Evening Prayers
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy Most-Pure Mother, of our holy and God-bearing fathers and of all the Saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, O Comforter, O Spirit of Truth, Who art in all places and fillest all things, Treasure of Blessings and giver of life, come and abide in us, cleanse us from all impurity and save our souls, O Good One.
(Between Easter and Ascension Day the above prayer, ‘O Heavenly King’, is replaced by, ‘Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the graves bestowing life’. Moreover, between Ascension and Pentecost the Prayers of Introduction begin from ‘Holy God’).
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Three times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; O Lord, cleanse our sins; O Master, forgive our iniquities; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Three times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, Which 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 them that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Troparia
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for we sinners, lacking all defence, offer unto Thee, as to our Master, this prayer: have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
O Lord, have mercy on us, for in Thee have we hoped: be not very wrath with us, neither call to remembrance our iniquities: but even now look down on us in Thy goodness, and deliver us from our enemies: for Thou art our God, and we are Thy people, all the works of Thy hands, and we call on Thy Name.
Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Open unto us the door of mercy, O blessed Mother of God, that we who set our hope on Thee may not perish, but may be delivered by Thee from all misfortunes: for Thou art the salvation of all Christian people.
Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)
Prayer of St. Macarius the Great
O Eternal God and King of all creation, Who hast vouchsafed me even to attain to this hour, forgive me the sins which I have committed this day, in deed, word and thought, and, O Lord, cleanse my humble soul from every stain of flesh and spirit. Grant me, O Lord, to pass through the sleep of this night in peace, that when I have risen from my lowly bed, I may please Thy most holy Name all the days of my life, and vanquish the enemies, both bodily and bodiless, that contend against me. And deliver me, O Lord, from vain thoughts that stain me and from evil desires. 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 unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer of St Antiochus
O Almighty, Word of the Father, Jesus Christ Who art Thyself perfect, for Thy great mercy’s sake never depart from me, Thy servant, but ever rest in me. O Jesus, Good Shepherd of Thy sheep, let me not fall into the disobedience of the serpent, nor leave me to the will of satan: for the seed of corruption is in me. Do Thou, therefore, O Lord God Whom we worship, O Holy King Jesus Christ, keep me while I sleep by Thy unfading light, Thy Holy Spirit, with Which Thou didst hallow Thy disciples. O Lord, grant even to me, Thy unworthy servant, Thy salvation on my bed: enlighten my mind with the light of the understanding of Thy holy Gospel, my soul with the love of Thy Cross, my heart with the purity of Thy Word, my body with Thy passionless passion, keep my thought in Thy humility, and rouse me in due time to glorify Thee. For Thou art most glorified, together with Thine Eternal Father and the Most Holy Spirit unto the ages. Amen.
O Lord our God, what sins I have this day committed, in word, deed and thought, forgive me, for Thou art good and Thou lovest mankind. Grant me peaceful and undisturbed sleep: send me Thy guardian Angel to protect and keep me from every evil; for Thou art the guardian of our souls and bodies, and to Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer of St. John Chrysostom according to the number of hours of the day and night.
(1) O Lord, deprive me not of Thy heavenly blessings. (2) O Lord, deliver me from eternal torments. (3) O Lord, if I have sinned in mind or thought, in word or deed, forgive me. (4) O Lord, deliver me from every ignorance and forgetfulness, from littleness of soul and stony lack of feeling. (5) O Lord, deliver me from every temptation. (6) O Lord, enlighten my heart which evil desire hath darkened. (7) O Lord, as man, I have sinned, as bountiful God, do Thou have mercy on me, seeing the infirmity of my soul. (8) O Lord, send Thy grace to help me, that I may glorify Thy Holy name. (9) O Lord Jesus Christ, write me, Thy servant, into the book of life, and grant me a blessed end. (10) O Lord my God, even if I have done nothing good before Thee, yet grant me according to Thy grace to make a beginning of good. (11) O Lord, sprinkle the dew of Thy grace in my heart. (12) O Lord of heaven and earth, remember me, Thy sinful servant, cold of heart and impure, in Thy Kingdom. Amen.
(13) O Lord, accept me in repentance. (14) O Lord, leave me not. (15) O Lord, lead me not into temptation. (16) O Lord, grant me the thought of good. (17) O Lord, grant me tears and the memory of death and tender mercy. (18) O Lord, grant me mindfulness to confess my sins. (19) O Lord, grant me humility, chastity and obedience. (20) O Lord, grant me patience, generosity and gentleness. (21) O Lord, plant in me the root of all goodness, the fear of Thee in my heart. (22) O Lord, vouchsafe that I may love Thee with all my soul and thoughts and that in all things I may do Thy will. (23) O Lord, shield me from evil men and devils and passions and all other unseemly things. (24) O Lord, Thou knowest what Thou doest, as Thou willest, may Thy will also be fulfilled in me a sinner, for Thou art blessed for evermore. Amen.
Prayers for Children
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who didst receive the children who came unto Thee, receive also from the lips of me, Thy child, this evening prayer. Shelter me under the shadow of Thy wings, that in peace I may lie down and sleep, and awaken me in due time, that I may glorify Thee, for Thou alone art righteous and merciful. Amen.
Guardian Angel, keep and preserve all of us from every evil, sickness, and grief. Help us, O Lord, to be good, obedient and kind. I thank Thee, O Lord, for all good things Thou has sent to me during the past day. Let me spend this night in peace and protect me from all harm. Amen.
Prayer to the Most Holy Mother of God
O Gracious Mother of our gracious King, Most Pure and Blessed Mother of God Mary, pour out the mercy of Thy Son and our God on my passionate soul and by Thy prayers set me to good deeds, that I may pass the remaining time of my life without fault, and through Thee find paradise, O Mother of God and Virgin alone pure and blessed. Amen.
Prayer to your Holy Guardian Angel
O Angel of Christ, my holy guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me every transgression which I have committed this day: and deliver me from all evil of my enemy and adversary, that I may not anger my God in any sin: but pray for me, His sinful and unworthy servant, that thou mayest show me worthy of the goodness and mercy of the All-Holy Trinity and of the Mother of my Lord Jesus Christ and of all the saints. Amen.
To Thee, O Mother of God, chosen leader of triumphant hosts, we, Thy servants, delivered from evil, sing our thanks: but since Thou hast invincible might, free us from every calamity, that we may call to Thee: Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded.
Most Glorious Ever-Virgin Mother of Christ our God, bring our prayer unto Thy Son and our God, that by Thee He may save our souls.
All my hope I put in Thee, O Divine Mother, keep me beneath Thy protection.
O Virgin Mother of God, despise not me, a sinner, who seek Thy help and Thy intercession: for in Thee hath my soul hoped, and have mercy on me.
Prayer of St. Ioannicus
The Father is my hope, the Son is my refuge, the Holy Spirit is my protection, O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.
It is truly meet to bless Thee, Who didst bring forth God, ever blessed and most pure and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim, Who without defilement didst bear the God the Word, Thee, very Mother of God, we magnify.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Three times)
And the dismissal:
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy Most Pure Mother, of Saint N, (the name of the Patron Saint), of Saints NN (the saints of the day) and of all Thy Saints, of our holy and God-bearing fathers and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for Thou art a merciful God and Thou lovest mankind. Amen.
Prayer of St. John of Damascus, which you say as you approach your bed:
O Master that lovest all men, will not this couch be my grave? Or wilt Thou again enlighten my wretched soul with the day; Behold, the grave lieth before me, behold, death standeth before me. Thy judgement, O Lord, I fear, and the unending torments, yet I cease not from doing evil. O Lord my God, I always anger Thee and Thy Most Pure Mother and all the heavenly Powers and my holy guardian Angel. For I know, O Lord, that I am not worthy of Thy love for mankind, but am worthy of every condemnation and torment. But, O Lord, whether I wish it or not, save me. For if Thou savest the just, it is nothing great, and if Thou hast mercy upon the pure, it is nothing marvellous: for they are worthy of Thy mercy. But on me, a sinner, show the wonder of Thy mercy: in this show Thy love for mankind, and let not my evil overcome Thine inexpressible goodness and mercy: and as Thou wishest, order all things about me.
And when you wish to lie down, say this:
Enlighten mine eyes, O Christ my God, that I may never sleep in death, lest mine enemy say: I have prevailed against him.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
.
Be Thou the defender of my soul, O God, for I walk in the midst of many snares; deliver me from them, and save me, O Blessed One, for Thou lovest mankind.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
With heart and lips let us continually hymn the Most Glorious Divine Mother, Who is more holy than the Holy Angels, confessing that She is the Mother of God, for in truth She bare for us God Incarnate, and She prayeth unceasingly for our souls.
Then kiss the cross and, making the sign of the cross over your bed and also the four corners of the room, say:
Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, let them also that hate Him flee from before His face: like as the smoke vanisheth, so shall they vanish, like as wax melteth before the face of fire, so let the demons perish before the face of those that love God and sign themselves with the sign of the Cross and say in gladness: Rejoice, O most honourable and life-giving Cross of the Lord, driving away the demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ Who was crucified on thee, who descended into hell, and trampled down the power of the devil, and granted us His honourable Cross, to repulse every foe. O most honourable and life-giving Cross of the Lord, help me, together with the holy Virgin Lady, the Mother of God, and with all the saints unto the ages. Amen.
Or:
O Lord, fence me around with the power of Thy honourable and life-giving Cross and keep me from every evil.
O God, absolve, remit and forgive our transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, whether in word or deed, whether knowingly or unknowingly, whether by day or night, whether in mind or in thought: forgive us everything, for Thou art Good and Thou lovest mankind.
O Lord, Lover of mankind, forgive those who hate and offend us. Do good to those who do good. Grant the petitions of our brethren and kin which are for salvation and eternal life: visit those who are sick and grant them healing. Guide those at sea. Travel with those who travel. Help Orthodox Christians in their struggles. To those who help us and are merciful to us, grant forgiveness of sins. On those who charge us in our unworthiness to pray for them, have mercy according to Thy great mercy. O Lord, remember our fathers and brethren who have fallen asleep before us, and grant them rest where the light of Thy countenance visiteth them. O Lord, remember those who bring forth fruit and do good works in Thy holy churches, and grant to them their petitions that are for salvation and eternal life. O Lord, remember also us Thy humble, and sinful and unworthy servants, and enlighten our minds with the light of Thy understanding, and set us on the path of Thy commandments: through the prayers of our Most Pure Mother, the Sovereign Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, and of all Thy saints, for Thou art blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.
As you give yourself up to sleep, say:
Into Thy hands, O Lord Jesus Christ, my God, I commend my spirit. Do thou bless me, have mercy on me and grant me eternal life. Amen.
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