Great Compline - Part 1

The Great Compline is chanted on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening of the Great Lent in the following order: Priest: Blessed is our God always, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Glory to you, O God, our hope, glory to you. O heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who are everywhere and fill all things, the treasury of blessings and giver of life, come and dwell within us and cleanse us from every blemish and save our souls, O Good One. People: Amen. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. All-Holy Trinity have mercy on us. Lord, be gracious to our sins. Master, forgive our transgressions. Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities, for your name's sake. Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, |but deliver us from the evil one. 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 to the ages of ages. People: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12) Come, let us worship and fall down before our King and God. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and God. Come, let us worship and fall down before the very Christ, our King and our God. And directly, if it is the first week of the Great Lent, we start with Psalm 69. Psalm 69 (70) O God, come to my assistance; Lord, hasten to help me. Let those who seek my soul be ashamed and reproached. Let those who wish me evil turn back and be disgraced. Let those who say to me: Well done! turn away in shame. Let those who seek You, O God, rejoice and delight in You; and let those who love Your salvation always say: The Lord be exalted. But I am poor and destitute, O God; help me. You are my helper and my deliverer, Lord; do not delay. If it is not the first week in Lent, we start with Psalm 4. Psalm 4 When I called on you, you heard me, O God of my righteousness! You relieved me when I was in distress; have pity on me and hear my prayer. O you, sons of men, how long will you be slow of heart? Why do you love vanity and seek falsehood? But know that the Lord has done wondrous things for his holy one; the Lord will hear me when I cry unto him. Be angry but sin not; meditate on your beds what you say in your hearts. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. Many say: Who will show us anything good? The light of your countenance has shone upon us, O Lord; you have put gladness in my heart. They have been well satisfied with the abundance of wheat, wine and olive oil. I will both lie down in peace and sleep. For you alone, O Lord, make me dwell secure. Psalm 6 O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger, nor chastise me in your wrath. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled, and my soul also is greatly troubled; but you, O Lord, how long? Return, O Lord, deliver my soul; save me for your mercy's sake. For in death no one remembers you; and in Hades who will give you thanks? I am weary with my groaning; shall I weep every night upon my bed and drench my couch with tears? My eye is troubled with my grief. I am worn out because of all my enemies. Depart from me all you who work iniquity, for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord heard my petition, the Lord has accepted my prayer. Let all my enemies be ashamed and troubled; let them turn back and be greatly ashamed instantly. Psalm 12 (13) How long, O Lord, will you forget me? Forever? How long will you turn your face away from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul and have grief in my heart, day and night? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Look over me, hear me, O Lord, my God. Enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; lest my enemy say: "I have prevailed over him!" Those who trouble me would rejoice if I were to totter; but I have placed my trust in your mercy. My heart shall rejoice in your salvation; I shall sing to the Lord who has done me so much good, and I shall sing psalms to the name of the Lord most high. Repeat: Look over me, hear me, O Lord, my God. Enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; lest my enemy say: "I have prevailed over him!" Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to you, O God (3); Lord, have mercy (3); Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Psalm 24 (25) To you, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul; O my God in you have I trusted; let me never be put to shame, ever! Neither let my enemies laugh at me; for all, those who seek you shall not be put to shame. Let those who transgress without cause be put to shame; make known to me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are God, my Savior and I have waited for you all day. Remember your compassions, Lord, and your mercies, for they are from all ages. The sins of my youth and my ignorance, remember not. Remember me according to your mercy, for your goodness' sake, Lord. The Lord is good and upright; therefore tie shall counsel sinners in the way. He will lead the meek in judgment, he will teach the meek his ways. All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth for those who seek his covenant and his testimonies. For your name's sake, Lord, do you also be merciful on my sin, for it is great. Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will teach him in the way he has chosen. His soul shall dwell in prosperity, and his seed shall inherit the earth. The Lord is the strength of those who fear him, and he will reveal his covenant to them. My eyes shall be forever turned toward the Lord, for lie will loose my feet from the snare. Look upon me, and have mercy on me, for I am alone and destitute. The afflictions of my heart have multiplied; deliver me from my straits. Behold my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins. Behold my enemies that they have multiplied; and have hated me with an unjust hatred. Preserve my soul and deliver me; let me not be put to shame for I have hoped in you. The harmless and the upright sided with me, for I waited for you Lord. Deliver Israel, O God, from all his afflictions. Psalm 30 (31) In you, O Lord, have I put my trust; let me never be put to shame; in your justice deliver me and rescue me. Incline your ear to me and hasten to my deliverance. Be for me a protecting God and a house of shelter to save me. Because you are my strength and my shelter, and for your name's sake you shall guide me and feed me. You shall pull me out of the snare which they have set secretly for me, because you are my protector. In your hands shall I commit my spirit, for you have delivered me, O Lord, the God of truth. You have hated those who idly persist in vanities, but I have put my trust in the Lord, I shall rejoice and delight in his mercy. For he has looked upon my affliction and saved my soul from distress. You have not trapped me in the hands of the enemy, but set my feet in an open place. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am oppressed; my eye, my soul and my belly waste away with indignation. For my life is spent with grief, and my years with groanings. My strength has failed through misery, and my bones are troubled. I am a reproach to all my enemies and especially so to my neighbors; and a terror to my acquaintances. Those who see me outside flee from me, I have been forgotten as a dead man out of mind. I became like a broken vessel, for I heard the accusations of many who swelled around me. When they were gathered together against me, they plotted to take my life. But I put my trust in you, O Lord; I said: "You are my God and my fate is in your hands." Deliver me from the hands of my enemy and those who persecute me. Let your face shine upon your servant, and save me in your mercy; Lord, do not let me be put to shame, for I called upon you. Let the ungodly be ashamed and be cast down to Hades. Let the deceitful lips which speak iniquity against the righteous with pride and scorn, become dumb. How great is the abundance of Your goodness, O Lord, which You have in store for those who fear You. Which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of man. You shall hide them in the secret of your presence from the disturbances of men. You shall shelter them in your tent from the strife on tongues. Blessed be the Lord for his mercy has marvelously encompassed me like a strong city. Yet, in my distraction I did say: "I am cast out of the sight of your eyes." Therefore, you did hear the voice of my petition when I cried out to you. Love, the Lord, all you his holy ones for the Lord seeks the truth, and fully repays those who deal very proudly.Take courage and be of strong heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 90 (91) He who dwells under the shadow of the Most High, shall abide under the shelter of the God of heaven. He will say to the Lord: "You are my support and my refuge, O my God; in him I shall put my trust." For he will deliver you from the hunter's snare, and from every troublesome slander. With his broad shoulders he shall overshadow you, and under his wings you shall rest secure; his truth shall cover you like a shield. You shall not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day; nor the thing that lurks about in the darkness, nor any calamity or the evil spirit at noon. A thousand shall fall at your side and ten thousand at your right, but nothing shall come close to you. Instead, you shall observe with your eyes and see the retribution of the sinners. For you, Lord, are my hope; you made the Most High my shelter. No evil shall come to you, and no pestilence shall approach your dwelling. For he will put his Angels in charge of you to protect you in all your ways. They will carry you on their hands, lest you stumble your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the asp and the viper, and you shall trample upon the lion and the dragon. Because he hoped in me, I will deliver him; I will shelter him because he knew my name. He will call on me and I will answer him; I am with him in trouble and I will deliver him and glorify him. I will satisfy him with length of days and I will show him my salvation. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to you, O God. Lord, have mercy (3). Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen Mode Plagal II God is with us, know it you nations and be submissive, For God is with us. Hear it to the ends of the earth. For God is with us. You mighty shall be defeated. For God is with us. Even if you should prevail, again you will be defeated, For God is with us. Whatever plan you conceive, the Lord will destroy, For God is with us. Whatever word you shall speak shall not abide among you, For God is with us. Your terror we shall never fear, nor be disturbed by it, For God is with us. The Lord, our God, him shall we bless, and only him do we fear. For God is with us. And if I trust in him, it shall be a blessing to me, For God is with us. And I shall trust in him, and shall, be saved by him, For God is with us. Lo, I and the children which God has given to me, For God is with us. The people that walked in darkness saw a great light, For God is with us. Upon us, who dwell in the land of the shadow of death, a light shall shine, For God is with us. For a Child was born unto us, a Son, and was given to us, For God is with us. Whose government is upon his shoulder, For God is with us. And of his peace, there shall be no boundary, For God is with us. And his name shall be called: Messenger of the Divine Will, For God is with us. Wonderful Counselor, For God is with us. Mighty God, Master, Prince of Peace, For God is with us. Father of the age to come, For God is with us. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, For God is with us. Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. For God is with us. The two choruses together, slowly: God is with us, know it you nations and be submissive, For God is with us. And the reader reads the following Troparia: Having passed the day, I give thanks to you, Lord; and I ask of you to grant me the evening and the night without sin, O my Savior, and save me. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now that the day has gone by, I glorify you, Master; I ask of you to grant me the evening and the night without sin, O my Savior, and save me. Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Having traversed the day, I sing hymns to you, O Holy One; I ask of you to grant me the evening and the night free of plots, O my Savior, and save me. Mode Plagal II Chanted The world of the bodiless Cherubim, with hymns sings your glory, incessantly. The six-winged creatures, the Seraphim, with tireless voices do exalt you. The army of Angels shouts praise to you, by singing thrice holy hymns. O Father, you are before all else, and co-beginningless is your Son. Holding as equal the Spirit of life, you show how indivisible the Trinity is. Most Holy Virgin, Mother of God, eye-witness and ministers of the Word. The host of Prophets and Martyrs all, who now live in immortality. Intercede constantly for everyone, for all of us are in great distress. That having been delivered from the evil one, we may sing to you the Angelic song. Reader: Holy, Holy, Holy, Thrice Holy Lord, have mercy on us and save us. Amen. The Creed I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father through Whom all things were made.Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge the living and dead. His kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen. The following verses, chanted: Mode Plagal II Most Holy Lady Theotokos, for all of us sinners do intercede. (3) All the heavenly powers of the holy Angels and Archangels, for all of us sinners do intercede. (2) Holy John, Prophet and Forerunner and Baptizer of our Lord Jesus Christ, for all of us sinners do intercede. (2) Holy glorious Apostles, Prophets and Martyrs and all the Saints, for all of us sinners do intercede. (2) Righteous, God-bearing Fathers, Shepherds and Teachers of the Universe, for all of us sinners do intercede. (2) The invincible and unconquerable and divine power of the precious and life-giving Cross, do not abandon us sinners, all. (2) The two choruses alternately: God be gracious on us sinners. (3). The second chorus: And have mercy on us. (once) People: Amen. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. All Holy Trinity have mercy on us. Lord, be gracious to our sins. Master, forgive our transgressions. Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities, for your name's sake. Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, they will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Priest: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. If it happens to be a feastday, we recite the Troparia of the feast. If not, alternately, day by day, the following Troparia: Mode II Illumine my eyes, O Christ, my God, lest I sleep to death; lest my enemy say: "I prevailed over him." Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. O God, be the protector of my soul, for I walk in the midst of many snares; deliver me from them and save me, O gracious one, as a good friend of man. Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion. Since we have no standing because of our many sins, urgently plead with him who was born of you, O Virgin Theotokos; for the pleadings of a Mother have much weight toward the favor of the Master; do not overlook the pleas of us sinners, O most venerable one, for he who condescended to suffer for us in the flesh is merciful and has the power to save us. Other Troparia, chanted day by day Mode Plagal IV O Lord, you know the wakefulness of my enemies, and the weakness of my miserable flesh, for you made man. Wherefore, into your hands I shall entrust my spirit. Cover me with the wings of your goodness, lest I sleep unto death; illumine my inner eyes with the delight of your divine words; and awaken me at the right time, that I may sing your glory, as the only good one and true friend of man. Verse: Look graciously upon me, and have mercy on me, as you do for those who love your name. O how awesome is your judgment, Lord! With the Angels standing by, the humans being brought in, the books of life being opened, the works being uncovered and the thoughts being searched! What judgment shall be on me who has been conceived in sin? Who shall extinguish the flames of my fire? Who shall illumine my darkness: Unless you, Lord, have mercy on me as a true friend of man? Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; Give me tears, Lord, as you did once to the sinful woman; make me worthy to wet your feet, which freed me from the way of error and to offer you as a fragrant ointment, a pure life built in me through repentance; so that I may also hear your cherished words: "Your faith has saved you, go in peace." Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion. Trusting in your unashamable hope, O Theotokos, I shall be saved; possessing your protection. Most pure one, I shall not be afraid; I shall pursue my enemies and drive them away wearing only your refuge as a breastplate; and asking for your all powerful help, I cry to you: O Lady, save me, through your intercessions and raise me from this dark slumber through the power of the Son and God born from you, so that I may sing your glory. People: Lord, have mercy (40). Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and past compare ;more glorious than the Seraphim, you who without corruption has borne God, the Word, the truly Theotokos, you do we magnify. In the name of the Lord, Father give the blessing. Priest: Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us. People: Amen. Priest: Lord, Lord, who have delivered us from every arrow that flies by day, deliver us from anything that lurks about in darkness. Accept the lifting of our hands as an evening sacrifice. Make us worthy to traverse the time of night blamelessly, untouched by evil, and redeem us from every disturbance and fear caused by the devil. Grant contrition to our souls and concern to our minds about the accounting at your awesome and just judgment. Nail down our bodies with your fear, and deaden our earthly members, so that even in the quiet of our slumber we may be enlightened by the contemplation of your ordinances. Keep away from us every indecent fantasy and harmful desire. Awaken us in the time of prayer rooted in the faith, and thriving in your instructions; through the good will and goodness of your only begotten Son with whom you are blessed, together with your all holy, good, and life giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. Come, let us worship and fall down before our King and God. Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and God. Come, let us worship and fall down before the very Christ, our King and our God. Psalm 50 (51) Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy, and according to the multitude of your compassions, blot out my offense.Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I am aware of my iniquity, and my sin is continually before me. Against you only have I sinned and done evil before you, that you might be justified in your words, and emerge victorious when you are judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother carry and bear me. For behold, you have loved the truth; you revealed to me the hidden and secret parts of your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop and I shall be cleansed; you shall wash me and I will be whiter than snow. You shall make me hear joy and gladness; the afflicted bones shall rejoice. Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit, in the depths of me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take away your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and strengthen me with a guiding spirit. I will teach transgressors your ways, and the ungodly shall return to you. Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; and my tongue will joyfully sing your justice. O Lord, you shall open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise. For if you desired sacrifice, I would have offered it; you will not be pleased with whole burnt offerings. Sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit; a contrite and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, Lord, to Zion in your good pleasure, that the walls of Jerusalem may be built. Then you will be pleased with a sacrifice of justice, offering and whole burnt sacrifices. Then shall they offer calves upon your altar. Psalm 101 (102) O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you. Do not turn your face away from me; and whenever I am afflicted, incline your ear to me. On the day I will call on you, hear me speedily. For my days have vanished like smoke, and my bones have been parched like dry sticks. I am withered like grass, and my heart is dried up, for I have forgotten to eat my bread. From the cries of my groanings, my bones have clung to my flesh. I have become like the pelikan of the wilderness, I have become like a night-raven in a deserted house. I went without sleep, and I became like a sparrow perched alone on the roof-top. All day long, my enemies made fun of me, and my admirers swore against me. Indeed, I have eaten ashes as if it were bread, and have mixed my drink with tears. All because of your anger and your wrath, for after lifting me up, you dashed me down. My days have declined like a shadow, and I am withered like grass. But you, Lord, endure forever and you shall be remembered from generation to generation. You shall rise and have mercy on Zion, for it is time to have mercy on her, for the time has come. For your servants have desired her stones, and felt pity for her dust. And the nations shall fear your name, Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory. For the Lord shall build Zion, and shall be seen in his glory. He has regarded the prayer of the lowly, and has not despised their petition. Let this be written for the coming generation, and the people yet to be created shall praise the Lord. For he has looked out from the height of his dwelling place; the Lord has looked down from heaven upon the earth. To hear the groanings of those in fetters, to loosen the sons of those put to death, To proclaim in Zion the name of the Lord, and his praise in Jerusalem. When the peoples are gathered together, along with their Kings to serve the Lord. He said to the Lord in the waning of his strength: Tell me, how few my days are. Do not take me away in the middle of my days; your years are for generations of generations. In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands. They shall perish, but you remain; and all shall grow old like a garment. Like a cloak you shall change them, and they shall be changed, but you are the same, and your years shall never end. The children of your servants shall dwell secure, and their seed shall prosper forever. Prayer of Manasses, King of Judah Priest: O Lord, Almighty, the God of our Fathers, of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and of their righteous seed; who created the heaven and the earth with all their adornment; who bound the sea by the word of your command; who shut up the abyss and scaled it with your awesome and glorious name; whom all things dread and before whose power they tremble, because the majesty of your glory is unbearable and the threat of your anger against the sinners unendurable; yet the mercy of your promise is both, immeasurable and unfathomable, for you are the Lord most high, compassionate, long-suffering and all merciful, and relent on the wickedness of man. You, Lord, in the multitude of your goodness promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against you, and in your infinite compassion appointed repentance for sinners that they may be saved. Therefore, Lord, the God of the powers, you have not appointed repentance for the righteous, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who have not sinned against you, but you appointed repentance for me the sinner, for I have committed more sins than the grains of the sand of the sea. My transgressions have multiplied, Lord; my transgressions have multiplied, and I am not worthy to look up and see the height of the sky from the multitude of my iniquities, being weighted down by many iron chains, so that I cannot raise my head; there is no respite left for me because I provoked your anger and committed evil before you not having done your will and not having kept your commandments. And now I bend the knee of my heart, beseeching your goodness. I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned and I acknowledge my transgressions; but I beg and ask of you: Forgive me, Lord, forgive me and do not destroy me with my transgressions; do not be angry with me forever and keep my evils in me, and do not condemn me to the depths of the earth; for you are God, the God of those who repent, and in me you shall show all your goodness; for even though I am unworthy, you shall save me according to the multitude of your mercy, and I shall praise you without ceasing all the days of my life. For every heavenly power sings your praises, and yours is the glory unto the ages of ages. People: Amen. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. All Holy Trinity have mercy on us. Lord, be gracious to our sins. Master, forgive our transgressions Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities, for your name's sake. Lord, have mercy (3). Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Priest: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. Mode Plagal II Chanted in low voice. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for lacking every defense, we the sinners address this plea to you, the 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 trusted in you; do not be exceedingly angry with us and remember not our transgressions; but look graciously upon us now as a compassionate one and deliver us from our enemies. For you are our God and we your people, all of us are the works of your hands and we have called upon your name. Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. O blessed Theotokos, open to us the gate of compassion, so that by placing our hopes in you we may not fail; but may be delivered through you from adversity; for you are the salvation of the Christian family. Lord, have mercy (40). Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.