Evening Prayers

Evening Prayers

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, through the supplications of Thy most pure Mother and all Thy saints, forgive and have mercy on us. Amen.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, 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; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, pardon our transgressions; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy 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 the evil one. Amen.

Penitential Troparia

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for knowing no defense, we sinners offer this prayer to Thee as Master: have mercy on us.

Glory: O Lord, have mercy on us, for in Thee we have trusted. Do not be angry with us, nor remember our iniquities, but look down even now as Thou art merciful, and deliver us from our enemies; for Thou art our God, and we are Thy people, all are the work of Thy hands, and we call upon Thy name.

Now and ever: Open to us the doors of compassion, O blessed Theotokos, that hoping in Thee we may not perish, but through Thee be delivered from distress. For Thou art the salvation of the Christian race.

Lord, have mercy (12).

Prayer 1, of St. Macarius the Great to God the Father

O Eternal God and King of all creation, who hast enabled me to reach this hour, forgive me the sins I have committed this day by deed, word, and thought, and cleanse, O Lord, my humble soul from every impurity of flesh and spirit. And grant me, O Lord, to pass this night in peace, that rising from my humble bed, I may please Thy most holy name all the days of my life and overcome my enemies, both fleshly and bodiless, who war against me. And deliver me, O Lord, from vain thoughts that defile 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 ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 2, of St. Antiochus to Jesus Christ

O Almighty Word of the Father, Jesus Christ, Thou who art perfect, never abandon me, Thy servant, but always abide in me. O Jesus, Good Shepherd of Thy sheep, do not deliver me to the rebellion of the serpent, and do not leave me to the desire of Satan, for the seed of corruption is in me. Do Thou, O Lord, worthy of worship, O Holy King, Jesus Christ, guard me while I sleep with the Light that never fades—Thy Holy Spirit, by whom Thou didst sanctify Thy disciples. Grant, O Lord, to me, Thy unworthy servant, Thy salvation upon my bed, and 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 words, my body with Thy passion, and guard my thoughts with Thy humility; and raise me up at the proper time to glorify Thee. For Thou art glorified with Thine unoriginate Father and the Most Holy Spirit forever. Amen.

Prayer 3, to the Holy Spirit

O Lord, Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, have compassion and mercy on me, Thy sinful servant, and release and forgive me, unworthy as I am, all that I have sinned against Thee today as a man, and perhaps not even as a man, but worse than a beast. Forgive all my sins, voluntary and involuntary, known and unknown, committed through youth or evil habit, or through willfulness and despondency. If I have sworn by Thy name or blasphemed it in my thoughts; if I have reproached anyone or slandered anyone in my anger; if I have grieved anyone or become angry; if I have lied or slept excessively; or if a beggar came to me and I despised him; or if I have grieved my brother or quarreled; or if I have judged or been proud, or been angry; or if, while standing in prayer, my mind has been drawn to the wickedness of this world; or if I have thought of lewd things; or if I have overeaten or overdrunk; or laughed foolishly; or thought something evil; or if, seeing the goodness of my neighbor, I have envied him; or spoken something unworthy; or if I have mocked the sin of my brother, though my own transgressions are countless. Or if I have been negligent in prayer or done something else I do not remember, for I have done all this and more. Have mercy on me, O Creator and Master, Thy lazy and unworthy servant, and release, forgive, and pardon me, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind. That I, the prodigal, sinful, and wretched, may lie down in peace, sleep, and rest, and rising, may worship, and praise, and glorify Thy most honorable name with the Father and His only-begotten Son, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 4, of St. Macarius the Great

What shall I offer Thee, or how shall I repay Thee, O greatly-gifted, immortal King, generous and loving Lord, for that Thou hast brought me, who am lazy in Thy service and have done nothing good, to the end of this day that has passed, directing my soul toward humility and salvation? Be merciful to me, a sinner, for I have done no good deed; restore my lost soul, defiled by a multitude of sins, and cast away from me the evil thought of this visible life. Thou alone art Sinless, forgive my transgressions committed this day, knowingly and unknowingly, in word, deed, and thought, and with all my senses. Do Thou Thyself, covering me, preserve me from every evil attack, protecting me by Thy divine power and unspeakable love for mankind and strength. Cleanse, O God, the multitude of my sins; be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me from the snares of the devil, save my suffering soul, and overshadow me with the light of Thy countenance when Thou comest in glory. And now grant me to sleep a sleep without condemnation, and guard the thoughts of Thy servant from evil dreams and disturbances. Drive away from me all satanic action, enlighten the mental eyes of my heart, that I may not sleep the sleep of death. Send me an angel of peace, a guardian and guide for my soul and body, that he may deliver me from my enemies, that I, rising from sleep, may offer Thee prayers of thanksgiving. O Lord, hear me, Thy sinful and poor servant. Grant me with a pure heart to study Thy law, drive away from me devilish despondency, that I may bless Thy holy name, and glorify, and praise the Most Pure Theotokos Mary, given to us sinners for protection. And accept her who prays for us, for I know that she, imitating Thy love for mankind, does not cease to intercede for us. By her intercession, by the sign and power of the precious Cross, and by all Thy saints, preserve my poor soul, O Jesus Christ, our God, for Thou art holy and most glorified forever. Amen.

Prayer 5

O Lord our God, all that I have sinned today, in word, deed, or thought, do Thou, as a good and loving God, forgive me. Grant me peace and untroubled sleep, send me Thy guardian angel to cover and protect me from all evil, for Thou art the guardian of our souls and bodies, and to Thee we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 6

O Lord our God, in whom we believe and whose name we call upon above every name, grant us, as we depart to sleep, relief for soul and body, and guard us from every vision and dark passion; still the passionate desire, quench the flame of bodily excitement, grant us to live humbly in word and deed, that, having received a virtuous life, we may not fall away from Thy promised blessing, for Thou art blessed forever. Amen.

Prayer 7, of Peter the Studite to the Most Holy Theotokos

To Thee, the most pure Mother of God, I fall down and pray: Thou knowest, O Queen, how I sin unceasingly and anger Thy Son and my God. And though I repent many times, I become unrighteous again before God; and once more I repent with fear—and immediately I do the same: will the Lord strike me? My Lady, Theotokos, Thou knowest that I loathe my evil deeds and with all my thoughts I love the law of my God, but I do not know, O Most Pure Queen, why I do not do the good, but the evil, which I do not want, I do. Do not allow, O Most Pure One, my evil will to be fulfilled, but let the will of Thy Son and my God be done, who will save me, enlighten me, and grant me the grace of the Holy Spirit, that I may henceforth cease to do evil and live the rest of my time according to the commandments of Thy Son and my God, to whom belongs all glory, honor, and worship with His unoriginate Father and the Most Holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer 8, to the Most Holy Theotokos

O good Mother of the Good King, most pure and blessed Theotokos Mary, pour out the mercy of Thy Son and our God upon my sinful soul and by Thy prayers guide me to good deeds, that I may live the rest of my life without sin and through Thee find paradise, O Theotokos Virgin, the only pure and blessed one.

Prayer 9, to the Holy Guardian Angel

O Angel of Christ, my holy Guardian, protector of my soul and body, forgive me all that I have sinned this day, and deliver me from every temptation of the enemy, that I may not anger my God by any sin; but pray for me, a sinful and unworthy servant, that I may be worthy of the goodness and mercy of the All-Holy Trinity and the Mother of my Lord Jesus Christ and all the saints. Amen.

Kontakion of the Theotokos

To Thee, the Champion Leader, we Thy servants, delivered from calamity, ascribe victory, O Theotokos, as a thank-offering. But as Thou hast invincible power, deliver us from all afflictions, that we may cry to Thee: Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.

O most glorious Ever-Virgin Theotokos, accept our prayers and bring them to Thy Son and our God, that He may save our souls for Thy sake.

All my hope I place in Thee, O Mother of God, keep me under Thy protection.

O Theotokos Virgin, do not despise me, a sinner, who needs Thy help and Thy protection, for my soul hopes in Thee, have mercy on me.

Prayer of St. Joannicius to the Most Holy Trinity

My hope is the Father, my refuge is the Son, my protector is the Holy Spirit. O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.

It is truly meet to bless Thee, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure, and Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, true Theotokos, we magnify Thee.

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). Lord, bless.

O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, our venerable and God-bearing fathers, and all the saints, save me, a sinner.

Prayer of St. John of Damascus, to be said while pointing to one's bed

O Master, Lover of mankind, will this bed be my grave, or wilt Thou enlighten my wretched soul with the light of the day? Behold, the grave stands before me, behold, death awaits me. I fear Thy judgment, O Lord, and the endless torment, yet I do not cease to do evil and always anger Thee, my Lord, and Thy most pure Mother, and all the heavenly powers, and my holy guardian angel. I know, O Lord, that I am unworthy of Thy love for mankind, but worthy of condemnation and torment. But, O Lord, whether I want to or not, save me. If Thou savest the righteous, there is nothing strange in that, and if Thou hast mercy on the pure, there is nothing unusual in that, for they are worthy of Thy mercy, but show Thy wondrous mercy and love for mankind on me, a sinner, and let not my evil surpass Thy boundless goodness and mercy, and by whatever means Thou knowest, save me.

One may also pray the following prayers with prostrations:

I worship Thee, O most holy, consubstantial, life-giving, and indivisible Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: I believe in Thee and confess, glorify, thank, praise, magnify Thee, and pray: have mercy on me, Thy unworthy creature, for Thy name's sake. (3 prostrations)

O Most Holy Virgin Theotokos, Mother of my Lord and God, after Him the only protection and intercession, the hope of my salvation. Blessed art Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, with Him I bless, honor, magnify, and pray to Thee: remember me, my intercessor, in Thy motherly prayers to the Lord. (prostration)

O most precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ crucified upon Thee, strengthen me against all visible and invisible enemies and preserve me from bodily and spiritual temptations. (prostration)

All holy heavenly powers: angels, archangels, principalities, authorities, powers, dominions, thrones, cherubim, seraphim, enlighten, sanctify, and preserve me by your protection and intercession. (prostration)

O holy angel of Christ, guardian of my soul and body, cover me with the wings of thy goodness from every evil demonic action, guiding me on the path of salvation, and pray to God for us, sinners. (prostration)

O holy glorious prophet, forerunner and baptizer of the Lord John, and all holy prophets, forefathers, and fathers, pray to God for us, sinners, that we may be saved by your prayers. (prostration)

O holy glorious and all-praised apostles, pray to Christ the Lord, who gave you the Holy Spirit to forgive sins, that He may forgive my transgressions by the action of the same Holy Spirit. (prostration)

O holy hierarchs of Christ Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom, Athanasius and Cyril, Nicholas, Spyridon, holy equal-to-the-apostles Cyril and Methodius, hieromartyr Josaphat, and other hierarchs, pastors, teachers, priests, and confessors of Christ, pray to God for us, sinners. (prostration)

O holy great martyrs of Christ Stephen, George, Demetrius, Theodore Stratelates and Theodore Tyro, Procopius, Artemius, Ukrainian wonderworkers Boris and Gleb, holy martyrs Thecla, Barbara, Catherine, and Irene, and the whole choir of martyrs and martyrs of Christ, pray to God for us, sinners. (prostration)

O our venerable fathers Anthony and Theodosius, Euthymius, Sabbas, Macarius, Paul, Onuphrius, Joannicius, and our venerable mothers Mary of Egypt, Theodora, Paraskeva, Euphrosyne, and other fathers and mothers of ours, pray to God for us, sinners. (prostration)

O holy unmercenaries, healers and wonderworkers Cosmas and Damian, Cyrus and John, Panteleimon and Hermolaus, Agapitus, and other wonderworkers, pray to God for us, sinners. (prostration)

All holy women, myrrh-bearers, martyrs, venerable ones, and virgins of Christ, who worthily served the Lord, pray to God for us, sinners. (prostration)

All holy servants of the Lord, whose souls are in the hand of God and whose names are written in heaven, pray to God for us, sinners. (prostration)

Troparia

Enlighten my eyes, O Christ God, that I may not sleep unto death and that my enemy may not say: I have prevailed over him.

Glory: O God, be the protector of my soul, for I walk in the midst of many snares; deliver me from them and save me, O Good One, as the Lover of mankind.

Now and ever: The most glorious Mother of God, holier than the angels, we unceasingly praise with heart and lips, confessing her as Theotokos, who truly gave birth to the incarnate God and unceasingly prays for our souls.

Kissing your cross, say:

Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let those who hate Him flee from before His face. As smoke vanishes, let them vanish; as wax melts before the fire, so let the demons perish from the face of those who love God and sign themselves with the sign of the cross, joyfully saying: Rejoice, O most precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, which drives away demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified upon thee, who descended into hell and trampled the power of the devil and gave us thee—His precious Cross for the driving away of every adversary. O most precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, help me with the holy Virgin Theotokos and with all the holy heavenly powers always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Penitential prayer

Loosen, forgive, pardon, O God, our transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, known and unknown, in thought and mind, by day and by night—forgive us all, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind.

Prayer for all the living and the departed

To those who hate and wrong us, forgive, O Lord, Lover of mankind. To those who do good, do good; grant our brothers and relatives all that they need for salvation and eternal life. Visit the sick and grant them healing, deliver the captives, guide those at sea. Be a companion to travelers; remember, O Lord, our captive brothers and deliver them from every misfortune. Have mercy, O Lord, and forgive those who asked us, unworthy as we are, to pray for them. Have mercy, O Lord, on those who serve and have mercy on us and grant them all that they ask for salvation and eternal life. Remember, O Lord, our departed fathers and brothers, and all who have fallen asleep in the pious faith, and settle them where the light of Thy countenance shines. Remember, O Lord, us humble, sinful, and unworthy servants of Thine and enlighten our mind with the light of the understanding of Thy Holy Gospel, and guide us on the path of Thy commandments, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and all Thy saints. Amen.

Examination of conscience

Standing before Thy Face, O my God, I offer Thee my worship and glory. I thank Thee for all the blessings with which Thou hast deigned to endow the holy Church, our Homeland, my parents, relatives, friends, benefactors, and all my neighbors. Especially I thank Thee, my God, for creating me in Thine image and likeness, for deigning to make me, unworthy as I am, Thy child and a member of the Church of Thy Son. I thank Thee for Thy sincere grace, which Thou hast bestowed upon me throughout my life, and especially today. From all evils and eternal separation Thou hast saved and preserved me until this very hour. What shall I render to Thee for all Thy benefits? In union with the merits of our Savior Jesus Christ, His most pure Mother, and all the saints, accept my heart as a thank-offering to Thee. Enlighten, O Lord, by Thy Spirit my conscience and my mind, that I may know all my transgressions; inflame my heart with love for Thee, that I may be able to bring forth tears of true repentance for them, and that I may direct my life and serve Thee alone, the Heavenly God.

Now make an examination of conscience. Recall how you spent this day. Did you conscientiously fulfill all your duties? Did you not sin in deed, word, or thought against God and your neighbor? Did you not neglect a good deed that you could have done for the glory of God or for the good of others? Did you patiently endure the trials and sorrows permitted by God? If you have repeatedly fallen into the same sin, find its causes and circumstances, so as to avoid it in the future. After such a review of your actions, give glory and thanks to God for all the good you have done with the help of God's grace, and for your sins, repent heartily, praying thus:

O Lord, Jesus Christ, my Savior! Forgive me my sins. In Thine infinite goodness Thou hast said that Thou dost not desire the death of a sinner, but waitest for him to turn and live. Thou, O Merciful One, dost not desire my destruction and with every word of Thy teaching callest me to salvation. Accept my sincere repentance, for I repent of my sins with my whole heart and loathe them.

The Publican's Prayer

O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

O God, cleanse my sins and have mercy on me.

I have sinned without number, O Lord, forgive me.

Source: kyrios.org.ua