Rugăciunea Sfântului Ioan Damaschin arătând spre pat

1\n \n \nPRAYERS for MORNING, \nDAY & NIGHT\n2 Morning Prayers\n16 Prayers at T able\n21 Prayers for the Hours of \nthe Day and Night\n30 Prayers Before Sleep\nThese prayers are excerpted from Orthodox Christian Prayers, edited by \nPriest John Mikitish & Hieromonk Herman (Majkrzak) (South Canaan, \nPenn.: St. Tikhon’s Monastery Press, 2019). © 2019 St. Tikhon’s Monastery \nPress. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for this document to be made \navailable on www.oca.org, for those who wish to use these prayers in their homes. \n\n2\nprayers for morning, day & night\n✠\nMORNING PRAYERS\nUpon rising from sleep:\nIn the Name of the Father and \nof the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.\nAfter standing a little while in silence, waiting till all the \nsenses are calm, one may make three prostrations, saying:\nLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, \nhave mercy on me, a sinner!\nAnd then the following:\nHROUGH the prayers of our holy fathers, O \nLord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. \nAmen.\nGlory to thee, our God, glory to thee. \nO heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, \nwho art everywhere present and fillest all things, T rea -\nsury of blessings, and Giver of life: come and abide in us, \nand cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, \nO Good One.\nHoly God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mer -\ncy on us. (thrice)\nGlory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy \nSpirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\nO Most Holy T rinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse \n\n3\nMorning Prayers\nus from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy \nOne, visit and heal our infirmities, for thy Name’s sake.\nLord, have mercy. (thrice)\nGlory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy \nSpirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. \nOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. \nThy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in \nheaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us \nour trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against \nus; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from \nthe evil one.\nAnd these troparia:\nR\nising from sleep we fall down before thee, O \nGood One, and with the angels’ song we cry to thee, \nAll-powerful: Holy, Holy, Holy art thou, O God: through \nthe Theo tokos, have mercy on us.\nGlory to the Father…\nO Lord, who hast raised me from bed and from sleep, \nenlighten my mind and heart, and open my lips that I \nmay sing of thee, O Holy T rinity: Holy, Holy, Holy art \nthou, O God: through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.\nNow and ever…\nThe Judge shall come suddenly, and the deeds of each \nshall be exposed. But at midnight we cry out with fear: \nHoly, Holy, Holy art thou, O God: through the Theo -\ntokos, have mercy on us.\n\n4\nprayers for morning, day & night\nLord, have mercy. (twelve times)\nR\nising from sleep, I thank thee, O Holy T rinity. For, \nin the abundance of thy goodness and patience, \nthou hast not been angry with me, idler and sinner \nthough I be, nor hast thou destroyed me together with \nmy iniquities; but thou hast shown thy usual love for \nmankind, and hast raised me up as I lay helpless, that I \nmight rise early and glorify thy dominion. Enlighten now \nthe eyes of my mind and open my lips that I may study \nthy words, and come to understand thy commandments, \nand accomplish thy will, and hymn thee in heartfelt con-\nfession, and praise thine all-holy Name, of the Father and \nof the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto \nages of ages. Amen.\nCome, let us worship God our King.\nCome, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our \nKing and our God.\nCome, let us worship and fall down before Christ \nhimself, our King and our God.\nPsalm 50\nH\nave mercy on me, O God, according to thy great \nmercy, and according to the multitude of thy com-\npassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly \nfrom my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. \nFor I know my iniquity, and my sin is continually be-\nfore me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done what \n\n5\nMorning Prayers\nis evil before thee, that thou mightest be justified in thy \nwords, and prevail when thou art judged. For, behold, \nI was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my moth-\ner bear me. For, behold, thou hast loved truth, the un-\nknown and hidden things of thy wisdom hast thou made \nknown unto me. \nThou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be \ncleansed; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter \nthan snow. Thou shalt cause me to hear joy and gladness, \nthe bones that have been humbled shall rejoice. Turn \nthy face away from my sins, and blot out all my iniqui -\nties. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right \nspirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, \nand take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me \nthe joy of thy salvation, and establish me with a ruling \nspirit. I will teach transgressors thy ways, and the ungod -\nly shall return to thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, \nO God, thou God of my salvation, and my tongue shall \nrejoice in thy righteousness. \nO Lord, thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth \nshall declare thy praise. For if thou hadst desired sacri -\nfice, I would have given it; thou wilt not be pleased with \nwhole-burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken \nspirit, a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. \nDo good, O Lord, in thy good pleasure unto Zion, \nand let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then shalt thou be \n\n6\nprayers for morning, day & night\npleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation \nand whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks \nupon thine altar.\nThe Symbol of Faith\nI \n believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of \nheaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. \nAnd in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the On-\nly-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light \nof Light, true God of true God; begotten, not made; of \none essence with the Father; by whom all things were \nmade; who for us men and for our salvation came down \nfrom heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and \nthe Virgin Mary, and became man; and he was crucified \nfor us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried; \nand the third day he rose again, according to the Scrip -\ntures, and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right \nhand of the Father; and he shall come again with glory \nto judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall \nhave no end.\n And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, \nwho proceeds from the Father; who with the Father and \nthe Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke \nby the prophets. In One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic \nChurch. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of \nsins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of \nthe world to come. Amen.\n\n7\nMorning Prayers\nFirst Prayer\nby Saint Macarius the Great\nO\n God, cleanse me, a sinner, even though I have \ndone nothing good before thee: yet deliver me \nfrom the evil one, and let thy will be done in me, that I \nmay open my unworthy lips without condemnation and \npraise thy holy Name, of the Father and of the Son and \nof the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. \nAmen.\nsecond Prayer: by the same\nR\nising from sleep, I offer thee a midnight song, O Sav- \nior. I fall down and cry out to thee: let me not fall \nasleep in the death of sin, but be gracious to me, O thou \nwho wast voluntarily crucified; and raise me quickly, for \nI lie in laziness, and save me as I stand at prayer; after the \nnight’s sleep, O Christ my God, shine upon me a sinless \nday and save me.\nthird Prayer: by the same\nR\nising from sleep, I run to thee, O Master who lovest \nmankind; thy loving-kindness rouses me to do thy \nwork. I pray thee: help me at all times and in all things, \nand deliver me from every evil of this world and from the \nmeddling of the devil; save me and lead me into thine \neternal kingdom. For thou art my Creator, the providen-\ntial Giver of every good. All my hope is in thee, and to \nthee I give the glory, now and ever and unto ages of ages. \nAmen.\n\n8\nprayers for morning, day & night\nfourth Prayer: by the same\nO \n Lord, in thine abundant goodness and great \ncompassion thou hast granted me, thy servant, to \npass the night unassailed by any evil of the enemy. O \nMaster and Creator of all, by thy true light make me wor-\nthy to accomplish thy will with an illumined heart, now \nand ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\nfifth Prayer: by the same\nO\n Lord, God Almighty, who dost accept the \nthrice-holy hymn from thy heavenly hosts: accept \nfrom me, thine unworthy servant, this song at the rising \nof the sun. Grant that at every season and hour of my life \nI may glorify thee, the Father and the Son and the Holy \nSpirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\nsixth Prayer\nby Saint Basil the Great\nO \n Lord Almighty, God of powers and of all flesh, \nwho livest on high yet takest care for things be-\nlow, who triest hearts and reins and clearly foreknowest \nthe secrets of men: thou art the Light without begin-\nning, who ever art, in whom there is neither variation nor \nshadow of change. O King immortal, accept the prayers \nwhich we, trusting in the multitude of thy compassions, \nnow offer thee from defiled lips. Forgive all the iniqui -\nties we have committed in deed or word or thought, in \n\n9\nMorning Prayers\nknowledge or in ignorance. Cleanse us from all defile-\nment of flesh and spirit. Grant us to pass through the en-\ntire night of this present life with wakeful heart and sober \nmind, awaiting the coming of the radiant day of the ap -\npearing of thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord and God \nand Savior Jesus Christ, when the Judge of all shall come \nwith glory to reward each according to his deeds. May \nwe not be found fallen and idle, but alert and roused to \naction, prepared to enter into his joy and the divine brid-\nal chamber of his glory, where the voice of those who \nfeast is unceasing, and the sweetness of those who be-\nhold the ineffable beauty of thy countenance is beyond \ntelling. For thou art the true Light that enlightens and \nsanctifies all things, and all creation doth extol thee in \nsong, unto ages of ages. Amen.\nseventh Prayer: by the same\nW\ne bless thee, O God Most High and Lord of mer -\ncies, who ever doest among us great and unsearch-\nable things, glorious and extraordinary, which cannot be \nnumbered, who grantest to us sleep for rest from our in-\nfirmities and repose from the burdens of our much-toil -\ning flesh. We thank thee that thou hast not destroyed us \nwith our sins but hast loved us as always, and though we \nare sunk in despair, thou hast raised us up to glorify thy \nmight. Therefore, we implore thine incomparable good -\nness to enlighten the eyes of our understanding and to \n\n10\nprayers for morning, day & night\nraise up our minds from the heavy sleep of indolence: \nopen our mouth and fill it with thy praise, that we may \nbe able undistracted to sing and chant and confess unto \nthee, who art God, glorified in all and by all, the Father \nwithout beginning, together with thine Only-begotten \nSon, and thine all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now \nand ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\neighth Prayer\nA Midnight Song to the Theotokos\nI \nsing thy grace, O Lady, and beseech thee: grant grace \nto my mind. T each me to walk aright on the path of \nChrist’s commandments. Strengthen me to keep watch \nwith song, dispelling the torpor of sleep. I am bound \nby fetters of sin: free me by thy prayers, O Bride of God. \nGuard me by night and by day, delivering me from foes \nthat war against me. Thou didst bear God, the Giver of \nlife: give life to me, who am slain by passions. Thou didst \nbear the Light that knows no evening: enlighten my \nblinded soul. O wondrous palace of the Master, make of \nme a home for the divine Spirit. Thou didst bear the Phy-\nsician: heal my soul of its besetting passions. I am tossed \nin the tempest of life: direct me toward the path of repen-\ntance. Deliver me from the eternal fire, from the wick -\ned worm, and from hell. Make me not a joy of demons, \nthough I am guilty of many sins. Make me new, O most \nimmaculate Lady: I have grown old and unfeeling in my \n\n11\nMorning Prayers\nsins. Keep me away from every torment, and pray fer -\nvently to the Master of all. Grant that I may inherit the \njoys of heaven, together with all the saints. Most pure \nand holy Virgin, give ear to the voice of thine unfruitful \nservant. Grant me a torrent of tears to wash out the filth \nfrom my soul. The groans of my heart I offer thee un-\nceasingly: open thy heart, O Lady. Accept my prayerful \nservice, and offer it up to the God of compassion. Thou \nwho art far higher than the angels, raise me far above the \nworld’s confusion. O bright and heavenly shade, over -\nshadow and enlighten me with spiritual grace. Though \nmy hands and lips are defiled by sin, nevertheless I raise \nthem in praise of thee, all-immaculate Queen. Deliver \nme from soul-corrupting dangers, and pray fervently to \nChrist, to whom are due honor and worship, now and \never and unto ages of ages. Amen.\nninth Prayer\nT o Our Lord Jesus Christ\nM\ny most merciful and all-merciful God, O Lord \nJesus Christ: in thy great love, thou didst come \ndown and take flesh in order to save all. And so I pray \nthee, O Savior: save me by grace. If thou shouldst save \nme because of my deeds, this would not be a gift, but \nmerely a duty. T ruly, thou aboundest in compassion \nand art inexpressibly merciful; for thou hast said, O my \nChrist: ‘He who believes in me shall live and never see \n\n12\nprayers for morning, day & night\ndeath. ’ If faith in thee saves the desperate, behold: I be-\nlieve. Save me, for thou art my God and my Creator. May \nfaith be accounted to me in place of deeds, for thou shalt \nfind no deeds to justify me. May my faith suffice for ev -\nerything: may it answer for me; may it justify me; may it \nmake me a partaker of thine eternal glory. Do not let Sa -\ntan seize me and boast that he has torn me from thy hand \nand fold; but rather, Christ my Savior, save me whether \nI want it or not. Come quickly, hurry, for I am perishing: \nfor thou art my God from my mother’s womb. O Lord, \ngrant that now I may love thee as I once loved sin, and \nthat I may labor for thee without laziness just as I once la-\nbored for Satan the deceiver. All the more shall I labor for \nthee, my Lord and God, Jesus Christ, all the days of my \nlife, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\ntenth Prayer\nT o the Guardian Angel\nO \n holy angel, standing guard over my wretched \nsoul and my passionate life: do not abandon me, \na sinner, neither depart from me because of my lack of \nself-control. Leave no room for the evil demon to gain \ncontrol over me by subduing this mortal body. Strength-\nen my weak and feeble hand, and guide me toward the \npath of salvation. O holy angel of God, the guardian and \nprotector of my wretched soul and body: forgive me all \nthe sorrows I have caused thee every day of my life; and \n\n13\nMorning Prayers\nif I have sinned during the night now past, yet protect me \nthroughout the present day. Keep me from every temp -\ntation of the enemy, lest I anger God by some sin. Pray \nto the Lord on my behalf, that he may establish me in \nhis fear and make me, his servant, worthy of his good -\nness. Amen.\neleventh Prayer\nT o the Most Holy Theotokos\nO \n my Lady, most holy Theotokos, through thy holy \nand all-powerful prayers, drive from me, thy hum-\nble and wretched servant, despair, forgetfulness, indis -\ncretion, indifference, and all filthy, evil, and blasphemous \nthoughts, removing them from my wretched heart and \ndarkened mind. Extinguish the flame of my passions, for \nI am poor and wretched. Deliver me from my many wick-\ned memories and plans, and free me from all evil activity. \nFor thou art blessed by all generations, and thy most pre-\ncious name is glorified unto ages of ages. Amen.\nAnd these verses:\nRejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Mary, full of grace, the \nLord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and \nblessed is the fruit of thy womb: for thou hast borne the \nSavior of our souls.\nPray to God for me, O holy [name of your patron saint], \npleasing to God, for with fervor I run to thee, swift help -\ner and intercessor for my soul.\n\n14\nprayers for morning, day & night\nO Lord, save thy people and bless thine inheri -\ntance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over \ntheir adversaries, and by virtue of thy Cross preserve \nthy habitation.\n• During fasting seasons, on Monday through Friday , \nwe say the following prayer:\nPrayer of Saint Ephraim\nO \n Lord and Master of my life, give me not a spir -\nit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk. \n(prostration) But give rather a spirit of chastity, hu -\nmility, patience, and love to thy servant. (prostration) \nY ea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own trans-\ngressions, and not to judge my brother: for blessed art \nthou unto ages of ages. Amen. (prostration)\nO God, cleanse me a sinner. (12 times, with bows)\nThen the entire Prayer of St. Ephraim is repeated \nwith a single prostration at its conclusion. •\nI\nt is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, ever-bless -\ned and most pure and the Mother of our God. More \nhonorable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond \ncompare than the seraphim, without corruption thou \ngavest birth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we mag -\nnify thee. (prostration)\nGlory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy \nSpirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\nLord, have mercy. (thrice)\n\n15\nprayers throughout the day\nLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of thy \nmost pure Mother, of my holy guardian angel, of [name \nof your patron saint], of [saint(s) of the day], and of all the \nsaints: save me, a sinner. Amen.\n\n\n16\nprayers for morning, day & night\n✠\nPRAYERS AT TABLE\nat the morning meal\nT\nhe eyes of all creatures look to thee, O Lord, and \nthou givest them food and drink in due season; thou \nopenest thy merciful hand and fillest every living thing \nwith thy goodwill.\nGlory… Now and ever… Lord, have mercy. (thrice) \nFor a \npriest:\nO Christ our God, bless the food and drink of \nthy servants, for thou art holy, always, now and \never and unto ages of ages. R. Amen.\nFor a \nlayman:\nLord Jesus Christ our God, through the prayers \nof our holy fathers, bless the food and drink of \nthy servants, for thou art holy, always, now and \never and unto ages of ages. R. Amen.\nAfter the morning meal\nG\nlory to thee, O Lord; glory to thee, O Holy One; \nglory to thee, O King: for thou hast given us suste-\nnance for gladness. Fill us also with the Holy Spirit, that \nwe may come before thee well-pleasing and unashamed \nwhen thou renderest to each according to his deeds.\nGlory… Now and ever… Lord, have mercy. (thrice) \n\n17\nprayers at table\nFor a \npriest:\nBlessed is God, who has mercy and feeds us \nfrom his bountiful gifts through his grace and \nlove for mankind, always, now and ever and \nunto ages of ages. R. Amen.\nFor a \nlayman:\nThrough the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord \nJesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. R. \nAmen.\n•\nat the midday meal\nO\nur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy \nName. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on \nearth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; \nand forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who \ntrespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but \ndeliver us from the evil one.\nGlory… Now and ever… Lord, have mercy. (thrice) \nFor a \npriest:\nO Christ our God, bless the food and drink of \nthy servants, for thou art holy, always, now and \never and unto ages of ages. R. Amen.\nFor a \nlayman:\nLord Jesus Christ our God, through the prayers \nof our holy fathers, bless the food and drink of \nthy servants, for thou art holy, always, now and \never and unto ages of ages. R. Amen.\n\n18\nprayers for morning, day & night\nAfter the midday meal\nW\ne thank thee, O Christ our God, for thou hast sat -\nisfied us with thine earthly gifts. Deprive us not \nof thy heavenly kingdom, but as thou camest among thy \ndisciples, O Savior, giving them peace, so come to us and \nsave us.\nGlory… Now and ever… Lord, have mercy. (thrice) \nFor a \npriest:\nBlessed is God, who has mercy and feeds us \nfrom his bountiful gifts through his grace and \nlove for mankind, always, now and ever and \nunto ages of ages. R. Amen.\nFor a \nlayman:\nThrough the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord \nJesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. R. \nAmen.\n\n19\nprayers at table\nat Supper\nT\nhe poor shall eat and be satisfied, and they that \nseek the Lord shall praise him; their hearts shall \nlive forever.\nGlory… Now and ever… Lord, have mercy. (thrice) \nFor a \npriest:\nO Christ our God, bless the food and drink of \nthy servants, for thou art holy, always, now and \never and unto ages of ages. R. Amen.\nFor a \nlayman:\nLord Jesus Christ our God, through the prayers \nof our holy fathers, bless the food and drink of \nthy servants, for thou art holy, always, now and \never and unto ages of ages. R. Amen.\nAfter supper\nG\nlory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy \nSpirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\nThy womb, O Theotokos, became a heavenly table, \nbearing the heavenly bread, Christ our God. Whosoever \neats of him shall not perish: so said the Nourisher of all.\nMore honorable than the cherubim and more glori -\nous beyond compare than the seraphim, without corrup-\ntion thou gavest birth to God the Word: true Theotokos, \nwe magnify thee.\nThou, O Lord, hast made us glad by thy creation, and \nin the works of thy hands will we rejoice. The light of thy \n\n20\nprayers for morning, day & night\ncountenance has been signed upon us, O Lord. Thou \nhast put gladness into my heart . From the fruit of their \nwheat and wine and oil have they been multiplied. In \npeace will I both lie down and sleep, for thou alone, O \nLord, hast made me dwell in hope.\nGlory… Now and ever… Lord, have mercy. (thrice) \nFor a \npriest:\nGod is with us through his grace and love for \nmankind, always, now and ever and unto ages \nof ages. R. Amen.\nFor a \nlayman:\nThrough the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord \nJesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. R. \nAmen.\n•\nA Prayer \nfor any meal\nO \n Blessed God, who, from our youth, hast shown \nmercy and hast nourished us, giving food to all \nflesh: fill our hearts with joy and gladness, that having ev-\nery sufficiency, we may become rich in every good deed, \nin Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom, with thee and the \nHoly Spirit, is due glory, dominion, honor, and worship, \nunto the ages. R. Amen.\n\n21\nprayers throughout the day\nPRAYERS for the HOURS \nof the DAY & NIGHT\nTwo Songs at Midnight\nTone Eight\nB\nehold, the Bridegroom comes at midnight, and \nblessed is the servant whom he shall find watching. \nAgain, unworthy is the servant whom he shall find heed -\nless. Beware, therefore, O my soul, do not be weighed \ndown with sleep, lest thou be given over to death, and be \nshut out of the kingdom. But rouse thyself, crying: Holy, \nHoly, Holy art thou, O God: through the Theo tokos \nhave mercy on us.\nA\ns thou dost think on that dread day, keep watch, O \nmy soul. Light thy lamp and keep it filled with oil. \nThou knowest not when thou shalt suddenly hear that \nvoice crying out to thee: ‘Behold, the Bridegroom!’ Be-\nware, therefore, O my soul, lest thou sleep, and find thy -\nself knocking outside like the five virgins. Rather, keep a \nsteadfast watch, that thou mayest greet Christ with fresh \nPrayers for the hours of the Day & night\n\n\n22\nprayers for morning, day & night\noil, and that he may grant thee the divine chamber of \nhis glory.\nMorning Prayer \nof the Last Elders of Optina\nO \n Lord, grant that I may meet all that this coming \nday brings to me with spiritual tranquility. Grant \nthat I may fully surrender myself to thy holy will. At ev -\nery hour of this day, direct and support me in all things. \nWhatever news may reach me in the course of the day, \nteach me to accept it with a calm soul and the firm con-\nviction that all is subject to thy holy will. Guide my \nthoughts and feelings in all my words and actions. In all \nunexpected occurrences, let me not forget that all is sent \ndown from thee. Grant me to deal in a straightforward \nand wise manner with every member of my family, nei -\nther embarrassing nor saddening anyone. O Lord, grant \nme power to endure the fatigue of the coming day and \nall the events that will take place during it. Guide my will \nand teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to be patient, to \nforgive, and to love. Amen.\nMorning Prayer \nof Saint Philaret of Moscow\nM\ny Lord, I know not what to ask of thee. Thou alone \nknowest my need. Thou lovest me more than I \nknow to love thee. Father, I am thy servant: grant me all \nI dare not ask. I ask neither for a cross nor for comfort; \n\n23\nprayers throughout the day\nI simply stand in thy presence. My heart is open to thee. \nThou seest my needs, of which I myself am unaware. \nLook upon me and act toward me in accordance with \nthy mercy: smite and heal, cast down and raise up. In thy \npresence I stand, reverent and silent before thy holy will \nand thy judgments, to which I cannot attain. T o thee I of-\nfer myself in sacrifice. I commend myself to thee. I have \nno desire except to fulfill thy will. T each me to pray. Do \nthou thyself pray within me. Amen.\nTwo Prayers for the morning \n(First Hour, that is, about 7 AM) \nby Saint Basil the Great\nO \n eternal God, everlasting Light without begin-\nning, Fashioner of all creation, Fountain of mercy, \nOcean of goodness, and searchless Abyss of love for man-\nkind: cause the light of thy countenance to shine upon \nus, O Lord. Dawn in our hearts, O noetic Sun of Righ-\nteousness, and fill our souls with thy delight, and teach \nus always to meditate on and proclaim thy judgments, \nand to render thee our unceasing praise, O our Master \nand Benefactor. Direct the work of our hands accord -\ning to thy will, and help us to do those things which are \nwell-pleasing and dear unto thee, that through us unwor-\nthy ones thy most holy Name may be glorified: of the Fa-\nther and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one Godhead \n\n24\nprayers for morning, day & night\nand Kingdom, to whom is due all glory, honor, and wor -\nship, unto the ages. Amen.\nO \n thou who sendest forth the light, and it goeth; \nwho dost make the sun to rise upon the just and the \nunjust, upon the evil and the good, making the morn-\ning and enlightening the world: enlighten our hearts as \nwell, O Master of all, and grant us during the present day \nto be well-pleasing unto thee. Preserve us from every sin \nand every work of evil, delivering us from every arrow \nthat flies by day and from every adverse power: through \nthe prayers of our immaculate Queen, the Theotokos; of \nthine immaterial ministers, the heavenly hosts; and of all \nthe saints who from the beginning have been well-pleas -\ning unto thee. For thine it is to have mercy and to save us, \nO our God, and unto thee do we send up glory: to the \nFather and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and \never and unto ages of ages. Amen.\nA Prayer for Mid-Morning \n(Third Hour, that is, about 9 AM)\nby Saint Basil the Great\nO \n Lord our God, who hast given peace unto men \nand hast sent down the gift of thine All-holy Spir -\nit upon thy disciples and apostles, and didst by thy pow -\ner open their lips with the tongues of fire: open also the \nlips of us sinners and teach us how and for what we must \n\n25\nprayers throughout the day\npray. Be thou the helmsman of our life, O thou calm hav-\nen of the storm-tossed, and make known unto us the way \nwherein we should walk. Renew an upright spirit in our \ninmost parts and by thy ruling Spirit make steadfast our \nfickle mind, so that each day being led by thy good Spirit \ntoward whatever is profitable, we may be counted worthy \nto accomplish thy commandments and to keep always in \nremembrance thy glorious coming, which searches out \nthe deeds of men. Lend us thy power, lest we be deceived \nby the ruinous delights of this world: give us instead to \nyearn for the enjoyment of the treasures laid up for the \nage to come: for blessed and praised art thou in all thy \nsaints, unto ages of ages. Amen.\nA Prayer for Midday \n(Sixth Hour, that is, about noon)\nby Saint Basil the Great\nO \n God, the Lord of Hosts and Author of all creation, \nwho in thine ineffable and tender mercy hast sent \ndown thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, \nfor the salvation of our kind, and through his precious \nCross hast torn up the record of our sins, and thereby tri-\numphed over the princes and dominions of darkness: do \nthou, O Master who lovest mankind, accept these prayers \nof thanksgiving and supplication even from us sinners, \nand deliver us from every dark and deadly transgression \n\n26\nprayers for morning, day & night\nand from all the visible and invisible enemies that seek \nto do us harm. Nail down our flesh with the fear of thee, \nand let not our hearts incline to evil words or thoughts; \nrather, wound our souls with thy love, that ever gazing \nupon thee, guided by thy light, and beholding thee, the \neternal Light that no man can approach, we may offer up \nunceasing praises and thanksgiving unto thee: the Father \nwithout beginning, together with thine Only-begotten \nSon, and thine all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now \nand ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\nA Prayer for Mid-afternoon \n(Ninth Hour, that is, about 3 pM)\nby Saint Basil the Great\nO\n Master and Lord, Jesus Christ our God, who art \nlong-suffering toward our faults and hast brought \nus even unto this present hour, in which, hanging upon \nthe life-giving Cross, thou didst open unto the good \nthief the way into paradise and destroy death by death: \nbe merciful to us, thy sinful and unworthy servants, for \nwe have sinned and transgressed, and we are not wor -\nthy to lift up our eyes and look at the height of heaven, \nsince we have forsaken the path of thy righteousness and \nhave walked according to the desires of our own hearts. \nBut we pray thee of thy boundless goodness: spare us, \nO Lord, according to the abundance of thy mercy, and \nsave us for thy holy Name’s sake, for our days have been \n\n27\nprayers throughout the day\nconsumed in vanity. Pluck us from the hand of the ad -\nversary, forgive us our sins, and kill our fleshly lusts, that \nputting off the old man, we may put on the new, and may \nlive for thee, our Master and Guardian; that so follow -\ning thine ordinances, we may attain to eternal rest, in the \nplace where all the joyful dwell. For thou, O Christ our \nGod, art indeed the true joy and gladness of those that \nlove thee, and to thee we send up glory, together with \nthy Father who is without beginning, and thine all-holy, \ngood, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages \nof ages. Amen.\nA Prayer for early evening \nby Saint Basil the Great\nB\nlessed art thou, O Lord Almighty, who hast illu-\nmined the day with sunlight and hast cheered and \nbrightened the night with rays of fire, who hast grant -\ned us to pass the course of the day and to approach the \nthreshold of night: hear our petitions and those of all thy \npeople, and pardoning all our sins, both voluntary and \ninvoluntary, accept our evening supplications, and send \ndown the abundant mercy of thy compassion upon thine \ninheritance. Defend us with thy holy angels. Arm us with \nthe armor and the weapons of thy justice. Build for us a \nbulwark of thy truth. Keep thy watch over us by thy pow-\ner. Deliver us from every danger and from every plot of \nthe adversary. Grant that this present evening and the \n\n28\nprayers for morning, day & night\ncoming night and all the days of our life may be perfect, \nholy, peaceful, and sinless, without stumbling and vain \nfantasy: through the prayers of the holy Theotokos and \nof all the saints who from the ages have been well-pleas -\ning unto thee. Amen.\nA Prayer for the night seasons \nby Saint Basil the Great\nL\nord, O Lord, who hast delivered us from every ar- \nrow that flieth by day, deliver us also from every -\nthing that walketh in darkness. Receive the lifting up of \nour hands as an evening sacrifice. Make us worthy to pass \nwithout blame through the course of the night, untempt-\ned by evil. And deliver us from all anxiety and coward -\nice that come to us from the devil. Grant compunction \nto our souls, and make our thoughts mindful of the tri -\nal at thy dread and righteous Judgment. Nail down our \nflesh with the fear of thee, and mortify our earthly mem-\nbers, that in the stillness of sleep we may be enlightened \nby the vision of thy judgments. T ake from us every un-\nseemly fantasy and pernicious carnal desire. Raise us up \nat the hour of prayer, established in faith and advancing \nin thy commandments: through the grace and goodness \nof thine Only-begotten Son, with whom thou art blessed, \ntogether with thine all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, \nnow and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n29\nprayers throughout the day\nA Prayer for any hour \nby Saint Joasaph of Belgorod\nSt. Joasaph said this short prayer whenever the clock struck the \nhour. In this way he marked the passage of time, which runs \nswiftly past, never to return.\nB\nlessed be the day and hour at which my Lord Je-\nsus Christ was born for my sake, endured crucifixion, \nand suffered death. O Lord Jesus, be present to me at the \nhour of my end, and receive into thy hands the wander -\ning soul of me, thy servant N.: for the sake of the prayers \nof thy most pure Mother and of all thy saints, for blessed \nart thou unto ages of ages. Amen.\n\n\n30\nprayers for morning, day & night\n✠\nPRAYERS \nBEFORE SLEEP\nIn the Name of the Father and of the \nSon and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.\nHROUGH the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord \nJesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.\n Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee. \nO heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, \nwho art everywhere present and fillest all things, T rea -\nsury of blessings, and Giver of life: come and abide in us, \nand cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, \nO Good One.\nHoly God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mer -\ncy on us. (thrice)\nGlory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy \nSpirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\nO Most Holy T rinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse \nus from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy \nOne, visit and heal our infirmities, for thy Name’s sake.\nLord, have mercy. (thrice)\n\n31\nprayers before sleep \nGlory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy \nSpirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. \nOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. \nThy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in \nheaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us \nour trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against \nus; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from \nthe evil one.\nAnd these penitential troparia:\nH\nave mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for \nlaying aside all excuse, we sinners offer to thee, as \nour Master, this supplication: have mercy on us.\nGlory to the Father…\nO Lord, have mercy on us, for in thee have we put our \ntrust. Do not be angry with us, nor remember our iniqui-\nties, but look down on us even now, since thou art com-\npassionate, and deliver us from our enemies; for thou art \nour God, and we are thy people; we are all the work of \nthy hands, and we call on thy Name.\nNow and ever…\nO blessed Theotokos, open the doors of compassion \nto us whose hope is in thee, that we may not perish but \nbe delivered from adversity through thee, who art the \nsalvation of the Christian people.\nLord, have mercy. (twelve times)\n\n32\nprayers for morning, day & night\nFirst Prayer, to God the Father \nby Saint Macarius the Great\nO \n eternal God and King of all creation, who hast \ncounted me worthy to reach this hour: forgive \nthe sins I have committed this day in deed, word, and \nthought, and cleanse, O Lord, my humble soul from ev -\nery defilement of flesh and spirit. Grant, Lord, that I may \npass through this night in peace, so that when I rise from \nmy humble bed, I may please thy most holy Name all \nthe days of my life and trample underfoot the enemies \nthat wage war against me, whether fleshly or spiritual. \nAnd deliver me, O Lord, from vain thoughts which de-\nfile me and from evil lusts. For thine is the kingdom and \nthe power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and \nof the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. \nAmen.\nsecond Prayer, \nto our lord jesus christ \nby Saint Antiochus\nO\n Jesus Christ, Almighty, Word of the Father \nwho art perfect: never abandon me, thy servant, for \nthe sake of thy great loving-kindness, but ever abide in \nme. O Jesus, good Shepherd of thy sheep, do not deliv -\ner me over to the serpent’s rebellion, neither abandon \nme to Satan’s will, for in him is the seed of corruption. O \nholy King, Jesus Christ, who art adored as Lord and God, \n\n33\nprayers before sleep \nkeep me while I sleep by thy unwavering Light, thy Holy \nSpirit by whom thou didst sanctify thy disciples. O Lord, \ngrant to me, who am unworthy to be thy servant, salva -\ntion upon my bed. Enlighten my mind with the light of \nthe understanding of thy holy Gospel, my soul with the \nlove of thy Cross, my heart with the purity of thy word, \nmy body with thy passionless Passion. Keep my thought \nwith thy humility and raise me up in due time to glori -\nfy thee: for thou art most glorified, with thy Father who \nis without beginning, and thy Most Holy Spirit, forever. \nAmen.\nthird Prayer, \nto the most holy spirit\nO \n Lord, heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit \nof truth: reveal thy loving-kindness and have mer -\ncy on me, thy sinful servant; and absolve me, who am un-\nworthy; and forgive all the sins I have committed today \nas a man, and indeed not as a man, but as if I were some-\nthing worse than a beast. Y ea, forgive my sins voluntary \nand involuntary, known and unknown, whether commit-\nted on account of my youth or because of knowledge and \nexperience of evil, whether out of audacity or despon-\ndency. If I have sworn by thy Name or blasphemed it in \nthought; if I have reproached anyone or become angered \nby something; or slandered or saddened anyone in my \nanger; or have lied; or slept to excess; or if a poor man \n\n34\nprayers for morning, day & night\ncame to me and I despised him; or if I have saddened my \nbrother or quarreled with him; or have judged someone; \nor have allowed myself to become haughty, proud, or an-\ngry; or if, while I stood in prayer, my mind was stirred \nup by the wicked things of this world; or if I have en-\ntertained depraved thoughts; or have over-eaten, over-\ndrunk, or laughed frivolously; or have had evil thoughts \nor seen someone’s beauty and been wounded by it in my \nheart; or have said indecent things; or have laughed at \nmy brother’s sins when my own transgressions are count-\nless; or have been indifferent to prayer; or have done any \nother evil that I cannot remember, for I have done all \nthis and more: have mercy, O Master, my Creator, on me, \nthy despondent and unworthy servant. Absolve, release, \nand forgive me, for thou art good and lovest mankind. \nAnd, prodigal, sinful, and wretched though I be, may I \nlie down in peace and find sleep and rest. And may I wor-\nship, hymn, and praise thy most honorable Name, with \nthe Father and his Only-begotten Son, now and always \nand forever. Amen.\nfourth prayer \nby Saint Macarius the Great\nW\nhat shall I offer thee? Or how can I repay thee, \nO immortal King, the Bestower of great gifts, O \ngenerous Lord and Lover of man? Though I have been \nlazy in pleasing thee and have done nothing good, thou \n\n35\nprayers before sleep \nhast brought me to the close of the day now past, arrang-\ning for the conversion and salvation of my soul. Be mer -\nciful to me, a sinner who am devoid of any good deeds. \nRaise up my fallen soul, defiled by immeasurable sins, \nand remove from me every evil intention of this visible \nlife. Thou who alone art without sin, forgive me all the \nsins I have committed against thee this day, in knowledge \nor in ignorance; in word, deed, or thought; and through \nany of my senses. By thy divine authority, by thine inex -\npressible love for mankind, and by thy power, do thou \ncover me and protect me from every assault of the ene-\nmy. Cleanse, O God, cleanse the multitude of my sins. Be \npleased, O Lord, to deliver me from the snares of the evil \none and save my passionate soul, and when thou comest \nin glory, do thou overshadow me with the light of thy \ncountenance. \nMay my sleep be blameless and free of fantasies. Keep \nthe thoughts of thy servant untroubled; keep far from \nme every satanic activity. Enlighten the reason-endowed \neyes of my heart, lest I sleep unto death. Send to me \nan angel of peace, a guide and guardian of my soul and \nbody, that he may deliver me from my enemies. Then \nwhen I arise from my bed, I shall offer thee prayers of \nthanksgiving. \nY ea, O Lord, hear me, thy servant, sinful and impov -\nerished in will and conscience. When I have risen from \n\n36\nprayers for morning, day & night\nsleep, grant me to learn thy words, and cause thine an-\ngels to drive demonic despondency far from me, that I \nmay bless thy holy Name and praise and glorify Mary, \nthe most pure Theotokos, whom thou hast given to us \nsinners as an advocate; and receive her as she prays for \nus, for we know that she imitates thy love for mankind \nand never ceases to pray. Through her intercessions, by \nthe sign of the precious Cross, and for the sake of all thy \nsaints, O Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on my poor \nsoul, for thou art holy and most glorified forever. Amen.\nFifth Prayer\nO \nLord our God, forgive all the sins I have commit -\nted this day in word, deed, or thought, for thou art \ngood and lovest mankind. Grant me peaceful and un-\ntroubled sleep, and send thy guardian angel to protect \nand keep me from every evil: for thou art the guardian \nof our souls and bodies, and to thee we send up glory, to \nthe Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now \nand ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\nSixth Prayer\nO \n Lord our God, in whom we have believed and \nupon whose Name we call more than any other \nname: grant relief to our souls and bodies as we go to \nsleep, and keep us from every fantasy and dark pleasure. \nHalt the onslaught of passions and quench the burning \n\n37\nprayers before sleep \narousals of the flesh. Grant us to live chastely in word \nand deed, that we may embrace a life of virtue and not \nfall away from thy promised blessings, for blessed art \nthou forever. Amen.\nseventh prayer \nby Saint John Chrysostom\nSupplications for the 24 hours of the day and night.\nFor the day:\nL\nord, deprive me not of thy heavenly blessings. Lord, \ndeliver me from eternal torments. Lord, whether I \nhave sinned in thought or intent, word or deed, forgive \nme. Lord, deliver me from all ignorance, forgetfulness, \ncowardice, and callous insensitivity. Lord, deliver me \nfrom every temptation. Lord, enlighten my heart which \nevil desires have darkened. Lord, as a man I have sinned; \ndo thou, as the compassionate God, have mercy on me, \nknowing the weakness of my soul. Lord, send thy grace \nto my aid, that I may glorify thy holy Name. Lord Jesus \nChrist, inscribe me, thy servant, in the book of life, and \ngrant me a good end. Lord, my God, although I have \ndone nothing good before thee, grant by thy grace that I \nmay make a good beginning. Lord, sprinkle in my heart \nthe dew of thy grace. Lord of heaven and earth, remem-\nber me, thy sinful, shameful, and unclean servant, in thy \nkingdom. Amen.\n\n38\nprayers for morning, day & night\nFor the night:\nLord, accept me in repentance. Lord, do not abandon \nme. Lord, lead me not into temptation. Lord, grant me \ngood thoughts. Lord, grant me tears, the remembrance \nof death, and compunction. Lord, give me the intention \nto confess my sins. Lord, grant me humility, chastity, and \nobedience. Lord, grant me patience, courage, and meek -\nness. Lord, plant within me the root of all blessings: the \nfear of thee in my heart. Lord, grant me to love thee with \nmy whole soul and intention, and to do thy will in all \nthings. Lord, protect me from trials coming from men or \ndemons or passions, and from any other unseemly thing. \nLord, thou knowest thy creation and doest with it as \nthou wilt: may thy will be done in me, a sinner, for bless -\ned art thou forever. Amen.\neighth Prayer \nT o Our Lord Jesus Christ\nL\nord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of thy most \nhonorable Mother; thy fleshless angels; thy Proph-\net, Forerunner, and Baptist; the divinely inspired apos -\ntles; the radiant and victorious martyrs; the venerable \nand God-bearing fathers; and of all the saints: deliver me \nfrom this present assault of the devil. Y ea, my Lord and \nCreator, who desirest not the death of the sinner, but that \nhe should turn to thee and live: grant repentance to me, \nwretched and unworthy, and snatch me from the jaws \n\n39\nprayers before sleep \nof the serpent, ravenous and perilous, who would de-\nvour me and drag me down to hell alive. Y ea, my Lord, \nmy Comfort, who didst put on corruptible flesh for the \nsake of my wretchedness, lift me up from this wretched -\nness and bring comfort to my wretched soul. Plant in my \nheart the desire to keep thy precepts, to renounce my \nevil deeds, and to obtain thy blessings. In thee, O Lord, \nhave I trusted: save me.\nninth Prayer, \nto the most holy theotokos \nby Peter the Studite\nO \n most pure Mother of God, in my wretched state \nI fall down before thee in prayer: thou knowest, O \nQueen, that I constantly sin and anger thy Son and my \nGod. But though I repent many times, and repent with \ntrembling, yet I appear a liar before God. Shall not God \nsmite me? — but an hour passes and I do the same things. \nKnowing this, my Lady, my Queen and Theotokos, I pray \nthee: have mercy on me, strengthen me, and grant me to \ndo good. O my Lady Theotokos, thou knowest that I ab -\nhor my evil deeds and love the Law of my God with all \nmy thought. But, most pure Lady! I do not understand \nhow I can hate what I love and turn away from what is \ngood. Do not allow my will to be done, O Most Pure, for \nit is not pleasing to God; but rather may the will of thy \nSon and my God be done. May he save and enlighten me, \n\n40\nprayers for morning, day & night\nand give me the grace of his Holy Spirit, so that hence-\nforth I may abandon my squalid activity and live the re-\nmainder of my life in obedience to thy Son, to whom \nbelongs all glory, honor, and dominion, together with his \nFather who is without beginning and his all-holy, good, \nand life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. \nAmen.\ntenth Prayer \nT o the Most Holy Theotokos\nO\n good Mother of the good King, most pure and \nblessed Theotokos, Mary, pour out the mercy \nof thy Son and our God upon my passionate soul, and \nguide me toward good deeds through thy prayers, that I \nmay pass through the remainder of my life without stain, \nand find paradise through thee, O Virgin Mother of God, \nwho alone art pure and blessed.\neleventh Prayer \nT o the Guardian Angel\nA\nngel of Christ, my holy guardian and protector of \nmy soul and body: forgive me for all the sins I have \ncommitted this day, and deliver me from all the wiles \nof the enemy who opposes me, lest I anger my God by \nsome sin. Pray for me, thy sinful and unworthy servant, \nthat thou mayest show me worthy of the goodness and \nmercy of the All-holy T rinity, of the Mother of my Lord \nJesus Christ, and of all the saints. Amen.\n\n41\nprayers before sleep \nAnd these verses:\nO victorious leader of triumphant hosts, we, thy servants, \ndelivered from evil, sing our grateful thanks to thee, O \nTheotokos. As thou dost possess invincible might, set us \nfree from every calamity, so that we may sing: Rejoice, O \nunwedded Bride!\nMost glorious, ever-virgin Mother of Christ our God, \npresent our prayer to thy Son and our God, that through \nthee he may save our souls.\nAll my hope I place in thee, O Mother of God: keep \nme under thy veil.\nVirgin Theotokos, do not despise me, a sinner, for \nI am in need of thy help and intercession. My soul has \nhoped in thee: have mercy on me.\nMy hope is the Father. My refuge is the Son. My pro -\ntection is the Holy Spirit. O Holy T rinity, glory to thee.\n• During fasting seasons, on Sunday through Thursday \nnights, we say the Prayer of St. Ephraim (see p. 14), with \nprostrations. •\nIt is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, ever-blessed \nand most pure and the Mother of our God. More honor-\nable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond com-\npare than the seraphim, without corruption thou gavest \nbirth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify thee.\n(prostration)\n\n42\nprayers for morning, day & night\nGlory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy \nSpirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.\nLord, have mercy. (thrice)\nLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of thy \nmost pure Mother, of my holy guardian angel, of [name \nof your patron saint], of [saint(s) of the day], and of all the \nsaints: save me, a sinner. Amen.\nA Prayer of Saint John of Damascus \nsaid while pointing to the bed:\nO \n Master who lovest mankind, is this bed to be my \ncoffin? Or wilt thou grant my wretched soul to see \nthe light of another day? Behold: before me lies the tomb, \nbefore me standeth death. I fear thy judgment and eter -\nnal torment, and yet, O Lord, I do not cease from doing \nevil. I always anger thee, O Lord my God, and thy most \npure Mother, and all the heavenly powers, and my holy \nguardian angel. I know, O Lord, that I am unworthy of \nthy love for mankind; rather, I am worthy of every con-\ndemnation and torment. Y et save me, O Lord, whether I \nwill it or not! For to save the righteous is no great thing, \nand to have mercy on the pure is nothing wonderful, for \nthey are worthy of mercy. But make marvelous thy mer -\ncy toward me, a sinner, and so reveal thy love for man-\nkind, lest my wickedness overcome thine inexpressible \n\n43\nprayers before sleep \ngoodness and mercy. Order my life as thou wilt.\nBefore lying down in bed:\nEnlighten mine eyes, O Christ God, lest I sleep unto \ndeath, lest my enemy say: ‘I have prevailed over him. ’\nGlory to the Father… \nBe my soul’s advocate, O good God, for I walk in the \nmidst of many snares. Deliver me from them and save \nme in thy love for mankind.\nNow and ever… \nWith all our heart and never-silent mouths let us \npraise the most glorious Mother of God, more holy than \nthe holy angels. Let us confess her as Theotokos, for in \nvery truth she gave birth to God made flesh, and without \nceasing she prays for our souls.\nThen kiss the cross and make the sign of the Cross over \nthe bed, head to foot and then side to side, saying this \nprayer to the precious Cross:\nL\net God arise; let his enemies be scattered. Let those \nwho hate him flee from before his face. As smoke \nvanishes so let them vanish, as wax melts before the fire: \nso let demons flee at the presence of those who love God \nand sign themselves with the sign of the Cross, and say \njoyfully: Rejoice, most precious and life-giving Cross of \nthe Lord, which drivest demons away through the power \nof our Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified on thee, who \n\n44\nprayers for morning, day & night\ndescended into hell, trampled down the power of the \ndevil, and gave to us his precious Cross for the routing of \nall enemies. Help me forever, most precious and life-giv -\ning Cross of the Lord, together with the holy Lady Virgin \nTheotokos and all the saints. Amen.\nO\n God, absolve, remit, and pardon our transgres -\nsions, voluntary and involuntary, committed in \nword or deed, thought or intention, whether in knowl -\nedge or in ignorance, whether by day or by night: forgive \nus everything, for thou art good and lovest mankind.\nAnd, before falling asleep:\nI\nnto thy hands, O Lord Jesus Christ my God, do I \ncommend my spirit. Do thou bless me, have mercy on \nme, and grant me life everlasting. Amen.\nThen make the sign of the Cross \nand fall asleep with prayer, \ncontemplating the Day \nof Judgment and \nthe summons \n before \nGod.