Stand before the holy icons and spend some time in silence. Raise your mind and your heart to the Lord your God, Who is everywhere present. Then, without haste, say the following prayers.
Blessing
†In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (3)
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord, Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
Glory to God
Glory be to You, our God, glory be to You!
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Heavenly King, Advocate, Spirit of Truth,
Who are everywhere present and fill all things,
Treasury of Blessings, Bestower of Life,
come and dwell within us;
cleanse us of all that defiles us,
And, O Good One, save our souls.
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From Holy Pascha to the Feast of the Ascension, instead of the prayers “Glory be to You” and “Heavenly King” we recite the Paschal Troparion: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and to those in the tombs giving life. (3)
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Trisagion
†Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal,
have mercy on us. (3)
Small Doxology
†Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity
Trinity most holy, have mercy on us.
Cleanse us of our sins, O Lord;
pardon our transgressions, O Master;
look upon our weaknesses and heal them, O Holy One;
for the sake of Your name.
Lord, have mercy. (3)
†Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever and ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
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 evil. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (12)
†Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Call to Worship
Psalm 94:6
†Come, let us bow in worship
before the King, our God.
†Come, let us bow in worship
before Christ the King, our God.
†Come, let us bow in worship and fall down,
before the very Lord, Jesus Christ,
our King and God.
Psalm 50
A Prayer of Contrition
Have mercy on me, O God,
in the greatness of Your compassion;
according to the multitude of Your mercies
blot out my offence.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my iniquity,
and my sin is always before me.
Against You alone have I sinned
and done what is evil in Your sight.
That You may be justified when You speak
and victorious when You judge.
Behold, in wickedness I was conceived,
and in sins my mother bore me.
For see, You have loved truth;
You have shown me the hidden
and secret things of Your wisdom.
Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be clean.
Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow;
Make me hear joy and gladness;
the bones that were crushed shall rejoice.
Turn Your face from my sins,
and blot out all my lawlessness.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
nor deprive me of Your Holy Spirit.
Give me again the joy of Your salvation,
and sustain me with Your sovereign Spirit.
I will teach transgressors Your ways,
and sinners will return to You.
Deliver me from blood-guilt, O God, the God of my salvation,
and my tongue shall ring out Your justice.
Lord, You will open my lips
and my mouth shall declare Your praise.
For if You wanted sacrifice, I would have given it,
You will not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
A sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit;
a humbled and contrite heart God will not spurn.
Deal favourably, O Lord, with Sion in Your good pleasure
and let the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt.
Then You will be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness,
oblations and whole burnt offerings;
then they will lay calves upon Your altar.
Confession of Faith
I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.
I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father.
Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made, one in being with the Father.
Through Him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven:
By the power of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day
He rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures;
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life,
Who proceeds from the Father.
With the Father and the Son He is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
I look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Penitential Prayer
O God, remit, remove, and forgive our sins,
committed willfully or through neglect, by word or deed,
knowingly or in ignorance, in mind or thought,
during the day or during the night;
forgive all our sins, for You are good and You love mankind.
Angelic Salutation
Rejoice, Mother of God,
Virgin 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 borne Christ,
the Saviour and Redeemer of our souls.
It is Truly Right
It is truly right to bless you, O God-bearing One,
as the ever-blessed and immaculate Mother of our God.
More honourable than the cherubim
and by far more glorious than the seraphim;
ever a virgin, you gave birth to God the Word,
O true Mother of God, we magnify you.
To the Shelter of Your Mercy
We flee to the shelter of your mercy,
O Virgin Mother of God.
Do not reject our prayers of anguish,
but free us from tribulations,
O only pure and blessed one.
Most Glorious Ever-Virgin
Most glorious, ever-virgin, Mother of God,
receive our prayers and bring them to your Son and our God,
that through you, He may save our souls.
Prayer to the Angels
All you heavenly powers, holy angels and archangels,
pray to God for us sinners.
Prayer to the Saints
Holy, glorious, and all-praiseworthy apostles,
prophets, martyrs, and all the saints;
pray to God for us sinners.
Glorification of the Trinity
St. Joannicius the Great (†846)
†The Father is our hope,
the Son our refuge,
the Holy Spirit our protection:
O Holy Trinity, our God, glory to You.
Blessing
†Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (3)
Through the prayers of the Mother of God and of all the Saints,
Lord, Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us. Amen.
Prayer of The Publican
Based on Luke 18:13
†God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
†God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.
†I have sinned without number, forgive me, O Lord.
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Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian
During the Great Fast
O Lord and Master of my life,
drive from me the spirit of indifference, despair,
lust for power, and idle chatter.
†Prostration
Instead, bestow on me, Your servant,
the spirit of integrity, humility, patience, and love.
†Prostration
Yes, O Lord and King, let me see my own sins
and not judge my brothers and sisters;
for You are blessed for ever and ever. Amen.
†Prostration
†God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
†God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.
†I have sinned without number, forgive me, O Lord.
(Repeat four times)
O Lord and Master of my life,
drive from me the spirit of indifference, despair,
lust for power, and idle chatter.
Instead, bestow on me, Your servant,
the spirit of integrity, humility, patience, and love.
Yes, O Lord and King, let me see my own sins
and not judge my brothers and sisters;
for You are blessed for ever and ever. Amen.
†Prostration
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