Great Compline - Part 2

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: O Master God, Father Almighty, only begotten Son, Lord Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit: One Godhead, One Power, have mercy on me, a sinner, and in your knowing ways save me, your unworthy servant; for you are blessed unto the ages of ages. People: Amen. Come, let us worship and fall down before our King and God (Prostration). Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and God (Prostration). Come, let us worship and fall down before the very Christ, our King and our God (Prostration). Psalm 69 (70) O God, come to my assistance; Lord hasten to help me. Let those who seek my soul be shamed and reproached. Let those who wish me evil turn back and be disgraced. Let those who say to me: well done! 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. Psalm 142 (143) O Lord, hear my prayer, lend your ear to my supplication in your truth, and in your justice hear me. And do not enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight no living person can be justified. For the enemy has persecuted my soul, and has brought my life down to the ground. He has forced me to live in the darkness like those dead for centuries, and my spirit is in anguish, my heart within me is troubled. I reminisced the days of old, I meditated on all your works, on all the creations of your hands did I contemplate. I stretched out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like parched land. Hear me speedily, Lord, my spirit has failed me. Do not turn away your face from me, else I will be like those who go down in the graves. Make me hear your mercy in the morning, for I have hoped in you. Make known to me, Lord, the road I should walk on, for I have lifted up my soul to you. Deliver me from my enemies, Lord, for I have fled to you; teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your good Spirit lead me in straight paths; for your name's sake, Lord, you shall give me life. In your justice you shall bring my soul out of affliction, and in your mercy you shall destroy my enemies. And will utterly destroy all those who afflict my soul, for I am your servant. Doxology Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to man. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, and we thank you, for your great glory. Lord, King, Heavenly God, Father Almighty; only begotten Son, Lord Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit. Lord God, the Lamb of God, the Son of the Father who take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, who take away the sins of the world. Accept our supplication, you who sit at the right of the Father, and have mercy on us. For you are the only Holy One, you are the only Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Every evening I shall bless you, and I shall praise your name forever, and unto the centuries of centuries. Lord, you have become for us a refuge from generation to generation. I have said: Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul for I have sinned against you. Lord, to you I have fled; teach me to do your will for you are my God. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we shall see light. Extend your mercy to those who know you. Grant, O Lord, that in this night we may be kept without sin. Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our Fathers, and praised and glorified is your name unto the ages. Amen. Let your mercy, Lord, come upon us, just as we have hoped in you. Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your rules of life. Blessed are you, O Master, make me understand your rules of life. Blessed are you, O Holy One, enlighten me with your rules of life. Lord, your mercy remains forever, do not turn away from the works of your hands. To you becomes praise, to you becomes a hymn, to you becomes glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. During the 1st week in Lent we chant the appropriate segment of the Great Canon each day: "My helper and my shelter..." prefacing each Troparion with the Verse: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me. After the 6th Ode we chant slowly and melodiously the Kontakion: "My soul, my soul..... After the 9th ode the Irmos: "Of the immaculate conception..... After the completion of the Troparia of the Canon People: Amen. Reader: 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. And we chant the following Troparion with its verses in: People: Lord of the Powers, be with us; for other helper have we not, in tribulations but you. Lord of the Powers, have mercy on us. Verse: Praise God in all his Holies; praise him in the firmament of his might. Lord of the Powers, be with us.... Verse: Praise him in his sovereign Powers; praise him in the multitude of his greatness. Lord of the Powers, be with us.... Verse: Praise him with the sound of the trumpet; praise him with psaltery and harp. Lord of the Powers, be with us.... Verse: Praise him with drums and dancing; praise him with string instruments and organ. Lord of the Powers, be with us.... Verse: Praise him with sweet sounding cymbals; praise him with cymbals of joy. Let every breath praise the Lord. Lord of the Powers, be with us.... The 1st chorus: Praise God in his Holies. The 2nd chorus: Praise him in the firmament of his might. People: Slowly Lord of the Powers, be with us; for other helper have we not, in tribulations but you. Lord of the Powers, have mercy on us. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; Lord, if we did not have your Saints as intercessors, and your goodness feeling compassion for us, how would we dare, O Savior, to sing hymns to you, whom the Angels unceasingly bless? O you who know our hearts, spare our souls. Now and ever and to the ages of ages amen. Theotokion. Great is the multitude of my errors, O Mother of God; to you have I fled, O Pure one, seeking salvation; visit my ailing soul, and intercede with your Son and our God, to grant me forgiveness for all the evils I have done, O only blessed one. The 1st chorus chants the following: All Holy Theotokos, in the time of my life, never do forsake me, to any human protection; never trust me blindly, but personally take charge, and have mercy on me. And the 2nd chorus chants the following: My one and my every hope, now I entrust in you, O Mother of God, under your shelter, cover me. Lord, have mercy (40) Reader: O Christ our God, who at all times and at every hour, both in heaven and on earth, are worshipped and glorified, long suffering and plenteous in mercy and compassion; who love the just and show mercy to the sinners; who call all men to salvation through the promise of the blessings to come: Do you, the same Lord, receive also our supplications at this present time, and direct our lives according to your commandments. Sanctify our souls; purify our bodies; set our minds right; clear up our thoughts, and deliver us from every sorrow, evil and distress. Surround us with your holy Angels so that being guarded and guided by their presence, we may arrive at the unity of the faith and the knowledge of your ineffable glory; for blessed are you unto the ages of ages. Amen. 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. Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and past compare more glorious than the Seraphim, you who without corruption have borne God the Word, the true Theotokos, you do we magnify. In the name of the Lord, Father give the blessing. Priest: May God have compassion on us and bless us; May his face shine upon us and have mercy on us. And we recite the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, making a deep prostration after each verse. O Lord and Master of my life, do not permit the spirit of laziness and meddling, the lust for power and idle talk to come into me. (Prostration). Instead, grant me, your servant, the spirit of prudence, humility, patience and love. (Prostration). Yes, Lord and King, give me the power to see my own faults and not to judge my brother. (Prostration). For you are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen. People: Amen. Reader: 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. Lord, have mercy. (12) 1st Reader: Prayer to the Virgin by Paul the Monk of the Monastery of Evergetis O spotless, unstained, incorruptible, undefiled, pure Virgin, Lady Bride of God, who through your wondrous birth-giving united God the Word with mankind, and linked the fallen nature of our human race with the heavenly; the only hope of the hopeless and the help of the persecuted; the ready support of those who seek refuge in you, and the shelter of all the Christians: do not despise me, the wretched sinner who have defiled myself with shameful thoughts and words and deeds, and through negligence of thought have become slave to the pleasures of life. But as the Mother of our compassionate God, and a friend of man, have compassion on me the sinner and prodigal, and accept this prayer from my impure lips; and using your motherly standing, entreat your Son and our Master and Lord to open unto me the depths of his loving goodness and, overlooking my innumerable faults, to return me to repentance and make me a worthy servant of his commandments. Stand by me forever; in this life as a merciful and compassionate and good and lovingly warm protector and helper, by repulsing the assaults of the adversary and leading me toward salvation; and at the time of my death, by embracing my miserable soul and driving far away from it the dark fares of the evil demons; and at the awesome day of judgment by redeeming me from eternal hell, and proclaiming me an heir of the ineffable glory of your Son and our God. May I enjoy such fate, my Lady, most-holy Theotokos, through your intercession and protection; through the grace and love for mankind of your only begotten Son, our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ. To whom belong all glory, honor and worship, together with his beginningless Father, and the all holy and good and life giving Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. 2nd Reader: Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ by Antiochus, Monk of Pandektos And grant to us, Master, as we depart for sleep, rest of body and soul, and preserve us from the gloomy slumber of sin, and from every dark and nocturnal pleasure. Arrest the drives of passion; extinguish the burning arrows of the Evil One which insidiously fly in our direction; suppress the rebellions of our flesh, and calm our every earthly and material thought. And grant to us, O God, alert mind, prudent thinking, sober heart, light sleep free of any satanic fantasy. Awaken us at the time of prayer rooted in your commandments and having unbroken within us the remembrance of your ordinances. Grant that we may sing your glory through the night by praising and blessing and glorifying your most honorable and majestic name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. Again, alternately Most glorious, ever virgin, blessed Theotokos, bring our prayer before your Son and our God, and entreat him, through you, to save our souls. Prayer of St. loannikios The Father is my hope, the Son is my refuge, the Holy Spirit is my shelter, Holy Trinity, glory to you. My one and my every hope, now I entrust in you, O Mother of God, under your shelter cover me. During the first week in Lent-Monday through Friday, the Priest reads at this time, from the Holy Gate, the Gospel of the day. Priest: And let us beseech the Lord, our God, that we may be counted worthy to hear the holy Gospel. People: Lord, have mercy (3) (intoned) Priest: The reading is from the holy Gospel according to St. Luke (21, 8-36). People: Glory to you, O Lord, glory to you. Priest: Let us attend. (The following Gospel passage is for the first Monday in Lent) The Lord said: Take heed that you not be deceived. For many, will come in my name saying, I am he, and, the time has drawn near. Therefore do not go after them. * But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified, for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately. Then he said to them: Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences, and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will send some of you to your death. And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. In your patience you will possess your souls. But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. And He spoke to them a parable: Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you, likewise, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things are fulfilled. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighted down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. People: Glory to you, O Lord, glory to you. Priest: Peace be with all. People: And with your spirit. Priest: Let us bow our heads to the Lord. People: To you, O Lord. Priest: Most merciful Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, through the intercessions of our most pure Lady Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary; through the power of the precious and life giving Cross; through the protection of the venerable bodiless powers in heaven; through the prayers of the venerable and glorious Prophet and Forerunner John the Baptist; of the holy glorious and all praised Apostles; of the holy glorious and victorious Martyrs; of our venerable and Godbearing Fathers; of the holy and righteous ancestors of the Lord God Joachim and Anna, and of all your Saints: Make our supplication acceptable to you. Grant the remission of our errors. Cover us under the shelter of your wings. Drive away from us every enemy and foe. Bring peace into our lives. Lord, have mercy on us and your world, and save our souls as a good friend of man. People: Amen. Reader: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy (3). Holy Father, give the blessing. Priest: Let us pray for the peace of the world. People: Lord, have mercy. (Said after every petition) For the pious and Orthodox Christians. For our Archbishop (Name), our Bishop (Name) and all our brothers and sisters in Christ. For our absent fathers, brothers and sisters. For those who hate us and those who love us. For those who help us and those who serve us. For those who have asked us, the unworthy, to pray for them. For the release of the captives. For those sailing the seas. For those laid up with illnesses. Let us also pray for the abundance of the fruits of the earth. And for all our fathers and brethren departed like life, those who lie here in peace, and the Orthodox everywhere. Let us say for ourselves, also: Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy. And all receive forgiveness from the Priest by kissing his right hand while the people chant the following: On Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening they chant in Mode Plagal II. All of us, do you protect, O Good One, who seek refuge in faith, in Your mighty hand; for none other have we, the sinners before God; in danger and in sorrow, forever interceding, for us who are laden by so many faults; Mother of the God the Most High, on our knees we ask You: deliver Your servants from all tribulation. On Tuesday and Thursday evening they chant in Mode I Watching, O Christ, Your slaughter the unjust, in torment the Virgin cried to You: O my sweetest child, how needlessly You die, and You hang upon the wood, You who on the waters suspended all the earth. Benefactor, most merciful, do not abandon alone now, Your Mother and servant, I pray to You. Priest: Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us. People: Amen. Those living in the Monasteries and the Hermitages, having asked forgiveness from the Elder, retire to their cells where they recite the following prayer Lord, forgive those who hate us and those who wrong us; do good to those who do good; to our brethren and relatives, grant their requests for salvation and eternal life; visit the sick and grant them healing; govern those at sea; accompany the travelers; to those who serve us and those who help us grant remission of sins; forgive those who have asked us to pray for them and have mercy on them according to Your great mercy. Remember, Lord, all our fathers and brethren departed this life and rest them where the light of Your face shines. Remember, Lord, our brethren, the captives, and spare them from every tribulation. Remember, Lord those who labor and bring forth fruit in Your holy Churches, and grant to them all requests for salvation and eternal life. Remember us, as well, Lord, Your humble and sinful servants and illumine our mind with the light of your knowledge and guide us in the way of Your commandments; through the intercessions of Your most sacred Mother, our Lady Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, and all Your Saints; for You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.