies, for they

The sins of my youth and mine ignorances remember not;

Great Compline Page 7 of 50

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

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

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

Great Compline Page 8 of 50

In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me not be put to shame in the

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am afflicted; mine eye is troubled

For my life is spent with grief, and my years with groanings; my

I am become a reproach among all mine enemies, and greatly for

Great Compline Page 9 of 50

Speechless be the deceitful lips which speak iniquity against the

How great is the multitude of Thy goodness, O Lord, which Thou

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

Great Compline Page 10 of 50

Be ye manful, and let your heart be strengthened, all ye that hope

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)

Choir: Godis with us, understand, O ye nations, and submit

Great Compline Page 12 of 50

Great Compline Page 13 of 50

And immediately these Troparia:

The day being past, I give Thee thanks, O Lord; *

And immediately, in a lower voice, the reader:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven

O most holy Lady Theotokos, intercede for us sinners.

O all ye Heavenly Host of the holy Angels and Archangels,

O God, cleanse us sinners. (Twice)

Great Compline Page 17 of 50

Enlighten mine eyes, O Christ God, lest at any time I sleep

Seeing that we have no boldness on account of our many

Great Compline Page 18 of 50

Great Compline Page 19 of 50

On Friday evenings, the troparion of the Saturday commemoration

Great Compline Page 20 of 50

Reader: Lord have mercy. (Forty Times)

Reader: O Lord, O Lord, Who hast delivered us from every arrow

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my

For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me.

For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my

Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean;