SMALL COMPLINE
Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
If no Priest is present, begin with: “Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.”
Reader: Amen.
Priest: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present, and fillest all things, the Treasury of all good and Endower of Life, come and abide in us, cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.
Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3x)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, be gracious unto our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, Which art in the Heavens, 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.
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 the ages of ages.
Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (12x)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O come, let us worship and fall down before God our King.
O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and God.
O come, let us worship and fall down before Him, Christ the King and our God.
PSALM 50
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy, and according to the abundance of Thy tender mercies blot out mine iniquity. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil before Thee; that Thou mightest be justified in thy words, and prevail in Thy judgment. Behold, I was shapen in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me. Behold, Thou lovest truth, the ineffable and secret things of Thy wisdom Thou declarest unto me.
Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.
Thou shalt make me to hear rejoicing and gladness, and the bones that have been brought low shall rejoice. Turn Thy countenance away from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Build in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in mine inward parts.
Cast me not away from Thy countenance, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the rejoicing of Thy salvation, and uphold me with Thy princely spirit. I will teach the iniquitous Thy ways, and the impious shall return unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation, and my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I should have given it; Thou delightest not in whole burnt-offerings. A sacrifice unto God is a contrite spirit; a contrite and humbled heart God will not put to shame. Do good, O Lord, in Thy favor unto Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built up. Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole burnt-offerings. Then shall they offer calves upon Thine altar.
PSALM 69
Be Thou attentive, O God, unto my help; make haste to help me, O Lord. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul. Let them be turned back and put to shame that wish me evil things. Being shamed, let them thereupon be turned back who say to me, Aha, aha. Let all those who seek Thee rejoice and be glad in thee, O God. And let those who love Thy salvation ever say, May the Lord be magnified. But I am poor and destitute; O God come unto mine aid. Thou art my helper and my Deliverer, O Lord; make no tarrying.
PSALM 142
Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplication in Thy truth, and hearken unto me in Thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with Thy servant: for before Thee shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath pursued my soul; he hath brought down my life to the ground. He hath set me in darkness, as those that have been long dead; and my spirit hath become listless against me, and my heart within me is perturbed. I remember the days of old, I have meditated on all Thy works; I muse on the works of Thy hands. I have stretched forth my hands unto Thee; my soul thirsteth after Thee like unto parched land. Hear me speedily, O Lord, for my spirit waxeth faint. Turn not Thy countenance away from me, lest I become like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Thy mercy in the morning, for in Thee do I hope.
Cause me to know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto Thee. Rescue me, O Lord, from mine enemies, for unto Thee have I fled for refuge. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. Thy good Spirit shall guide me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O Lord, for Thy Name’s sake. And in Thy righteousness Thou shalt bring my soul out of affliction, and in Thy mercy Thou shalt lay waste to mine enemies and destroy all them that afflict my soul, for I am Thy servant.
DOXOLOGY
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men.
We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory.
O Lord, King, Heavenly God, Father Almighty; O Lord, the Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit.
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world; have mercy on us, Thou that takest away the sins of the world.
Accept our supplication, Thou that sittest at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us.
For Thou alone art Holy, Thou alone art Lord, Jesus Christ, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Every evening will I bless Thee, and I will praise Thy Name unto the ages, yea, unto the ages of ages.
Lord, Thou hast been our refuge from one generation to another. I have said, Lord, have mercy on me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.
Lord, unto Thee have I fled for refuge; teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God.
For in Thee is the fountain of life; in Thy light shall we see light.
Extend Thy mercy unto them that know Thee.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to preserve us this night without sin.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers, and praised and glorified be Thy Name unto the ages. Amen.
O Lord, let Thy mercy be upon us, as we have hoped in Thee.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.
Blessed art Thou, O Master, make me to know Thy statutes.
Blessed art Thou, O Holy One, enlighten me by Thy statutes.
O Lord, Thy mercy is unto the ages; disdain not the works of Thine hands.
Unto Thee is due praise, unto Thee is due song, unto Thee glory is due, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
THE SYMBOL OF FAITH
Read by the priest if present:
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all Ages. Light of Light, True God of True God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father, through Whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from the Heavens and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became Man.
And, crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, He suffered and was buried.
And on the third day He arose, according to the Scriptures.
And ascended into the Heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father.
And He shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, Whose Kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified; Who spake through the Prophets.
In One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins.
I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen.
It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever blessed and all-blameless, and Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thee who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3x)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, be gracious unto our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, Which art in the Heavens, 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.
Priest if present: 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 the ages of ages.
If no priest is present, then: Through the prayers of our holy fathers Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
Here we say the Kontakion of the Feast, if applicable, or the Hypakoë of the Resurrection (if Sunday), and the Kontakion or Kontakia of the day.
Hypakoai of Sunday
First Tone.
The repentance of the thief stole Paradise, and the lament of the Myrrh-bearing women brought the joy to light that Thou art risen, O Christ God, granting the world great mercy.
Second Tone.
After the Passion, when the women went to the tomb to anoint Thy Body, O Christ God, they saw Angels in the sepulchre and were amazed; for they heard them say that the Lord is risen, granting the world great mercy.
Third Tone.
The shining Angel made the Myrrh-bearing women marvel at the sight of him, and the dew of his words fell upon them as he said: Why seek ye the Living in the tomb? He Who hath emptied the tombs is risen; know ye that He Who hath changed corruption is changeless; say unto God: How awesome are Thy works, for Thou hast saved mankind.
Fourth Tone.
The Myrrh-bearing women ran to proclaim to the Apostles the glad tidings of Thy wondrous Arising, O Christ, that Thou art risen as God, granting the world great mercy.
Plagal of First Tone.
The Myrrh-bearing women, their minds dazzled by the vision of the Angel and their souls enlightened by Thy divine Arising, proclaimed the good tidings unto the Apostles: Announce among the nations the Resurrection of the Lord, Who worketh with you in wonders and granteth us great mercy.
Plagal of Second Tone.
By Thy voluntary and life-creating death, O Christ, Thou, as God, hast broken in pieces the gates of Hades and opened unto us the Paradise of old; and by rising from the dead Thou hast delivered our life from corruption.
Grave Tone.
O Christ our God, Who didst assume our form and endure the Cross in the flesh, save me by Thy Resurrection, for Thou lovest mankind.
Plagal of Fourth Tone.
Standing at the tomb of the Giver of life, the Myrrh-bearing women sought the immortal Master among the dead; and receiving the good tidings of joy from the Angel, they announced to the Apostles that Christ our God is risen, granting the world great mercy.
Daily Kontakia
Monday. Second Tone.
O Supreme Commanders of God and ministers of the Divine glory, guides of men and leaders of the Bodiless Hosts, ask for what is to our profit and for great mercy, since ye are Supreme Commanders of the Bodiless Hosts.
Tuesday. Second Tone
O Prophet of God and Forerunner of Grace, having obtained thy Head from the earth as a most sacred rose, we ever receive healings; for again, as of old, in the world thou preachest repentance.
Wednesday. Fourth Tone.
O Thou Who wast lifted up willingly upon the Cross, bestow Thy mercies on the new commonwealth named after Thee, O Christ God; gladden with Thy power our faithful rulers, granting them victories over their enemies. May they have as Thy help in war the weapon of peace, the invincible trophy.
Thursday. Second Tone.
Thou hast taken to Thyself, O Lord, the steadfast and Divinely-voiced heralds, Thy chief Disciples, for the enjoyment of Thy good things and for repose; for Thou didst accept their labours and death as above all sacrifice, O Thou who alone knowest the secrets of our hearts.
Third Tone.
In Myra, O Saint, thou didst prove to be a minister of things sacred; for having fulfilled the Gospel of Christ, O Holy one, thou didst lay down thy life for thy flock, and didst save the innocent men from death; wherefore, thou wast sanctified as a great Initiate of the Grace of God.
Friday. Fourth Tone.
O Thou Who wast lifted up willingly upon the Cross, bestow Thy mercies on the new commonwealth named after Thee, O Christ God; gladden with Thy power our faithful rulers, granting them victories over their enemies. May they have as Thy help in war the weapon of peace, the invincible trophy.
Saturday. Plagal of Fourth Tone.
With the Saints grant rest, O Christ, to the souls of Thy servants, where there is neither sickness, nor sorrow, nor sighing, but life unending.To Thee, O Lord, the Planter of creation, the inhabited earth doth offer the God-bearing Martyrs as the first-fruits of nature. By their supplications preserve Thy Church in profound peace, through the Theotokos, O Thou Who art great in mercy.
Reader: Lord, have mercy. (40x)
Thou Who art at all times and in every hour, in heaven and on earth, worshipped and glorified, Christ God; Who art long-suffering, great in mercy, and great in compassion; Who lovest the righteous and showest mercy upon sinners; Who callest all to salvation through the promise of future good things; do Thou, O Lord, accept our petitions in this hour, and direct our lives toward Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, make chaste our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our intellects, and deliver us from all affliction, evils, and sorrow. Wall us about with Thy holy Angels, that, guarded and guided by their intervention, we may attain to the unity of faith, and to the knowledge of Thine unapproachable glory; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thee who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
In the Name of the Lord, Father, bless.
Priest: May God show His tender mercy upon us, and bless us, and shine His countenance upon us, and have mercy on us; and save us and help us, O All-Holy Virgin.
Reader: Amen.
On Sunday evenings during the Great Fast, the serving Priest says the Prayer of St. Ephraim at this point, with three prostrations, twelve bows, and one final prostration.
Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos
(by Monk Paul of the Monastery of the Evergetis)
Spotless, untainted, incorrupt, immaculate, innocent Virgin, O Lady, Bride of God, who hast united God the Word to men by thy strange birthgiving, and hast joined the outcast nature of our kind to heavenly things, the only hope of the hopeless, the help of those embattled, the ready succor of those who run to thee, and the refuge of all Christians, loathe not me the sinner, the abominable one, though I have rendered the whole of my self useless by mine ignoble thoughts, words, and deeds, and am become, by mine outlook, a slave to the indolence of life’s pleasures; but as the Mother of the God Who loveth mankind, have compassion, in thy love for mankind, upon me the sinner and prodigal, and accept my supplication, offered unto thee from sullied lips; and using thy maternal boldness, adjure thy Son and our Master and Lord, that He might open even unto me, in His love for mankind, the inner depths of His goodness and, overlooking mine innumerable errors, that He might return me to repentance and show me forth as a proven worker of His commandments. And be thou ever with me as one merciful, sympathetic, and loving of the good: in the present life an ardent Protectress and Helper, walling me off from the onslaughts of adversaries and guiding me to salvation, and, at the time of my departure hence, tending to my wretched soul and driving far from it the dark appearances of evil demons; and in the fearful Day of Judgment, delivering me from eternal chastisement and showing me to be an heir of the ineffable glory of thy Son and our God. May this be my lot, O my Lady, Most Holy Theotokos, through thy mediation and succor, by the Grace and love for mankind of thine Only-Begotten Son, our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ; to Whom are due all glory, honor, and worship, together with His unoriginate Father, and His all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
And grant unto us, O Master, as we depart for sleep, rest for body and soul; and protect us from the murky sleep of sin and from all dark and nocturnal sensuality. Halt the onslaughts of passions and extinguish the fiery arrows of the Evil One, which are craftily loosed against us; check the uprisings of our flesh and lull every thought of mundane and material things. And grant unto us, O God, an alert mind, prudent thinking, a wakeful heart, and a light sleep free from all satanic fantasy. And raise us up at the time of prayer, fortified by Thy commandments and having the remembrance of Thy judgments steadfast within us. Grant unto us to glorify Thee the whole night long, that we might hymn and bless and glorify Thine all-honorable and majestic Name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Spotless, untainted, incorrupt, immaculate, innocent Virgin, O Lady, Bride of God, who hast united God the Word to men by thy strange birthgiving, and hast joined the outcast nature of our kind to heavenly things, the only hope of the hopeless, the help of those embattled, the ready succor of those who run to thee, and the refuge of all Christians, loathe not me the sinner, the abominable one, though I have rendered the whole of my self useless by mine ignoble thoughts, words, and deeds, and am become, by mine outlook, a slave to the indolence of life’s pleasures; but as the Mother of the God Who loveth mankind, have compassion, in thy love for mankind, upon me the sinner and prodigal, and accept my supplication, offered unto thee from sullied lips; and using thy maternal boldness, adjure thy Son and our Master and Lord, that He might open even unto me, in His love for mankind, the inner depths of His goodness and, overlooking mine innumerable errors, that He might return me to repentance and show me forth as a proven worker of His commandments. And be thou ever with me as one merciful, sympathetic, and loving of the good: in the present life an ardent Protectress and Helper, walling me off from the onslaughts of adversaries and guiding me to salvation, and, at the time of my departure hence, tending to my wretched soul and driving far from it the dark appearances of evil demons; and in the fearful Day of Judgment, delivering me from eternal chastisement and showing me to be an heir of the ineffable glory of thy Son and our God. May this be my lot, O my Lady, Most Holy Theotokos, through thy mediation and succor, by the Grace and love for mankind of thine Only-Begotten Son, our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ; to Whom are due all glory, honor, and worship, together with His unoriginate Father, and His all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ
(by Monk Antiochos, author of the Pandects)
And grant unto us, O Master, as we depart for sleep, rest for body and soul; and protect us from the murky sleep of sin and from all dark and nocturnal sensuality. Halt the onslaughts of passions and extinguish the fiery arrows of the Evil One, which are craftily loosed against us; check the uprisings of our flesh and lull every thought of mundane and material things. And grant unto us, O God, an alert mind, prudent thinking, a wakeful heart, and a light sleep free from all satanic fantasy. And raise us up at the time of prayer, fortified by Thy commandments and having the remembrance of Thy judgments steadfast within us. Grant unto us to glorify Thee the whole night long, that we might hymn and bless and glorify Thine all-honorable and majestic Name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Most glorious, Ever-Virgin, blessed Theotokos, offer up our prayer to thy Son and our God, and entreat Him, that through thee He may save our souls.
My hope is the Father, my refuge the Son, my protection the Holy Spirit. O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.
All my hope do I set in thee, O Mother of God; protect me under thy shelter.
In thee, O Full of Grace, rejoiceth all creation, the company of Angels and mankind; O sanctified Temple and rational Paradise, boast of the virginal; from whom God was incarnate and became a Child, our God Who existed before the ages; for He made thy womb a throne and He made thy belly more spacious than the Heavens. In thee, O Full of Grace, all creation rejoiceth. Glory to thee.
Prayer to the Guardian Angel
O Holy Angel, who attendeth to my wretched soul and afflicted life, forsake me not, the sinner, nor depart from me for my lack of self-control. Give no place to the evil demon to dominate me by the sway of this mortal body; take me by my wretched and outstretched hand and guide me to the path of salvation. Yea, O Holy Angel of God, guardian and protector of my wretched soul and body, forgive me everything wherewith I have distressed thee all the days of my life; and forgive me, if I have sinned in aught this day. Cover me during the present night and preserve me from every offense of the adversary, lest by any sin I stir God to anger; and intercede for me before the Lord, that He might uphold me in the fear of Him and show me to be a worthy servant of His goodness. Amen.
Rejoice, Virgin Theotokos, Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the Saviour of our souls. (3x)
(if no Priest end with “Through the prayers of our holy fathers Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us, Amen”)
Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ God our Hope, glory to Thee.
Reader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (3x). Bless.
Priest: May Christ our true God… (Small Dismissal).
Priest: Let us pray for the peace of the world;
• for pious and Orthodox Christians;
• for our (Metropolitan, or Archbishop, or Bishop) and Father N. and all our brotherhood in Christ;
• for our absent Fathers and brethren;
• for those who hate us and for those who love us;
• for those who show mercy to us and for those who serve us;
• for those who enjoin us in our unworthiness to pray for them;
• for the deliverance of captives;
• for those who fare well by sea, land, and air;
• for those lying in infirmities;
• let us pray also for the abundance of the fruits of the earth;
• and for the soul of every Orthodox Christian.
• Let us bless pious kings; Orthodox Hierarchs; the founders of this holy monastery (or church); our parents and teachers, and all our fathers and brethren departed before us, those here piously laid to sleep, and the Orthodox everywhere.
• Let us say also for ourselves: Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.
Reader: Amen.
