Compline Evening Prayer (14 Minutes)

Blessed is our God, always now and forever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Glory to you, O God, glory to you.

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth 
who are present everywhere and fill all things, 
the treasury of blessings and giver of life, 
come and abide within us, cleanse of from all impurity 
and save our souls, o Good one.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3 times)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit now and forever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

All Holy Trinity, have mercy on me. 
Lord, forgive our sins. Master pardon our transgressions. 
Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Now and forever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven 
Hallowed be Your name. 
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, 
On earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread, 
And forgive us our trespasses, 
As we forgive those who trespass against us 
And lead us not into temptation, 
But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory 
Of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 
Now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Come, let us worship God, our King, and bow down before Him. 
Come, let us worship, Christ, our King and God, and bow down before Him. 
Come, let us worship, Christ Himself, our King and God, and bow down before Him.

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Behold I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sins did my mother conceive me.

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar. Amen.

Psalm 70

O God, come to deliver me. O Lord, make haste to help me. Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let them be turned back and brough to dishonor who wish me evil. Let them be turned back in shame who jeer at me, “Aha, Aha.”

May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You. May those who love Your salvation say ever more, “God is great!” But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.

Psalm 143

O Lord, hear my prayer; in Your truth give heed to my supplication. In Your righteousness, hear me. And enter not into judgment with Your servant for no one living is righteous in Your sight.

The enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead. Therefore my spirit within me faints; my heart within me is distressed.

I remember the days of old and meditate on all Your deeds; I thought of the works of Your hands and I stretched out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a parched land.

Make haste to answer me, O Lord. My spirit fails. Hide not Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pits. Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love, for in You I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.

Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies. I have fled to You for refuge. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good Spirit lead me on a level path.

For Your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life. In Your righteousness bring me out of trouble. And in Your steadfast love cut off my enemies and destroy all those who afflict my soul, for I am Your servant.

The Doxology

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among all. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, We give thanks to you, for your great glory.

O Lord King, heavenly God, Father Almighty. O Lord the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the father, who takes away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us, you who take away the sins of the world.

Receive our prayer, you who sit at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy on us. For you only are holy, you only are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name forever. Lord you have been our refuge from generation to generation. I have said, “Lord, have mercy on me. Heal my soul for I have sinned against you.” Lord I run to You for refuge, teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. For in You is the fountain of life, and in Your life, we shall see light.

Grant O Lord to keep us this day without sin. Blessed are You O Lord, the God of our Fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name forever. Amen. Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your commandments. Blessed are You, O Lord, make me to understand Your commandments. Blessed are You, O Lord, enlighten me Your commandments.

Your mercy O Lord endures forever and forever, Do not turn away from the work of Your hands. To you belong praise, song and glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator 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 created, of one essence with the Father through Whom all things were made. Who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And He rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father; And He will come again with glory to judge the living and dead. His kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets.

In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen.

The Magnificant

It is truly right to bless you, Theotokos, every-blessed, most purse, and Mother of our God. You are honored more than the cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim. Without loss of virginity you gave birth to God the Word, we magnify you the Theotokos.

Lord have mercy (40 times)

Prayer to Christ

Christ our God, You who at all times and in every hour are worshipped and glorified in heaven and on earth, long suffering, generous in mercy and rich in compassion, loving to the righteous and merciful to the sinner. You who call all to salvation through the promise of blessings to come. Lord in this hour accept our prayer and direct our lives according to Your commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, correct our thoughts, cleanse our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and distress. Encompass us with your holy angels so that guided and guarded by their power we may reach the unity of the faith and come to the knowledge of Your unapproachable glory for You are blessed forever. Amen.

Prayer to the Theotokos

O spotless, undefiled, unstained, chase and pure Virgin, Lady and Bride of God. Through your wondrous birth-giving you have united God the Word with humanity; you have brought together our fallen nature and the things of heaven. You are the hope of the hopeless, the help of the assaulted, the ready protection of those who hasten to you, the refuge of all Christians.

Do not despise me, a sinner, having wholly defiled myself with unclean thoughts, words and deeds; and having become through an indolent will a slave to life’s evil pleasures. But as the Mother of the loving God, show loving mercy to me, a sinner and prodigal, and accept this prayer form my impure lips.

In your maternal boldness, entreat your Son, our Master and Lord, to open to me the depths of His loving kindness; to overlook my countless transgressions; to lead me to repentance and to make me a worthy keeper of His commandments. Since you are merciful, compassionate and loving, be my constant companion.

In this life be my fervent champion and helper, repulsing the assaults of my adversaries and leading me to salvation. At the hour of my death, embrace my soul and drive far away from me the dark figures of evil demons. And in the awesome day of judgment, deliver me from eternal punishment and make me an heir of your Son’s unspeakable glory.

May I be worthy of this glory, my Lady, all-holy Theotokos, through your intercession and help, and by the grace and love of the only begotten Son, our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom belong all glory, honor and worship, together with His Father who is without beginning and His all-holy life-giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer to Christ

O Master, to us who are about to lie down to sleep grant rest of body and soul; and keep us from the dark sleep of sin and from any impure pleasure roaming in the darkness of night. Still the assaults of evil passions, quench the fiery darts of the evil one which are cast insidiously against us, calm the rebellious commotions of our flesh and put away from us all earthly and worldly thoughts.

Grant us, O God, a watchful mind, chaste thoughts, a sober heart and gentle sleep, free from all fantasies of Satan. Raise us up again at the hour of prayer established in the practice of Your commandments and holding steadfast within us the remembrance of Your righteous judgments. Grant us to sing Your glory all night long; to praise, bless and glorify Your all-honorable and magnificent name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer to the Theotokos

Most glorious, ever-Virgin, and blessed Theotokos, present our prayer to your Son and our God, and through your intercession entreat Him to save our souls.

Prayer to the Holy Trinity

The Father is my hope. The Son is my refuge. The Holy Spirit is my protection. O Holy Trinity, glory to You.

All my hope I place in you, Theotokos. Keep me in your care.

Prayer to our Guardian Angel

Holy Angel, heavenly companion of my life, do not abandon me, a sinner, nor leave room to evil demons to overwhelm me through my weaknesses. But rather take hold of my weak hand and guide me on the path of salvation. Yes, Holy Angel o God, guardian and protection of my soul and body, overlook all the things to which I have grieved you. Guard me also during the night and protect me from every influence of Satan, that I may not fall into sin. Intercede to the Lord for me that He may grant me forgiveness of sins and help me to be worthy of His goodness. Amen.

THE PETITIONS

In peace let us pray to the Lord.  (“Lord have mercy” after each petition)

For all faithful and Orthodox believers.

For our Father and Archbishop Methodios and all our brothers and sisters in Christ

For our country, our president and those in public service.

For our parents, our brothers and sisters, our spouse, our children, our relatives and friends, and all people.

For those who hate us and those who love us.

For those who work with us and those who serve us.

For those who have asked us, unworthy as we are, to pray for them.

For travelers by land, sea, air and space.

For prisoners and captives.

For those who are hungry, suffering, sick and in need.

For those who departed from this life in the hope of the resurrection.

And for ourselves let us pray “Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.”

Through the prayers of our holy fathers and mothers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us. Amen.