THE SERVICE OF OUR DAILY EVENING PRAYER

Small Compline

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us.  Amen.

Glory to You, O God, glory to You.

Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of truth, present everywhere and filling all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: come and dwell in us, cleanse us of every impurity; and save our souls, O good One.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

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, cleanse us of our sins.  Master, pardon our iniquities.  Holy One, visit 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 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us.  Amen.

Lord, have mercy.  (12)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.  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 Christ Himself, our King and God

Psalm 50 (51)

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight, that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.

Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, these, O God, You will not despise.

Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.

Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering; then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

Psalm 69 (70)

Make haste, O God, to deliver me!  Make haste to help me, O Lord!

Let them be ashamed and confounded who seek my life; let them be turned back and confused who desire my hurt.

Let them be turned back because of their shame, who say, “Aha, aha!”

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified!”

But I am poor and needy; make haste to me, O God!  You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.

Psalm 142 (143)

Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications!  In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness.

Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous.

For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead.

Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is distressed.

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.

I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land.

Answer me speedily, O Lord; my spirit fails!  Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit.

Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust;cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.

Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; in You I take shelter.

Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good.

Lead me in the land of uprightness.

Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!  For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

In Your mercy cut off my enemies, and 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 among men.

We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory.

Lord, King, heavenly God, Father almighty; Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and Holy Spirit.

Lord, God, the Lamb of God, the Son of the Father, Who takes away the sin of the world: have mercy on us, O You Who take away the sins of the world.

Receive our prayer, O You Who sit at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us.

For You only are holy, You only are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

Each day I will bless You, and praise Your name to the ages, and to the ages of ages.

Lord, You have been our refuge in generation to generation.  I have said: Lord have mercy upon me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.

Lord, in You I have taken refuge: teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.

For in You is the fountain of life: in Your light we shall see light.

Continue Your mercy to those who know You.

Make us worthy, Lord, in this night to be kept from sin.

Blessed are You, Lord, the God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name to the ages.  Amen.

May Your mercy, Lord, be upon us, inasmuch as we trust in You.

Blessed are You, Lord: teach me Your commandments.

Blessed are You, Master: make me understand Your commandments.

Blessed are You, Holy One: enlighten me with Your commandments.

Lord, Your mercy is to the ages; do not disdain the works of Your hands.

To You belongs praise, to You belongs song, to You belongs glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and to the ages of ages.  Amen.

And the Symbol of the Faith:

I believe in one God, the Father, the 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 the heavens and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man.

Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, He suffered and was buried.

Rising on the third day according to the Scriptures,

And ascending into the heavens, He is seated at the right hand of the Father;

And coming again in glory to judge the living and the 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 acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.

I expect the resurrection of the dead;

And the life of the age to come.  Amen.

On the evening before receiving Holy Communion the Kanon for the Service of Preparation for Holy Communion is read.

It is truly proper to bless you, Theotokos, ever-blessed and blameless, and the Mother of our God.  More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim; without defilement you gave birth to God the Word, truly Theotokos, we magnify you.

And the Trisagion Prayers

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

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, cleanse us of our sins.  Master, pardon our iniquities.  Holy One, visit 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 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us.  Amen.

Then the following Troparia:

Lord, have mercy.  (40)

You Who at all times and at every hour are worshipped and glorified both in heaven and on earth, O Christ God; Who are long suffering and generous in mercy and compassion; Who love the just and show mercy to those hardened in sin; Who call all people to salvation through the promise of good things to come: receive, O Lord, our supplications at this time, and direct our lives according to Your commandments.  Sanctify our souls; purify our bodies; set our minds aright; cleanse our thoughts; and deliver us from all calamity, wrath and distress.  Surround us with Your holy Angels, so that guided and guarded by them we may attain the unity of the faith, and the comprehension of Your ineffable glory; for You are blessed to the ages of ages.  Amen.

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.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim; without defilement you gave birth to God the Word, truly Theotokos, we magnify you.

Lord, have mercy.  (12)

And save us, all-holy Virgin.

PRAYER TO THE MOST-HOLY THEOTOKOS

Spotless, undefiled, incorruptible, most-chaste, pure Virgin, Bride of God, Lady, who unites God the Word to man by your wondrous conception, and who joins the fallen nature of our race to heavenly things; the only hope of the hopeless, and the help of the persecuted; the ready help of those who flee to you, and the refuge of all Christians: do not reject me the sinner, the accursed one, who have rendered myself altogether useless by my shameful thoughts, words, and deeds, and who through indolence have become a slave to the pleasures of this life.

But as Mother of the God Who loves mankind, show your love for me the sinner and the prodigal, and receive from me the prayers offered to you by unhallowed lips, and, using your boldness as a Mother, entreat your Son, and our Lord and Master, to extend His goodness to me in His wondrous love for mankind, and, overlooking my numberless transgressions, turn me to repentance, showing me to be a zealous doer of His commandments.

And be ever near me as merciful, and compassionate, and gentle; in this present life an ardent protection and help, defending me from assaults of adversaries, and leading me to salvation; and in the hour of my departure, encompass my struggling soul, and drive the dark visions of evil spirits far from it; in the fearsome day of judgment, deliver me from eternal punishment, and present me as an inheritor of the ineffable glory of your Son and our God.

May this be my lot, my Lady, most-holy Theotokos, through your mediation and help; by the grace and love for mankind of your only-begotten Son, the Lord and God, and our Savior Jesus Christ.  To Whom belongs all glory, honor, and worship, with His eternal Father, and His All-Holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.  Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

And grant to us, Master, as we depart for sleep, rest for our body and soul; and protect us from the murky sleep of sin, and from all dark and nocturnal passions.

Calm the impulses of passion, and quench the fiery darts of the evil one, which are treacherously cast against us; check the turbulence of our flesh, and put to rest all our earthy and mundane thoughts.

And grant to us, God, a watchful mind, prudent reasoning, a vigilant heart, tranquil sleep, and release from all satanic fantasies.  Raise us up at the hour of prayer, strengthened in Your commandments, and holding the remembrance of Your judgments unshaken within us.

Grant to us Your benediction through the night, that we may praise, and bless, and glorify Your all-honored and most-sublime Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.  Amen.

And the following Troparia:

Most-glorious, ever-virgin, blessed Theotokos, present our prayer to your Son and our God, and plead with Him, that through you He may save our souls.

My hope is the Father, my refuge is the Son, my protection is the Holy Spirit.  Holy Trinity, glory to You.

All my hope I place in you, Mother of God: guard me under your protection.

In you rejoices, O full of grace, all creation, the hierarchy of Angels and the race of mankind; sanctified Temple and intellectual Paradise, the boast of virgins: from whom God was incarnate, and became a Child, Who is our pre-eternal God.  For He made your womb His throne, and shaped your womb to be more spacious than the heavens.  In you rejoices, O full of grace, all creation: glory to you.

PRAYER TO THE GUARDIAN ANGEL

Holy Angel, assigned to accompany my wretched soul and lowly life, do not forsake me the sinner, nor depart from me because of my wickedness; do not let the evil demons enter and rule my mortal body with their might; but rather take my wretched and feeble hand, and lead me along the path of salvation.  Yes, holy Angel of God, guardian protector of my wretched soul and body, forgive me for everything by which I have saddened you all the days of my life, and in my sins on this day; shelter me during the coming night, and protect me from the schemes of the obstinate, that I may not anger God with any sin; and intercede with the Lord on my behalf, that He might confirm me in His fear and show me forth as a worthy servant of His goodness.  Amen.

And the following Troparia:

To you, the champion Commander, I your city inscribe victorious anthems of thanksgiving, for deliverance from sufferings, Theotokos.  Inasmuch as you have power unassailable, from all manner of dangers set me free, that I cry out to you: Rejoice bride unwedded.

Theotokos Virgin, rejoice Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you.  Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  For you have brought forth the Savior of our souls.  (3)

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.  Lord, have mercy.  Lord, have mercy.

Then:

Through the prayers of our holy fathers,
 Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us.  Amen.

 

_{Translated by His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver used with permission.}

Lord, have mercy.