Begin with the Trisagion prayers,
or the Prayers for Purity
Tone 6. Ode 1
When Israel walked on foot across the sea as on dry land, on seeing their pursuer Pharaoh drowned, they cried out: Let us sing to God a song of victory.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Now I, a burdened sinner, approach thee, my Lord and God. But I dare not raise my eyes to heaven. I only pray, saying: Lord, give me understanding, that I may weep bitterly over my deeds.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Alas for me, a sinner! I am wretched above all men. There is no repentance in me. O Lord, give me tears that I may weep bitterly over my deeds.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Foolish, wretched man, thou art wasting thy time in idleness! Think of thy life and turn to the Lord God, and weep bitterly over thy deeds.
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Most pure Mother of God, look on me, a sinner, and deliver me from the snares of the devil, and guide me to the way of repentance, that I may weep bitterly over my deeds.
Ode 3
There is none holy as thou, O Lord my God, who hast exalted the power of thy faithful, O Good One, and established us on the rock of the confession of thee.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
When the thrones are set at the dread judgment, then the deeds of all men will be exposed. Then alas for the sinners sent to torment! And knowing that, my soul, repent of thine evil deeds.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The righteous will rejoice, but the sinners will weep. Then no one will be able to help us, but our deeds will condemn us. Therefore, before the end comes, repent of thine evil deeds.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Alas for me, a great sinner, who have defiled myself by my deeds and thoughts. I have not even a drop of tears because of my hard-heartedness. But now, rise up from the ground, my soul, and repent of thine evil deeds.
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
See, thy Son calls, O Lady, and directs us to what is good. But I, the sinner, always flee from the good. But, O merciful one, have mercy on me, that I may repent of my evil deeds.
Lord, have mercy. (3x).
Sessional hymn, tone 6:
I think of the terrible day and weep over my evil deeds. How shall I answer the immortal King? How shall I, a prodigal, dare to look at the Judge? O compassionate Father, only-begotten Son, and Holy Spirit, have mercy on me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
I am bound now with many chains of sins, and held down by cruel passions. I run to thee, to save me, and I cry out: Help me, O Virgin Mother of God.
Ode 4
Christ is my power, my God and my Lord, the holy Church sings in a godly voice, calling out with a pure mind and keeping festival in the Lord.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
The way here is broad and convenient for indulging in pleasures. But how bitter it will be on the last day when the soul is separated from the body! Beware of pleasures, O man, for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Why dost thou wrong the poor? Why dost thou withhold the wage of the hired servant? Why dost thou not love thy brother? Why dost thou run after pride and lust? Therefore cut off these things, my soul, and repent for the sake of the kingdom of God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O mindless man! How long wilt thou busy yourself like a bee, accumulating wealth? For it will perish like dust and ashes soon. But seek rather the Kingdom of God.
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
O Lady, Mother of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Strengthen and keep me in the virtues, lest sudden death take me by surprise. And bring me to the Kingdom of God, O Virgin.
Ode 5
O Good One, illumine our souls with thy divine light, for we rise early to pray to thee with love. Grant us to know thee, O Word of God, as the true God, who callest us back from the darkness of sin.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Remember, wretched man, how thou art enslaved to lies, slander, theft, and infirmities, wild beasts, on account of thy sins. O my sinful soul, is this what thou hast desired?
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
All the parts of my body tremble, for with all of them I have sinned: With my eyes in looking, with my ears in hearing, with my tongue in speaking evil, and by surrendering the whole of myself to hell. O my sinful soul, is this what thou hast desired?
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst receive the prodigal and the thief who repented, O Savior. I alone have surrendered to sinful sloth and have become enslaved to evil deeds. O my sinful soul, is this what thou hast desired?
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
O Mother of God, wonderful and speedy helper of all men, help me the unworthy one, for my sinful soul desires this.
Ode 6
When I behold the sea of life surging with the flood of temptations, I run to thy calm haven, and cry out to thee: Raise up my life from corruption, O most merciful God.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
I have lived my life wantonly on earth and have given my soul over to darkness. But now I entreat thee, O merciful Master, free me from this work of the enemy and give me the knowledge to do thy will.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Who does such things as I do? For just like a swine lying in the mud, so I serve sin. But Lord, pull me out of this vileness and give me the heart to do thy commandments.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Wretched man, rise to God! And, remembering your sins, fall down before the Creator, weeping and groaning, for he is merciful and will grant thee to know his will.
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
O Virgin Mother of God, protect me from evil, both visible and invisible. And accept my prayers, O spotless one, and present them to thy Son, that he may grant me the sense to do his will.
Lord, have mercy. (3x).
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion: O my soul, why dost thou become rich in sins? Why dost thou do the will of the devil? On what dost thou set thy hope? Cut these things off and turn to God with tears, and cry out: O kindhearted Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Ikos: O my soul, think of the bitter hour of death and the awful judgment of thy God and Creator. For terrible angels will seize thee, my soul, and will lead you into the eternal fire. And so, before thy death, repent and cry out: O Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Ode 7
An angel made the furnace sprinkle dew on the righteous youths. But the command of God consumed the Chaldeans, and moved the tyrant to cry out: Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O my soul, do not hope for corruptible wealth, and for what is unjustly gained. For thou dost not know to whom thou wilt leave it all. But cry aloud: O Christ God, have mercy on me the unworthy.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
O my soul, do not trust in health of the body, and in thy quickly-passing beauty. For thou dost see that the strong and the young die. But cry aloud: O Christ God, have mercy on me the unworthy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O my soul, remember eternal life and the heavenly kingdom prepared for the saints; and the outer darkness and the wrath of God for the evil. And cry out: O Christ God, have mercy on me the unworthy.
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
O my soul, fall down before the Mother of God, and pray to her; for she is quick to help those who repent. She intercedes with Christ, her Son and our God, and has mercy on me the unworthy.
Ode 8
Thou didst make flame sprinkle the saints with dew, and didst burn the sacrifice of a righteous man which was sprinkled with water. For thou alone, O Christ, dost do all as thou dost will. and we exalt thee unto all ages.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
How shall I not weep when I think of death? For I have seen my brother in his coffin, without glory or beauty. What, then, am I to expect? And what do I hope for? O Lord, grant me repentance before the end.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
How shall I not weep when I think of death? For I have seen my brother in his coffin, without glory or beauty. What, then, am I to expect? And what do I hope for? O Lord, grant me repentance before the end.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
I believe that thou wilt come to judge the living and the dead, and all will stand in order: Old and young, lords and princes, priests and virgins. Where shall I find myself? Therefore I cry aloud: grant me, O Lord, repentance before the end.
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Most pure Mother of God, accept my unworthy prayer and preserve me from sudden death; and grant me repentance before the end.
Ode 9
It is not possible for men to see God, on whom the ranks of angels dare not gaze. But through thee, O all-pure one, the Word incarnate appeared to men, and with the heavenly hosts we magnify him and we call thee blessed.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Now I run to you, holy angels, archangels, and all the heavenly hosts who stand at the throne of God. Pray to your Creator that he may deliver my soul from eternal torment.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Now I turn to you with tears, holy patriarchs, kings and prophets, apostles and holy hierarchs, and all the elect of Christ. Help me at the judgment, that he may save my soul from the power of the enemy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now I lift up my hands to you, holy martyrs, ascetics, virgins, righteous ones and all the saints, who pray to the Lord for the whole world, that he may have mercy on me at the hour of my death.
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
O Mother of God, help me who have strong hope in thee. Entreat thy Son that he may grant me a place at his right hand, unworthy as I am, when he shall sit to judge the living and the dead. Amen.
Prayer after the Canon
O Master Christ our God, thou hast healed my passions through thy Passion, and hast cured my wounds through thy wounds. I have sinned greatly against thee, but grant me tears of compunction. Transform my body with the fragrance of thy life-giving Body, and sweeten my soul with thy precious Blood from the bitterness with which the enemy has fed me. Lift up my downcast mind to thee, and take it out of the pit of destruction. For there is no repentance in me, no contrition, no comforting tears that lead children back to their Father’s house. My mind has been darkened through earthly passions, so I cannot look up to thee in pain. I cannot warm myself with tears of love for thee. But, O Lord Jesus Christ, Treasury of good gifts, give me complete repentance and a diligent heart, so that I may seek thee. Grant me thy grace and renew the likeness of thine image in me. I have forsaken thee; do not forsake me! Come out to seek me, lead me up to thy pasture, and number me among the sheep of thy chosen flock. Nourish me with them on the grass of thy holy Mysteries, by the prayers of thy most pure Mother and all thy saints. Amen.
