I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible; And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, Begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, Very God of Very 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 heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man; And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; And ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; And He shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead, Whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke by the Prophets; And I believe in One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the Resurrection of the dead, And the Life of the world to come.
A PRAYER (Su)
O Christ our God, who at all times and in every hour in heaven and on earth, art worshipped and glorified; who art longsuffering, merciful and compassionate; who loves the just and showest mercy upon the sinners; who callest all to salvation through the promise of blessings to come; O Lord in this hour, receive our supplications, and direct our lives according to Thy commandments. Sanctify Our souls, hallow our bodies, correct our thoughts, cleanse our minds; deliver us from all tribulation, evil and distress. Encompass us with Thy Holy Angels, that guided and guarded by them, we may attain to the unity of the faith and to the knowledge of Thine unapproachable glory, for Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. MACARIUS THE GREAT TO GOD THE FATHER (M)
O eternal God and King of all creation, who hast granted me to arrive at this hour, forgive me the sins that I have committed today in thought, word, and deed, and cleanse, O Lord, my humble soul from all defilement of flesh and spirit. And grant me, O Lord. to pass the sleep of this night in peace, that when I rise from my bed, I may please Thy most holy Name all the days of my life and conquer my flesh and the fleshless foes that war with me. And deliver me, O Lord, from vain and frivolous thoughts, and from evil desires which defile me. For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. ANTIOCH TO CHRIST (M)
O Ruler of all, Word of the Father, Jesus Christ, thou who art perfect, never in Thy great mercy leave me, but ever abide in me, Thy servant. O Jesus, Good Shepherd of Thy sheep, deliver me not to the revolt of the servant and leave me not to the will of Satan, for the seed of corruption is in me. Lord, God whom we adore, holy King, Jesus Christ, guard me asleep by the unwaning light, Thy Holy Spirit, by whom Thou didst sanctify Thy disciples. O Lord, grant me, Thine unworthy servant, Thy salvation on my bed. Enlighten my mind with the light of understanding of Thy Holy Gospel. Enlighten my heart with the purity of Thy Word. Enlighten my body with Thy Passionless Passion. Keep my thoughts in Thy humility. And rouse me in good time to glorify Thee, for Thou art supremely glorified, with Thine Eternal Father and Thy Most Holy Spirit forever. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. EPHRAIM THE SYRIAN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT (Tu)
O Lord, heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, have compassion and mercy on Thy servant and pardon my unworthiness, and forgive me all the sins that I humanly committed today, and not only humanly but even worse than a beast — my voluntary sins, known and unknown, from my youth and from evil suggestions, and from my brazenness, and from boredom. If I have sworn by Thy name or blasphemed it in thought, blamed or reproached anyone, or in my anger have detracted or slandered anyone, or grieved anyone, or if I have become angry about anything, or have told a lie, if I have slept unnecessarily, or if a beggar has come to me and I despised or neglected him, or if I have troubled my brother or quarreled with him, or if I have condemned anyone, or have boasted, or have been proud, or lost my temper with anyone, of if when standing in prayer my mind has been distracted by the glamour of this world, or if I have had depraved thoughts, or have overeaten or have drunk excessively, or have laughed frivolously, or have thought evil, or have seen the attraction of someone and been wounded by it in my heart, or said indecent things, or made fun of my brother’s sin when my own faults are countless, or been neglectful of prayer, or have done some other wrong that I cannot remember — for I have done all this and much more — have mercy, my Lord and Creator, on me, Thy wretched and unworthy servant, and absolve and forgive and deliver me in Thy goodness and love for men, so that lustful, sinful, and wretched as I am, I may lie down and sleep and rest in peace. And I shall worship, praise, and glorify Thy most honorable Name, with the Father and His only begotten Son, now and ever and for all ages. Amen.
PRAYER (W)
O Lord our God, in Thy goodness and love for men forgive me all sins I have committed today in word, deed, or thought. Grant me peaceful and undisturbed sleep. Send Thy guardian angel to guard and protect me from all evil. For Thou art the guardian of souls and bodies, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
PRAYER (W)
O Lord our God, in whom we believe and whose Name we invoke above every name, grant us preparing for sleep, relaxation of soul and body, and keep us from all temptations and dark pleasures. Stop the rushing of passions and quench the burning of bodily tensions. Grant us to live chastely in word and act, that we may live a life of heroic virtue and not fall away from Thy promised blessings. For Thou art blessed forever. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM (Th)
Supplicatory prayers corresponding to the twenty-four hours of the day.
Day
- Lord, deprive me not of Thy heavenly joys.
- Lord, deliver me from eternal torments.
- Lord, if I have sinned in mind or thought, in word or deed, forgive me.
- Lord, deliver me from all ignorance, forgetfulness, cowardice, and stony insensibility.
- Lord, deliver me from every temptation.
- Lord, enlighten my heart, which evil desires have darkened.
- Lord, I, being a human, have sinned; but Thou, being the generous God, have mercy on me, knowing the sickness of my soul.
- Lord, send Thy grace to my help that I may glorify Thy Holy Name.
- Lord Jesus Christ, write me, Thy servant, in the book of life and grant me a good end.
- Lord my God, even though I have done nothing good in Thy sight, yet grant me by Thy grace to make a good start.
- Lord, sprinkle into my heart the dew of Thy grace.
- Lord of heaven and earth, remember me, Thy sinful servant, shameful and unclean, in Thy kingdom. Amen.
Night
- Lord, accept me in penitence.
- Lord, leave me not.
- Lord, lead me not into temptation.
- Lord, grant me good thoughts.
- Lord, grant me tears, the remembrance of death and compunction.
- Lord, grant me the thought of confessing my sins.
- Lord, grant me humility, chastity, and obedience.
- Lord, grant me patience, courage, and meekness.
- Lord, plant in me the root of all blessings, the fear of Thee in my heart.
- Lord, grant me to love Thee with all my mind and soul, and always to do Thy will.
- Lord, protect me from certain people and demons and passions and from every other harmful thing. 24. Lord Thou knowest that Thou actest as Thou wilt; may Thy will also be in me, a sinner, for blessed art Thou forever. Amen.
PRAYER TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (F)
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of Thy most honorable Mother, Thy fleshless angels, Thy prophet and forerunner and baptizer John, all the God-inspired apostles, the radiant and victorious martyrs, the holy and God-bearing Fathers, and by the prayers of all saints, deliver me from the besetting presence of the devil. My Lord and Creator, who desirest not the death of the sinner but that He should be converted and live, grant also conversion to me, wretched and unworthy; snatch me from the jaws of the pernicious serpent, who is ravening to devour me and drag me down to hell alive. My Lord, my comfort, who was clothed in corruptible flesh for my miserable soul, deliver me from misery and grant comfort to my miserable soul. Implant in my heart to fulfill Thy commandments, to forsake my evil deeds, and to receive Thy joys. Save me, for I hope in Thee, O Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION TO THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS (F)
O good Mother of the good King, most pure and blessed Virgin Mary, pour out the mercy of thy Son and our God on my passionate soul and guide me in good works by thy prayers, that I may pass the rest of my life without defilement and find paradise through thee, O Virgin Mother of God, who alone art pure and blessed.
PRAYER TO ONE’S GUARDIAN ANGEL
O angel of Christ, holy guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me of everything wherein I have offended you every day of my life, and protect me from all influence and temptation of the Evil One. May I nevermore anger God by any sin. Pray for me to the Lord that He will make me worthy of the grace of the all-holy Trinity, and of the most blessed Theotokos, and of all the Saints. Amen.
HYMNS TO THE MOTHER OF GOD
To thee, the champion leader, we thy servants ascribe thank offerings of victory. For thou hast delivered us from terrors, O Theotokos; but as thou hast power which is invincible, from all dangers set us free, that we may cry out to thee: Rejoice, O bride without bridegroom! Most glorious, ever-virgin, blessed Mother of Christ our God, present our prayer to thy Son and our God, and pray that through thee He may save our souls. I put all my hope in thee, O Theotokos. Guard me under thy protection. O Virgin Mother of God, despise not me, a sinner, needing thy help and protection, and have mercy on me, for my soul hopes in thee.
O Lord, our God, if during this day I have sinned, whether in word or deed or thought, forgive me all, for Thou art good and lovest mankind. Grant me peaceful and undisturbed sleep, and deliver me from all influence and temptation of the Evil One. Raise me up again in proper time that I may glorify Thee, for Thou art blessed, with Thine only begotten Son and Thine all-holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
