INTRODUCTION TO EVERY HOUR
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen.
Kyrie eleison, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord bless us. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and forever and unto the age of all ages. Amen.
Make us worthy to pray thankfully:
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, in Christ Jesus our Lord. For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Let us give thanks to the Beneficent and Merciful God, the Father of our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. For He has covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us to Himself, spared us, supported us, and has brought us to this hour. Let us also ask Him to guard us in all peace this holy day and all the days of our life, the Pantocrator, the Lord our God.
O Master, Lord, God the Pantocrator, the Father of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ, we thank You for everything, concerning everything, and in everything. For You have covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us to Yourself, spared us, supported us, and have brought us to this hour. Therefore, we ask and entreat Your goodness, O Lover of Mankind, grant us to complete this holy day, and all the days of our life in all peace with Your fear.
All envy, all temptation, all the work of Satan, the counsel of wicked men, and the rising up of enemies, hidden and manifest, take them away from us, and from all Your people, and from this Your holy place. But those things which are good and profitable do provide for us, for it is You who have given us the authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Through the grace, compassion and love-of-mankind, of Your only-Begotten Son, our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Through whom the glory, the honour, the dominion, and the worship are due unto You, with Him, and the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life, who is of one essence with You, now and at all times, and unto the age of all ages. Amen.
PSALM 50
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the multitude of Your compassions blot out my iniquity. Was me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my iniquity; and my sin is at all times before me.
Against You only I have sinned, and done evil before You, that You might be just in Your sayings, and might overcome when You are judged. For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins my mother conceived me.
For, behold, You have loved the truth; You have manifested to me the hidden and unrevealed things of Your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with Your hyssop, and I shall be purified. You shall wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. You shall make me to hear gladness and joy; the humbled bones shall rejoice.
Turn away Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. Do not cast me away from Your face; and do not remove Your Hold Spirit from me. Give me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a directing spirit. Then I shall teach the transgressors Your ways; and the ungodly men shall turn to You.
Deliver me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise. For if you desired sacrifice, I would have given it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit; a broken and humbled heart God shall not despise.
Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, offering, and burnt sacrifices; then they shall offer calves upon Your Altar. Alleluia.
COMPLINE HOUR PRAYERS
The prayer of the Twelfth Hour of this blessed day, we offer to Christ our King and our God, beseeching Him to forgive us our sins.
From the Psalms of our father David, the prophet and the king, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.
PSALM 137
I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with my whole heart, for You have heard all the words of my mouth. Before the angels I will chant to You. I will worship toward Your holy temple, and give thanks to Your name, on account of Your mercy and Your truth, for You have magnified Your holy name above all. The day in which I call upon You, hear me speedily; You shall exceedingly look upon my soul with power. Let all the kings of the earth, O Lord, give thanks to You, for they have heard all the words of Your mouth. And let them sing in the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.
The Lord is high, and He regards the lowly, and He knows the existing things from afar off. If I walk in the midst of affliction, You shall revive me; You have stretched forth Your hands against the wrath of enemies, and Your right hand has saved me. O Lord, You shall reward on my behalf; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever, do not overlook the works of Your Hands. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Holy, Holy, Holy. A passage from the Gospel according to Saint Luke. May his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Luke 2:25-32
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Hold spirit that he would not see death before he had seen Christ the Lord. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God, and said, “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light for the revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” Glory be to God forever. Amen.
THE LITANIES
We worship You O Christ, with your Good Father and the Holy Spirit for you have come and saved us. Have mercy on us.
Behold I am about to stand before the just Judge, terrified and trembling becuase of my many sins. For a life spent in pleasures deserves condemnation. But Repent, O my soul, so long as you dwell on this earth, for in the grave, dust does not praise. And in death, no one remembers, neither in Hades, does anyone give thanks. Therefore arise from the slumber of laziness, and entreat the Saviour, repenting and saying: “God, have mercy on me and save me.”
“Zoksapatri ke Eiyou-ke agi-you epnevmaty” (Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
If this life were everlasting and this world ever-existing, you would have an excuse, O my soul. But if your wicked deeds and ugly evil are exposed before the just Judge, what answer would you give while you are lying on the bed of sins, negligent in disciplining the flesh!? O Christ, our God, before Your awesome seat of judgment I am terrified, and before Your council of judgment I submit, and from the light of Your divine radiance I tremble, I, the wretched and defiled, who lies on my bed, negligent in my life. But I take example of the publican, beating my chest and saying “O God, forgive me and have mercy on me, a sinner.”
“Kenin ea a-ee ke-ic-touce e-on-ace ton e-onon Amen.”(Both now and forever and unto the age of all ages, Amen.)
O holy Virgin, overshadow your servant with your instant help, and keep the waves of evil thoughts away from me, and raise up my ailing soul for prayer and vigil, for it has gone into a deep sleep. For you are a capable, compassionate and helpful Mother, the bearer of the fountain of life, my King and my God, Jesus Christ, my hope.
GRACIOUSLY ACCORD, O LORD
Graciously accord, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin, blessed are You, O Lord, God of our fathers, and exceedingly blessed and glorified be Your Holy Name forever. Amen.
Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us according to our hope in You, for the eyes of everyone wait upon You, for You give them their food in due season. Hear us O God our Saviour, the hope of all the regions of the earth. And You, O Lord, keep us safe from this generation and forever. Amen.
Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your statutes. Blessed are You O Lord; make me to understand Your commandments. Blessed are You, O Lord; enlighten me with Your righteousness.
Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever. Despise not, O Lord, the works of Your hands. You have been my refuge from generation to generation. I asked the Lord and said, “Have mercy on me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.“ Lord,have fled unto You, save me, and teach me to do Your will, for You are my God, and with You is the Fountain of life. In Your Light, shall we see Light. Let Your mercy come unto those who know You and Your righteousness unto the upright in heart.
To You belongs blessing. To You belongs praise. To You belongs glory. O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, existing from the beginning, now, and forever and ever. Amen.
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises unto Your Name, O Most high; to show forth Your mercy every morning, and Your righteousness every night.
ABSOLUTION
Lord, all our sings which we committed against You in this day, whether in deeds or in words or in thoughts or through all senses, please remit and forgive us, for the sake of Your holy name, as You are Good, and Lover of Mankind. God, grant us a peaceful night and a sleep free from all anxiety. And send us an angel of peace to protect us from every evil, and every affliction, and every temptation of the enemy; through the grace compassion and love of mankind of Your only-begotten Son, our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom is due, with You and with the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver who is of one essence with You, all glory, honour, and dominion, now and forever and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.
THE CONCLUSION OF EVERY HOUR
Have mercy on us, O God, and have mercy on us, who at all times and in every hour, in heaven and on earth, is worshipped and glorified; Christ our God, the good, the long suffering, the abundant in mercy, and the great in compassion, who loves the righteous and has mercy on the sinners of whom I am chief, who does not wish the death of the sinner but rather that he returns and lives, who calls all to salvation for the promise of the good things to come.
Lord receive from us our prayers in this hour and every hour. Ease our life and guide us to fulfill Your commandments. Sanctify our spirits. Cleanse our bodies. Conduct our thoughts. Purify our intentions. Heal our diseases. Forgive our sins. Deliver us from every evil grief and distress of heart. Surround us by Your hold angels, that, by their camp, we may be guarded and guided, and attain the unity of faith, and the knowledge of Your imperceptible and infinite glory. For You are blessed forever. Amen.