Canon to the Guardian Angel

to the Guardian Angel Troparion, Sixth Tone: O Angel of God, my holy guardian, keep my life in the fear of Christ God; strengthen my mind in the true way, and wound my soul with heavenly love, so that, guarded by thee, I may obtain of Christ God great mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion:

O holy Lady, Mother of Christ our God, thou didst inexplicably bear the Creator of all; with my guardian angel entreat always His goodness to save my soul, possessed by passions, and to grant me remission of sins.

Canon, Eighth Tone:

Eirmos: Let us sing to the Lord, Who led His people through the Red Sea, for He alone is gloriously glorified.

Refrain:

O Lord Jesus Christ my God, have mercy on me. To Jesus: Vouchsafe me, Thy servant, O Saviour, worthily to sing a song and to praise the fleshless angel, my guide and guardian. Holy Angel of the Lord, my guardian, pray to God for me. Alone I lie in folly and idleness, O my guide and guardian, forsake not me who am perishing. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Direct my mind by thy prayer to fulfill the commands of God, that I may obtain of God forgiveness of sins, and teach me to hate all wickedness, I pray thee. Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

With my guardian angel, O Virgin, pray for me, thy servant, to the Gracious One, and teach me to fulfill the commandments of thy Son and my Creator.

ODE III

Eirmos: Thou art the support of those who flee unto Thee, O Lord, Thou art the light of those in darkness, and my spirit doth hymn Thee.

Refrain:

Holy Angel of the Lord, my guardian, pray to God for me. All my thoughts and my soul I have committed unto thee, O my guardian; do thou deliver me from all attacks of the enemy. Holy Angel of the Lord, my guardian, pray to God for me. The enemy troubleth and trampleth on me, and teacheth me always to do his will, but do thou, O my guide, forsake not me who am perishing. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Grant me to sing a song with thanksgiving and fervour unto my Creator and God, and to thee, my good Angel Guardian; O my deliverer, rescue me from foes that do me evil. Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Heal, O immaculate one, the most painful wounds of my soul, and drive away the enemies that ever fight against me.

Lord, have mercy. (3×)

Sessional Hymn, Second Tone:

Out of the love of my soul I cry to thee, O guardian of my soul, mine allholy Angel! Protect and guard me always from the hunting of the evil one, and guide me to the heavenly life, teaching and enlightening and strengthening me. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion:

O Theotokos Unwedded, O most pure one who gavest birth without seed to the Master of all, together with my guardian angel entreat Him to deliver me from all perplexity, and to grant my soul compunction and light, and cleansing of sins, for thou alone art quick to help.

ODE IV

Eirmos: I have heard, O Lord, of the mystery of Thy dispensation, and I came to knowledge of Thy works, and I glorify Thy Divinity.

Refrain:

Holy Angel of the Lord, my guardian, pray to God for me. Pray thou to God, the Lover of mankind, and forsake me not, O my guardian, but ever keep my life in peace, and grant me the invincible salvation. Holy Angel of the Lord, my guardian, pray to God for me. As the defender and guardian of my life I received thee from God, O Angel. I pray thee, O holy one, free me from all danger. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Cleanse my defilement by thy holiness, O my guardian, and may I be drawn from the left side by thy prayers, and become a partaker of glory. Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Perplexity confronteth me from the evil surrounding me, O most pure one, but deliver me from it speedily, for I flee only to thee.

ODE V

Eirmos: Awaking at dawn, we cry to Thee: O Lord, save us; for Thou art our God, beside Thee we know none other.

Refrain:

Holy Angel of the Lord, my guardian, pray to God for me. As one having boldness toward God, O my holy guardian, do thou entreat Him to deliver me from the evils that afflict me. Holy Angel of the Lord, my guardian, pray to God for me. O radiant light, illumine my soul with radiance, O my guide and guardian, given me by God, O Angel. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Keep me vigilant who sleep from the evil burden of sin, O Angel of God, and raise me up to glorify Him, through thy supplication. Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Mary, Lady Theotokos unwedded, O hope of the faithful, subdue the uprisings of the enemy, and gladden them that hymn thee.

ODE VI

Eirmos: Grant me a garment of light, O Thou Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment, O plenteously-merciful Christ our God.

Refrain:

Holy Angel of the Lord, my guardian, pray to God for me. Free me from every temptation, and save me from sorrow, I pray thee, O holy Angel, given to me as my good guardian by God. Holy Angel of the Lord, my guardian, pray to God for me. Enlighten my mind, O good one, and illumine me, I pray thee, O holy Angel, and teach me to think always profitably. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Abolish present disturbance from my heart, and strengthen me to be vigilant in good, O my guardian, and guide me miraculously to quietness of life. Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The Word of God dwelt in thee, O Theotokos, and showed thee to men as the heavenly ladder; for by thee the Most High descended to us.

Kontakion, Fourth Tone:

Show compassion to me, O holy angel of the Lord, my guardian, and leave not me, a defiled one, but illumine me with the light unapproachable, and make me worthy of the heavenly kingdom.

Ekos:

Vouchsafe my soul, humiliated by many temptations, the ineffable glory, O holy intercessor and singer with the choirs of the fleshless hosts of God. Have mercy and guard me, and illumine my soul with good thoughts, that I may be enriched by thy glory, O my angel; and subdue the enemies that wish me evil, and make me worthy of the heavenly kingdom.

ODE VII

Eirmos: Having gone down to Babylon from Judea, the Children of old by their faith in the Trinity trod down the flame of the furnace while chanting: O God of the fathers, blessed art Thou.

Refrain:

Holy Angel of the Lord, my guardian, pray to God for me. Be merciful to me and entreat God, O Angel of the Lord; for I have thee as a defender for the whole of my life, a guide and guardian given me by God for ever. Holy Angel of the Lord, my guardian, pray to God for me. Leave not my wretched soul, which was given thee blameless by God, to be slain by robbers along the way, O holy Angel, but guide it to the way of repentance. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. My whole soul is disgraced by the evil thoughts and deeds I have brought upon me, but make haste, O my guide, and grant me healing with good thoughts, that I may be inclined always to the right way. Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Wisdom of the Most High Personified, for the sake of the Theotokos, fill with wisdom and divine strength all that faithfully cry: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.

ODE VIII

Eirmos: The King of heaven, Whom hosts of angels hymn, praise ye and supremely exalt unto all ages.

Refrain:

Holy Angel of the Lord, my guardian, pray to God for me. O good Angel, sent by God, support me, thy servant, in my life and forsake me not unto the ages. Holy Angel of the Lord, my guardian, pray to God for me. O most-blessed one, I hymn thee, O good Angel, guide and guardian of my soul unto the ages. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Be unto me a protection and fortification in the judgment day of all men, in which all deeds, both good and evil, shall be tried by fire. Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Be unto me, thy servant, a helper and a calmness, O Ever-Virgin Theotokos, and leave me not bereft of thy protection.

ODE IX

Eirmos: Truly we confess thee to be the Theotokos, we who through thee have been saved, O pure Virgin; with the bodiless choirs, thee do we magnify.

Refrain:

O Lord Jesus Christ my God, have mercy on me. Have mercy on me, O my only Saviour, for Thou art merciful and kindhearted, and make me a member of the choirs of the righteous. Holy Angel of the Lord, my guardian, pray to God for me. Grant me ever to think and do what is useful, O Angel of the Lord, that I may be blameless and strong in infirmity. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As one having boldness toward the Heavenly King, do thou, with the rest of the bodiless ones, entreat Him to have mercy on me the wretched one. Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Having great boldness toward Him Who took flesh of thee, O Virgin, deliver me from fetters and grant me absolution and salvation through thine intercessions. Prayer to the Guardian Angel O holy Angel, my good guardian and protector! With broken heart and ailing soul I stand before thee, entreating: Hearken unto me, thy sinful servant (Name); with loud wailing and bitter weeping I cry: Remember not mine iniquity and unrighteousness, through which I a wretched one, have angered thee every day and hour, and have made myself loathsome before our Lord the Creator; show me loving-kindness and leave not me, the defiled, even until mine end. Awaken me from the sleep of sin, and enable me, through thine intercessions, to pass the remaining time of my life without stain, and bring forth fruits worthy of repentance; and above all preserve me from deadly falls into sin, lest I perish in despair, and mine enemy rejoice in my ruin. I know truly and confess with my mouth that there is no other friend and intercessor, protector and champion, such as thou, O holy Angel; for, standing before the throne of the Lord, thou intercedest for me the useless and most sinful of all, lest the Most Good One take my soul in the day of my despair and in a day of evil doing. Cease not, therefore, to entreat mercy of my most kindhearted Lord and God, that He forgive mine offences, which I have committed throughout all my life, in deed, word, and all my senses, and by judgments which He knoweth, that He save me; that He may chasten me here according to His ineffable mercy, but that He may not expose and put me to trial there in accordance with His simple justice; that He may deem me worthy to bring repentance, and with penitence to worthily receive Divine Communion; for this above all I make entreaty, and I desire such a gift with all my heart. And in the terrible hour of death, be not far from me, my good guardian, driving away the demons of darkness, who have the power to terrify my trembling soul; defend me from their net, when I shall pass through the aerial tollhouses, in order that, being guarded by thee, I may attain the desired paradise, where the choirs of the saints and the celestial hosts unceasingly praise the all-honourable and majestic name in Trinity of God glorified: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to Whom is due honour and worship, unto the ages of ages. Amen.