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SMALL COMPLINE
Priest:
Blessed is our God, always, now and for ever, and to
the ages of ages.
Reader: Amen.
Superior:
Glory to you, our God, glory to you.
Heavenly King, Paraclete, Spirit of Truth, present
everywhere, filling all things, Treasury of
blessings and Giver of life, come and dwell in us,
cleanse us from every stain, and, O Good One, save
our souls.
Reader:
Amen. Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have
mercy on us. (x3)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit, both now and for ever, and to the ages of
ages. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive
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, both now and for ever and to the ages of
ages. Amen.
Our Father in heaven, may your name be hallowed,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in
heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive
us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not
lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the
evil one.
Priest:
For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and
for ever, and to the ages of ages.
Reader:
Amen.
Lord, have mercy (x12).
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit, both now and for ever and to the ages of
ages. Amen.
Come, let us worship and fall down before the King,
our God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ,
the King, our God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ
himself, the King, our God.
3 Metanias. Then the Psalms:
Psalm 50
Have mercy on me, O God, in accordance with your
great mercy. According to the multitude of your
compassion blot out my offence. Wash me thoroughly
from my wickedness, and cleanse me from my sin. For
I acknowledge my wickedness, and my sin is ever
before me. Against you alone I have sinned and done
what is evil in your sight, that you may be
justified in your words and win when you are judged.
For see, in wickedness I was conceived and in sin my
mother bore me. For see, you have loved truth; you
have shown me the hidden and secret things of your
wisdom. You will sprinkle me with hyssop and I shall
be cleansed. You will wash me and I shall be made
whiter than snow. You will make me hear of joy and
gladness; the bones which have been humbled will
rejoice. Turn away your face from my sins and blot
out all my iniquities. Create a clean heart in me, O
God, and renew a right Spirit within me. Do not cast
me out from your presence, and do not take your Holy
Spirit from me. Give me back the joy of your
salvation, and establish me with your sovereign
Spirit. I will teach transgressors your ways, and
sinners will turn to you again. O God, the God of my
salvation, deliver me from bloodshed and my tongue
will rejoice at your justice. Lord, you will open my
lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise. For if
you had wanted a sacrifice, I would have given it.
You will not take pleasure in burnt offerings. A
sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a
humbled heart God will not despise. Do good to Sion,
Lord, in your good pleasure; and let the walls of
Jerusalem be rebuilt. Then you will be well pleased
with a sacrifice of righteousness, oblation and
whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer calves
upon your altar.
Psalm 69
O God, come to my help; Lord, hasten to help me. Let
those who seek my soul be shamed and confounded. Let
those who wish me evil be turned back and put to
shame. Let those who say to me, ‘Good, good!’ be
turned back immediately, ashamed. Let all who seek
you, O God, be glad and rejoice in you. Let all who
love your salvation ever say: ‘The Lord be
magnified.’ But I am poor and needy; help me, O God.
You are my helper and my deliverer; Lord, do not
delay.
Psalm 142
Lord, hear my prayer: in your truth give ear to my
supplication, and in your righteousness hear me. Do
not enter into judgement with your servant: for in
your sight no one living can be justified. For the
enemy pursued my soul, humbled my life to the
ground. Made me dwell in darkness, like those for
ever dead. My spirit grew despondent within me and
my heart within me was troubled. I remembered days
of old, I meditated on all your works: I made the
works of your hands my meditation. I stretched out
my hands towards you: my soul thirsted for you like
a waterless land. Hear me swiftly, O Lord, my spirit
has failed. Do not turn your face from me, or I
shall be like those who go down to the Pit. Make me
hear of your mercy in the morning, for I have hoped
in you. Make known to me the way in which I should
walk, for to you I have lifted up my soul. Deliver
me from my enemies, Lord: I have run to you for
shelter. Teach me to do your will, for you are my
God. Your good Spirit will guide me in an upright
land. For your name's sake, O Lord, you will give me
life. In your justice, you will bring my soul out of
trouble, in your mercy slay my enemies, and destroy
all those that afflict my soul, for I am your
servant.
Doxology
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
goodwill among men. We praise you, we bless you, we
worship you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for
your great glory. Lord, King, God of heaven, Father
almighty: Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ and
Holy Spirit. Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the
Father, who take away the sin of the world, have
mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world.
Receive our prayer, you who sit on the right hand of
the Father, and have mercy on us. For you alone are
holy, you alone are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory
of God the Father. Amen.
Every evening I will bless you, and praise your name
for ever and to the ages of ages. Lord, you have
been our refuge from generation to generation. I
said, Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul, for I
have sinned against you. Lord, I have run to you for
refuge; teach me to do your will for you are my God.
For with you is the source of life, and in your
light we shall see light. Continue your mercy
towards those who know you.
Grant, Lord, this night to keep us without sin.
Blessed are you, Lord, the God of our fathers, and
praised and glorified is your name for evermore.
Amen. May your mercy, Lord, be upon us, as we have
trusted in you. Blessed are you, Lord, teach me your
statutes. Blessed are you, Master, make me
understand your statutes. Blessed are you, Holy One,
enlighten me with your statutes. Lord, your mercy is
for ever: Do not scorn the work of your hands. To
you praise is due, to you song is due, to you glory
is due, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for
ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
The Creed
I believe in one God, Father almighty, maker of
heaven and earth, of all things visible and
invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son
of God, begotten from the Father before all ages.
Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten
not made, consubstantial with the Father; through
him all things were made; for our sake and for our
salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate
from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became
man; he was crucified also for us under Pontius
Pilate, and suffered and was buried; he rose again
on the third day, in accordance with the Scriptures,
and ascended into heaven and is seated at the right
hand of the Father; he is coming again in glory to
judge the living and the dead; and his kingdom will
have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father, who together with the
Father and the Son is worshipped and together
glorified; who spoke through the Prophets. In one,
Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church; I confess one
Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I await the
resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to
come. Amen.
Then:
It is truly right to call you blessed, who gave
birth to God, ever-blessed and most pure and the
Mother of our God. Greater in honour than the
Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the
Seraphim, without corruption you gave birth to God
the Word; truly the Mother of God, we magnify you.
Reader:
Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on
us (x3).
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit; both now and for ever, and to the ages of
ages. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us
from 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; both now and for ever, and to the ages of
ages. Amen
Our Father, in heaven, may your name be hallowed;
your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in
heaven. Give us today 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.
Priest:
For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for
ever, and to the ages of ages.
Reader:
Amen.
The
following Troparia:
God of our fathers, who always deal with us in your
forbearance, do not withdraw your pity from us, but
at their intercessions guide our life in peace.
Your Church, clothed throughout the world as in
purple and fine linen with the blood of your
Martyrs, cries out to you through them: Christ, our
God, send down your mercy on your people; give peace
to your city and to our souls your great mercy.
Glory to the Father
and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
With the Saints, O Christ, give rest to the souls of
your servants, where there is neither sickness, nor
sorrow, nor sighing, but life without end.
Both now and for
ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Through the intercession of all the Saints and of
the Mother of God, give us your peace, Lord, and
have mercy on us, for you alone are merciful.
Lord, have mercy
(x40).
At every time and at every hour, in heaven and on
earth worshipped and glorified, Christ God,
long-suffering, great in mercy, great in compassion,
loving the just and merciful to sinners, calling all
to salvation by the promise of the blessings to
come; do you, Lord, yourself accept our entreaties
at this hour, and direct our lives to your
commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies,
correct our thoughts, cleanse our ideas and deliver
us from every distress, evil, and pain. Wall us
about with your holy Angels, that, protected and
guided by their host, we may reach the unity of the
faith and the knowledge of your unapproachable
glory; for you are blessed to the ages of ages.
Amen.
Lord, have mercy (x3).
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit. Both now and for ever and to the ages of
ages. Amen.
Greater in honour than the Cherubim and beyond
compare more glorious than the Seraphim, without
corruption you gave birth to God the Word; truly the
Mother of God, we magnify you.
In the name of the
Lord, bless, Father.
Priest:
May God take pity on us and bless us, and show the
light of his countenance on us and have mercy on us.
Then:
Lord, have mercy (x12).
And save and help us, All-holy Virgin.
Prayer to The Most
Holy Mother of God
by Paul, monk of the Monastery of Evergetis.
Spotless, undefiled, incorrupt, immaculate, pure
Virgin, Bride of God and Lady, who by your
marvellous conceiving united God the Word with
mankind and joined our rejected human nature to the
heavenly realm; the only hope of the hopeless, help
of the attacked, ready assistance of those who flee
to you, and refuge of all Christians; do not turn in
loathing from me, an accursed sinner, who have made
myself utterly worthless through shameful thoughts
and words and deeds, and through the sloth of the
pleasures of life have become a slave to my own
will. But as Mother of the God who loves mankind
have compassion on me, a sinner and a prodigal, in
your love for mankind, and accept the prayer I offer
you from polluted lips. And using your Mother's
boldness, implore your Son, our Master and Lord,
that He open to me also the compassionate heart of
his goodness, and disregarding my countless offences
turn me back to repentance, and make me a tried
worker of his commandments. And, as you are full of
mercy, compassion and loving-kindness, be ever near
me: in this present life a fervent helper and
protector, shielding me from the enemy's assaults
and guiding me to salvation, and at the moment of my
departure watching over my wretched soul and driving
far from her the dark forms of evil demons; but on
the dread day of judgement, delivering me from
eternal punishment and making me heir to the
ineffable glory of your Son and our God. All this
may I obtain, my Lady, most holy Mother of God,
through your mediation and assistance; through the
grace and love for mankind of your only-begotten
Son, our Lord and God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. To
whom are due all glory, honour and worship, with his
Father who is without beginning and his all-holy,
good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever, and
to the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer to Our Lord
Jesus Christ
by the monk Antiochos.
And grant us, Master, as we go to our sleep, rest of
body and soul; and guard us from the gloomy sleep of
sin and from every dark pleasure of the night. Calm
the assaults of the passions, quench the fiery
arrows of the evil one that are cunningly aimed at
us; put down the rebellions of our flesh and still
our every earthly and material thought. And grant
us, O God, a watchful mind, chaste thought, a
wakeful heart, sleep that is light and free from
every satanic fantasy. Rouse us at the time for
prayer strengthened in your commandments, and
holding firmly within us the memory of your
judgements. Grant that we may sing your glory all
night long, and so hymn, bless and glorify your all
honoured and majestic name, of Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages.
Amen.
Most glorious, ever-virgin, blessed Mother of God,
offer our prayer to your Son and our God, and ask
that through you he may save our souls.
Prayer of Saint
Ioannikios
The Father is my hope, the Son my refuge, the Holy
Spirit my protection. Holy Trinity, glory to you.
Prayer to the Most
Holy Mother of God
All my hope I place in you, Mother of God, guard me
under your protection.
Because of you, O Full of grace, all creation
rejoices, the ranks of Angels and the human race;
hallowed Temple and spiritual Paradise, pride of
Virgins; from you God was incarnate and he, who is
our God before the ages, became a little child. For
He made your womb a throne and caused it to become
wider than the heavens. Because of you, O Full of
grace, all creation rejoices; glory to you.
Prayer to the
Guardian Angel
Holy Angel, overseer of my wretched soul and
miserable life, do not abandon me a sinner, do not
desert me because of my inconstancy; leave no place
for the evil demon to obtain dominion over me by
gaining control of this mortal body; strengthen my
wretched and feeble hand, and guide me into the way
of salvation. Yes, Holy Angel of God, guardian and
protector of my wretched soul and body, pardon me
all the things by which I have distressed you all
the days of my life, and whatever sins I have
committed to-day; shelter me in the coming night and
protect me from every abuse of the adversary, that I
may not anger my God by any sin; and intercede for
me to the Lord, to strengthen me in his fear, and
show me to be a worthy servant of his goodness.
Amen.
To you my Champion and Commander I your city, saved
from disasters, dedicate, O Mother of God, hymns of
victory and thanksgiving; but as you have
unassailable might, from every kind of danger now
deliver me, that I may cry to you: Hail, Bride
without bridegroom!
Then:
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
Virgin, Mother of God, Hail, 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
given birth to the Saviour of our souls
(x3).
Priest:
Glory to you, Christ God, our hope, glory to you.
Reader:
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit, both now and for ever, and to the ages of
ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy (x3). Holy
Father, bless.
Priest:
May (he who rose from
the dead) Christ, our
true God, through the prayers of his most pure and
holy Mother, the intercessions of the holy glorious,
all praised Apostles, of the holy and righteous
Forebears of God, Joachim and Anne, and all the
Saints, have mercy on us and save us, for he is good
and loves mankind.
Let us pray for the peace of the world.
Reader:
Lord, have mercy.
After each petition.
For our Archbishop N,
and all our brotherhood in Christ.
[For our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elisabeth.]
For our absent fathers and brethren.
For those who hate us and for those who love us.
For those who are merciful to us and serve us.
For those who have asked us, unworthy though we are,
to pray for them.
For the release of prisoners.
For those who sail upon the sea.
For those who lie in sickness.
Let us pray for an abundance of the fruits of the
earth.
And for every soul of Orthodox Christians.
Let us bless devout Sovereigns.
Orthodox High Priests.
Our parents and teachers, and all our departed
fathers and brethren, Orthodox believers, who here
or in all the world lie asleep in the Lord.
Reader (during the last petition):
May God pardon and have mercy on them, where all the just repose; and
have mercy and save us, as he is good and loves
humankind.
Tone 3.
Awed by the beauty of your virginity and by the
splendour of your purity, Gabriel cried aloud to
you, Mother of God: How can I praise you as I
should? By what name shall I invoke you? I am
troubled and amazed. Therefore, as I was commanded,
I cry to you: Hail, full of grace!
Priest:
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus
Christ, our God, have mercy on us.
Reader:
Amen.
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