Small Compline

The Beginning of Small Compline


Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. (For private prayers begin, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”.)


Reader: Amen. Glory to You, our God, glory to You!


O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who are everywhere present and fill all things; Treasurer of Blessings and Giver of life, come and dwell within us, and cleanse us from every blemish, and save our souls, O blessed One!


Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us! [3]


Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


O most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; O Lord, cleanse us of our sins; O Master, forgive our transgressions; O Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities, for Your Name's sake.


Lord, have mercy! [3]


Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


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.


Priest: 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 ages of ages.


Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. [12]


Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


Come, let us worship God our King! Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ, our King and our God! Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ Himself, our King and our God!


Psalm 50


HAVE MERCY ON ME, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the multitude of Your compassions blot out my transgression.


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


For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.


*Against You only have I sinned and done this evil before You, that You might be justified in Your words, and prevail when You are judged.


For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me.


*For behold, You have loved truth; the hidden and secret things of Your wisdom You have made clear to me.


You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; You shall wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.


*You shall make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones which have been humbled shall rejoice.


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


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


Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.


*Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and with Your governing Spirit establish me.


I shall teach transgressors Your ways and the ungodly shall turn back to You.


*Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, who are the God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Your righteousness.


O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise.


*For if You had desired sacrifice, I would have given it; with whole-burnt offerings You shall not be pleased.


A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise.


*Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built.


Then shall You be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings.


Then shall they offer bullocks upon Your altar.


Psalm 69


O GOD, BE ATTENTIVE TO HELPING ME; O Lord, make haste to help me.


Let those who seek after my soul be ashamed and confused.


Let those who desire evil for me be repulsed and humiliated.


Let those who say to me: Well done! Well done! be immediately driven back, ashamed.


Let all those who seek You, O God, be glad and rejoice, and let those who love Your salvation say continually: The Lord be glorified.


But as for me, I am poor and needy; O God, come to my aid.


You are my helper and my deliverer, O God; make no long delay.


Psalm 142


O LORD, HEAR MY PRAYER, consider my supplication in Your truth; and hear me in Your righteousness.


And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living could be justified.


The enemy has persecuted my soul; he has humbled my life down to the very earth.


He has relegated me to darkness as those who have been long dead, and my spirit within me is become despondent; within me my heart is troubled.


I remembered days long past, I reflected on all Your works, I pondered on the creations of Your hands.


I stretched out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a waterless land.


Quickly hear me, O Lord; my spirit has collapsed.


Do not turn Your face away from me, so that I will not become like those who go down into the pit.


Cause me to know Your mercy in the morning; because I have put my hope in You.


Cause me to know, O Lord, the way in which I should walk; because I have lifted up my soul to You.


Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord; I have fled to You for refuge. Teach me to do Your will, in that You are my God.


Your good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness; quicken me for Your name’s sake, O Lord.


You shall bring my soul out of affliction because You are righteous, and mercifully You shall completely destroy my enemies.


And You shall cut off all those who afflict my soul, because I am Your servant.


The Little Doxology


GLORY TO GOD in the highest, and on earth peace and good will among mankind.


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


O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty: O Lord, the Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Spirit.


O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.


You who take away the sin of the world, receive our prayer.


You who sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.


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


Every night I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever, yes, unto ages of ages.


Lord, You have been our refuge from generation to generation.


I said: O Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.


O Lord, to You have I fled for refuge.


Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; for in You is the fountain of life; in Your light shall we see light.


O continue Your mercy to those who know You.


Grant, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin.


Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our Fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name unto ages of ages. Amen.


Let Your mercy be upon us, O Lord, even as we have set our hope in You.


Blessed are You, O Lord; teach us Your commandments.


Blessed are You, O Master; make us to understand Your commandments.


Blessed are You, O Holy One; enlighten us with Your commandments.


Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not despise the works of Your hands.


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


The Symbol of Faith


I believe in one God, Father 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, born of the Father before all ages.


Light of light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; consubstantial with the Father, by Whom all things were made;


Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.


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


And the third day He arose again, according to the Scriptures.


And He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.


And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom shall have no end.


And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father,


Who together with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,


Who spoke through the prophets.


In one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.


I profess one baptism for the remission of sins.


I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life in the world to come. Amen.


Here we add the Canon to the Virgin from the Octoechos, or one to the Saint of the day from the Menaion. We may add any Canon or Akathist that we desire, if the appointed one is not available, or the Prayers before Holy Communion, then:


The Hymn to the Virgin


YOU ARE TRULY DESERVING OF GLORY, O Birthgiver of God, the ever blessed and most pure Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who as a Virgin gave birth to God the Word, true Birthgiver of God, we magnify you.


Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us! [3]


Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.


O most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; O Lord, cleanse us of our sins; O Master, forgive our transgressions; O Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities, for Your Name's sake.



Lord, have mercy! [3]


Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


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.


Priest: 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 ages of ages.


Reader: Amen.


The Tropar or Kondak


If it is one of the Twelve Great Feasts or its Postfeast, we read the Tropar and Kondak. If it is Paschaltide, we read the Sunday Kondak. Other times of the year we read the Parish or Family Tropar, the Tropar of the weekday, and then the following:


O GOD OF OUR FATHERS, who always deal with us according to Your meekness; take not Your mercy from us, but by their prayers direct our lives in peace.


Adorned in the blood of Your martyrs throughout all the world as in purple and fine linen, Your Church cries out to You through them, O Christ God: Send down Your compassions to Your people, grant peace to Your habitation, and great mercy to our souls.


Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.


O Christ, rest the souls of Your servants with the Saints, where there is no pain, sorrow, or sighing, but life everlasting.


Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.


Through the prayers of the Birthgiver of God, and of all the Saints, O Lord, grant us Your peace and have mercy on us, for You alone are compassionate.


Lord, have mercy. [40]


The Prayer of the Hours: O Christ God, who at all times and at every hour, in heaven and on earth, are worshiped and glorified, who are long suffering, plenteous in mercy, most compassionate, who love the righteous and have mercy on sinners, who call all to salvation through the promise of good things to come: Receive, O Lord our prayers at this hour, and guide our life toward your commandments. Sanctify our souls, make chaste our bodies, set aright our minds, cleanse our thoughts, and deliver us from every sorrow, evil, and pain. Encompass us with your holy angels, so that guarded and guided by their watch, we may attain to the unity of the faith and to the knowledge of Your ineffable glory: for You are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.


Lord, have mercy. [3]


Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who as a Virgin gave birth to God the Word, true Birthgiver of God, we magnify you.


By the intercession of Your saints, bless, O Lord.


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


Final Prayers


Prayer to the Mother of God


by Monk Paul of the Monastery of the Benefactress


O SPOTLESS, UNDEFILED, INCORRUPT, immaculate, pure Virgin, Lady Bride of God, who have united God the Word to mankind by your most glorious childbearing, and have joined the outcast nature of our race to the inhabitant of heaven, the only hope of the hopeless and the help of those who fight, the ready aid of those who flee to you, and refuge of all Christians: Disdain me not, a defiled sinner, who have altogether made myself unprofitable by foul thoughts, words, and deeds, and am become in mind a slave to the indolence of the pleasures of this life. But as the Mother of God the Lover of mankind, lovingly take pity on me, a sinner and prodigal, and accept my supplication, offered you with defiled lips; and exercising your maternal boldness, entreat your Son and our Master and Lord to open to me the loving compassions of His goodness, and disregarding my countless transgressions, to turn to reveal me as a well-skilled doer of His commandments. And in that you are merciful, full of pity, and love that which is good, you are merciful, full of pity, and love that which is good, stand ever before me in this present life as a fervent intercessor and helper, driving away the onslaughts of adversary, guiding me to salvation, preserving my wretched soul in the hour of my passing, driving far from it dark visions of evil demons, and on the dread day of judgment, delivering me from eternal torment and showing me to be an heir of the ineffable glory of your Son and our God. This be my lot, O my Lady, most holy Birthgiver of God, through your intercession and by your help, by the grace and love for mankind of your only begotten Son, our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom is due all glory, honor, and worship, together with His Unoriginate Father, and His most holy and good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


Prayer to Our Lord


by Monk Antiochus of Pandectis


AND GRANT US, O MASTER, REPOSE of body and soul as we go to sleep, and preserve us from the gloomy sleep of sin and from every dark and passionate pleasure of the night. Quell the attacks of the passions; quench the fiery darts of the evil one which are treacherously directed against us. Put down the rebellions of our flesh, and lull to sleep our every earthly and material thought. And grant us, O God, a wakeful mind, a chaste thought, a sober heart, and gentle sleep, free from every satanic fantasy. Raise us up at the hour of prayer, confirmed in Your commandments and having within ourselves a steadfast remembrance of Your judgments. Grant us to hymn Your glory all the night long, that we may sing, bless, and glorify Your most honorable and majestic name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.


At this point we may read the Private Prayers on Approaching Sleep, found on page 230-234. In any case, we close with the following prayers:


Most glorious, ever Virgin Mother of God, present our prayer to your Son and our God, that He may save our souls.


+ The Father is our hope,


+ The Son is our refuge,


+ The Holy Spirit is our protection.


+ O Holy Trinity, our God, glory to You!


Dismissal


Glory to You, O Christ God, our hope, glory to You.


Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.


Lord, have mercy. [3]


O Lord, bless.


Through the prayers of Your most pure Mother, our holy fathers and all the saints, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.


The End of Small Compline