Great Compline
Extended evening prayer service used in Lent.
Opening Blessing
Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Reader: Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King
O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell in us, and cleanse us of all impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.
Trisagion (Part 1)
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
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 (Part 1)
Our Father, Who 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. (12 times)
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 (Part 1)
O come, let us worship 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 Christ Himself, our King and God.
And if it is the first week of Great Lent, we begin with Psalm 69, otherwise skip Psalm 69, and continue at Psalm 4:
The Symbol of Faith
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 Son of God, the Only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by 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 was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And arose again on the third day according to the Scriptures; And ascended into the heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; And 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 with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by 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.
And immediately, O most holy Lady; all, except the last verse, are said twice, but O most holy Lady, is said thrice. [If you have two choirs, they alternate, if only one, the choir could alternate with the Priest] And with each one we make a prostration, except on Friday evenings, when this is read instead of being chanted, we make a bow:
O most holy Lady Theotokos, intercede for us sinners. (Thrice)
O all ye Heavenly Host of the holy Angels and Archangels, intercede for us sinners. (Twice)
O holy John, Prophet and Forerunner and Baptist of our Lord Jesus Christ, intercede for us sinners. (Twice)
O holy glorious Apostles, Prophets, and Martyrs, and all the Saints, intercede for us sinners. (Twice)
O our holy and God-bearing fathers, pastors, and ecumenical teachers, intercede for us sinners. (Twice)
O (patron saint of the temple), intercede for us sinners. (Twice)
O Invincible and incomprehensible and divine power of the precious and life-giving Cross, forsake not us sinners. (Twice)
O God, cleanse us sinners. (Twice)
O God, cleanse us sinners, and have mercy on us.
Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
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 (Part 2)
Our Father, Who 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. And he reads the following troparia:
Then the following Troparia, unless there be a feast, in which case we say the Troparion of the Feast (such as Nativity, the Forty Martyrs, the Finding of the Precious Head of the Forerunner, etc.):
On Monday and Wednesday evenings, in the Second Tone:
Enlighten mine eyes, O Christ God, lest at any time I sleep unto death, lest at any time mine enemy say: I have prevailed against him.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Be my souls helper, O God, for I pass through the midst of many snares; deliver me out of them, and save me, O Good One, for Thou art the Lover of Mankind.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: Seeing that we have no boldness on account of our many sins, do thou beseech Him that was born of thee, O Virgin Theotokos for the supplication of a mother availeth much to win the Master's favor. Disdain not the prayers of sinners, O all-pure one, for merciful and mighty to save is He Who deigned also to suffer for our sake.
On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, these troparia, in the Eighth Tone:
O Lord, Thou knowest the unsleeping vigilance of mine invisible enemies, and the weakness of my miserable flesh knowest Thou Who hast fashioned me: Into Thy hands, therefore, I will commit my spirit; shelter me with the wings of Thy goodness, lest at any time I sleep unto death, and enlighten the eyes of my mind to the enjoyment of Thy divine words, and raise me up in a seasonable time unto Thy glorification, for Thou alone art good and the Lover of mankind.
Stichos: Look upon me and hear me, O Lord my God.
How terrible is Thy judgment, O Lord, with the angels standing round about, the men being led in, the books opened, the deeds examined, the thoughts weighed. What judgment shall be awarded unto me who was conceived in sins? Who shall quench the flame for me, who shall enlighten the darkness for me, if not Thou, O Lord Who hast mercy on me, as the Lover of mankind.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Grant me tears, O God, as Thou didst once give to the sinning woman, and vouchsafe me to moisten Thy feet which have freed me from the path of delusion, and to offer to Thee as fragrant myrrh a pure life, fashioned in me by repentance, that I may hear Thy desired voice: Thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: Having in thee, O Theotokos, a hope that cannot be put to shame, I shall be saved; having obtained thy mediation, O most pure one, I shall not fear. I shall pursue enemies and triumph over them, having covered myself, as in a breastplate, only with thy protection; and imploring thine all-powerful aid, I cry unto thee: O Sovereign Lady, save me through thine intercessions, and raise me up from somber sleep to thy glorification, by the might of the Son of God who was incarnate of thee.
Then, continue:
Lord have mercy. (Forty Times)
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; who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
In the name of the Lord, father (master) bless.
Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen.
And this prayer of Basil the Great:
O Lord, O Lord, Who hast delivered us from every arrow that flieth by day, deliver us from everything that walketh in darkness. Receive as an evening sacrifice the lifting up of our hands. Vouchsafe us also to pass through the course of the night without blemish, untempted by evil. And deliver us from every anxiety and fear that come to us from the devil. Grant unto our souls compunction, and unto our thoughts solicitude concerning the trial at Thy dread and righteous judgment. Nail down our flesh with the fear of Thee, and mortify our earthly members, that in quietness of sleep we may be enlightened by the vision of Thy judgments. Take from us every unseemly dream and pernicious carnal desire. Raise us up at the hour of prayer, fortified in faith and advancing in Thy commandments; through the benevolence and goodness of Thine Only-begotten Son, with Whom Thou art blessed, together with Thy most-holy and good and life creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Come, Let Us Worship (Part 2)
O come, let us worship 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 Christ Himself, our King and God.
Psalm 50
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know 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 when Thou art judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, Thou hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom hast Thou made manifest unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice. Turn Thy face away from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and with Thy governing Spirit establish me. I shall teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn back unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had given it; with whole-burnt offerings Thou shalt not be pleased. A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.
Trisagion (Part 2)
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
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 (Part 3)
Our Father, Who 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.
And these troparia in the Sixth Tone:
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; * for at a loss for any defense, * this prayer do we sinners offer unto thee as Master: have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Lord, have mercy on us; * for we have hoped in Thee, be not angry with us greatly, * neither remember our iniquities; * but look upon us now as Thou art compassionate, * and deliver us from our enemies, * for Thou art our God, and we, Thy people; * all are the works of Thy hands, and we call upon Thy name.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: The door of compassion open unto us, * O blessed Theotokos, * for hoping in thee, let us not perish; * through thee may we be delivered from adversities, * for thou art the salvation of the Christian race.
Lord have mercy. (Forty Times)
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; who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
In the name of the Lord, father (master) bless.
Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen.
O Master God, the Father Almighty, O Lord, the Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and O Holy Spirit, one Godhead, one Power: Have mercy on me a sinner, and by the judgments which Thou knowest, save me, Thine unworthy servant; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Come, Let Us Worship (Part 3)
O come, let us worship 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 Christ Himself, our King and God.
Vouchsafe, O Lord
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers, and praised and glorified is Thy name unto the ages. Amen.
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in Thee. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.. Blessed art Thou, O Master, give me understanding of Thy statutes. Blessed art Thou, O Holy One, enlighten me by Thy statutes.
O Lord, Thy mercy endureth forever; disdain not the works of Thy hands. To Thee is due praise, to Thee is due a song, to 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.
After this, if it is not the first week of Lent, we say a canon to a saint of the commemorative cycle (from the Menaion), or to the Theotokos (from the Octoechos). And after the completion of the canon and stichera, we chant:
It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever blessed and most blameless, 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, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
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 (Part 4)
Our Father, Who 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.
Then we chant in a loud voice, and slowly, in the Sixth Tone (except on Friday evenings we omit this entirely and say the Kontakion of the Saturday commemoration):
O Lord of hosts, be with us, * for beside Thee, * we have no other helper in adversity; * O Lord of hosts, have mercy on us. (If two choirs, this is repeated by the second choir)
Stichos 1: Praise ye God in His saints, praise Him in the firmament of His power.
O Lord of hosts, be with us
Stichos 2: Praise Him for His mighty acts, praise Him according to the multitude of His greatness.
O Lord of hosts, be with us
Stichos 3: Praise Him with the sound of Trumpet, praise Him with the psaltery and harp.
O Lord of hosts, be with us
Stichos 4: Praise Him with timbrel and dance, praise Him with strings and flute.
O Lord of hosts, be with us
Stichos 5: Praise Him with tuneful cymbals, praise Him with cymbals of jubilation. Let every breath praise the Lord.
O Lord of hosts, be with us
Stichos 6 [if two choirs, this is sung by both]: Praise ye God in His saints, praise Him in the firmament of His power.
O Lord of hosts, be with us
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Lord, if we had not had Thy saints as intercessors, * and Thy goodness being merciful to us, * how should we have dared, O Savior, to hymn Thee, * Whom angels do unceasingly glorify? * O Thou that knowest the hearts, spare our souls.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Greatly multiplied, O Theotokos, are my sins, * and unto thee have I fled, O pure one, * imploring salvation. * Do thou visit mine enfeebled soul, * and pray to thy Son and our God * that He grant me forgiveness for the evil I have done, O thou only blessed one.
O all-holy Theotokos, * throughout my lifetime forsake me not, * to human protection entrust me not, * but do thou thyself defend me and have mercy on me.
All my hope I place in thee, * O Mother of God, * keep me under thy protection.
Reader: Lord, have mercy. (forty times)
Thou Who at all times and at every hour, in heaven and on earth, art worshipped and glorified, O Christ God, Who art long-suffering, plenteous in mercy, most compassionate, Who lovest the righteous and hast mercy on sinners, Who callest all to salvation through the promise of good things to come: Receive, O Lord, our prayers at this hour, and guide our life toward Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, make chaste our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our intentions, and deliver us from every sorrow, evil and pain. Compass us about with Thy holy angels, that, guarded and guided by their array, we may attain to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of Thine unapproachable glory; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord have mercy. (Thrice)
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; who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
In the name of the Lord, father (master) bless.
Priest: God be gracious unto us and bless us, and cause Thy face to shine upon us and have mercy on us.
Reader: Amen.
And then the Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian (on Friday evenings, the prayer of St. Ephraim is not said):
Priest: O Lord and Master of my life, a spirit of idleness, despondency, ambition, and idle talking give me not. Prostration
But rather a spirit of chastity, humble-mindedness, patience, and love bestow upon me Thy servant. Prostration
Yea, O Lord King, grant me to see my own failings and not condemn my brother; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen. Prostration
Then twelve reverences. With each one we say:
O God, cleanse me a sinner.
Then, the entire prayer without a break:
O Lord and Master of my life, a spirit of idleness, despondency, ambition, and idle talking give me not. But rather a spirit of chastity, humble-mindedness, patience, and love bestow upon me Thy servant. Yea, O Lord King, grant me to see my own failings and not condemn my brother; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen. Prostration
Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
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 (Part 5)
Our Father, Who 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. (Twelve times)
The Supplicatory Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos
O undefiled, untainted, uncorrupted, most pure, chaste Virgin, Thou Bride of God and Sovereign Lady, who didst unite the Word of God to mankind through thy most glorious birth giving, and hast linked the apostate nature of our race with the heavenly; who art the only hope of the hopeless, and the helper of the struggling, the ever-ready protection of them that hasten unto thee, and the refuge of all Christians: Do not shrink with loathing from me a sinner, defiled, who with polluted thoughts, words, and deeds have made myself utterly unprofitable, and through slothfulness of mind have become a slave to the pleasures of life. But as the Mother of God Who loveth mankind, show thy love for mankind and mercifully have compassion upon me a sinner and prodigal, and accept my supplication, which is offered to thee out of my defiled mouth; and making use of thy motherly boldness, entreat thy Son and our Master and Lord that He may be pleased to open for me the bowels of His loving kindness and graciousness to mankind, and, disregarding my numberless offenses, will turn me back to repentance, and show me to be a tried worker of His precepts. And be thou ever present unto me as merciful, compassionate and well disposed; in the present life be thou a fervent intercessor and helper, repelling the assaults of adversaries and guiding me to salvation, and at the time of my departure taking care of my miserable soul, and driving far away from it the dark countenances of the evil demons; lastly, at the dreadful day of judgment delivering me from torment eternal and showing me to be an heir of the ineffable glory of thy Son and our God; all of which may I attain, O my Sovereign Lady, most holy Theotokos, in virtue of thine intercession and protection, through the grace and love to mankind of thine only begotten Son, our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, to Whom is due all glory, honor and worship, together with His unoriginate Father, and His Most Holy and good and life creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
A Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ, by Antiochus the monk
And grant unto us, O Master, in the coming sleep, rest for body and soul, and preserve us from the gloomy slumber of sin, and from every dark and nocturnal sensuality. Subdue the impulses of passions, extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one that are cunningly hurled against us, assuage the rebellions of our flesh, and every earthly and fleshly subtlety of ours lull to sleep. And grant unto us, O God, a watchful mind, chaste thought, a sober heart, a sleep gentle and free from every satanic illusion. Raise us up at the time of prayer firmly grounded in Thy precepts and keeping steadfastly within us the memory of Thy judgments. All the night long grant us a doxology, that we may hymn and bless and glorify Thy most 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, Mother of Christ God, present our prayer to thy Son and our God, that through thee, He may save our souls.
My hope is the Father, my refuge is the Son, my protection is the Holy Spirit: O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.
Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ God, our hope, glory to Thee.
Choir: 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. (Thrice)
Father, bless.
Priest: O Master plenteous in mercy, O Lord Jesus Christ our God: Through the intercessions of our immaculate Lady Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary; through the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; through the mediations of the honorable, heavenly Bodiless Hosts, of the honorable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John; of the holy glorious, and all-praised apostles; of the holy, glorious, and victorious martyrs; of our holy and God-bearing fathers, (the patron saint of the temple); of the holy and Righteous Ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; of (the Saints of the day) and of all the saints: make our prayer acceptable; grant us the remission of our sins; shelter us with the shelter of Thy wings; drive away from us every enemy and adversary; make our life peaceful, O Lord; have mercy on us and on Thy world, and save our souls, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Bless, holy fathers (mothers, brothers and sisters) and forgive me a sinner, all wherein I have sinned this day in deed, word, and thought, and by all my senses.
And the brethren (sisters) (congregation) reply:
May God forgive and have mercy on thee, holy father.
And they make a bow (or a prostration, depending on the typicon), asking this forgiveness:
Bless me, holy father, and forgive all wherein I have sinned this day in deed, word, and thought, and by all my senses, and pray for me a sinner.
Priest: Through His grace may God forgive and have mercy on us all.
And he saith this Ectenia:
Let us pray for our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness Patriarch N.; for our lord the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan N., First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad; for our lord the Most Reverend (Archbishop or Bishop N., whose diocese it is) and all our brethren in Christ.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. Repeated after each petition.
Priest: For this land, its authorities and armed forces; for the God-preserved Russian land and its Orthodox people both in the homeland and in the diaspora, and for their salvation, and for every Christian land.
For them that hate us and them that love us.
For them that are kind to us and them that serve us.
For them that have asked us unworthy ones to pray for them.
For the deliverance of the imprisoned.
For our fathers and brethren that are absent.
For those sailing upon the sea.
For those bedridden in infirmities.
Let us pray for the abundance of the fruits of the earth.
And for every Orthodox Christian soul.
Let us bless pious kings (rulers), Orthodox hierarchs, and the founders of this holy habitation.
Our parents, and all that have passed on before us, our fathers, brethren, and the Orthodox here and everywhere laid to rest.
Let us say also for ourselves.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. Thrice
Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
Choir: Amen.
Return to the Liturgical Text Main Index