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Service of Preparation for Holy Communion

During Small Compline

SMALL COMPLINE

Priest: Glory to you, O God, our hope, glory to you.
O heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who are everywhere and fill all things, the treasury of blessings and giver of life, come and dwell within us and cleanse us from every blemish and save our souls, O Good One.
Amen. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.(3 times).
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen..
All-Holy Trinity have mercy on us. Lord, be gracious to our sins. Master, forgive our transgressions. Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities, for your name's sake. Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Our Father who art in heaven, 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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.(12)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Come, let us worship and fall down before our King and God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before the very Christ, our King and our God.
Psalm 50
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy, and according to the multitude of your compassions, blot out my offense. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I am aware of my iniquity, and my sin is continually before me. Against you only have I sinned and done evil before you, that you might be justified in your words, and emerge victorious when you are judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother carry and bear me. For behold, you have loved the truth; you revealed to me the hidden and secret parts of your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop and I shall be cleansed; you shall wash me and I will be whiter than snow. You shall make me hear joy and gladness; the afflicted bones shall rejoice. Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit, in the depths of me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take away your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and strengthen me with a guiding spirit. I will teach transgressors your ways, and the ungodly shall return to you. Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; and my tongue will joyfully sing your justice. O Lord, you shall open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise. For if you desired sacrifice, I would have offered it; you will not be pleased with whole burnt offerings. Sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit; a contrite and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, Lord, to Zion in your good pleasure, that the walls of Jerusalem may be built. Then you will be pleased with a sacrifice of justice, offering and whole burnt sacrifices. Then shall they offer calves upon your altar.
Psalm 69 (70)
O God, come to my assistance; Lord, hasten to help me. Let those who seek my soul be ashamed and reproached. Let those who wish me evil turn back and be disgraced. Let those who say to me: Well done! turn away in shame. Let those who seek You, O God, rejoice and delight in You; and let those who love Your salvation always say: The Lord be exalted. But I am poor and destitute, O God; help me. You are my helper and my deliverer, Lord; do not delay.
Psalm 142 (143)
O Lord, hear my prayer, lend your ear to my supplication in your truth, and in your justice hear me. And do not enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight no living person can be justified. For the enemy has persecuted my soul, and has brought my life down to the ground. He has forced me to live in the darkness like those dead for centuries, and my spirit is in anguish, my heart within me is troubled. I reminisced the days of old, I meditated on all your works, on all the creations of your hands did I contemplate. I stretched out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like parched land. Hear me speedily, Lord, my spirit has failed me. Do not turn away your face from me, else I will be like those who go down in the graves. Make me hear your mercy in the morning, for I have hoped in you. Make known to me, Lord, the road I should walk on, for I have lifted up my soul to you. Deliver me from my enemies, Lord, for I have fled to you; teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your good Spirit lead me in straight paths; for your name's sake, Lord, you shall give me life. In your justice you shall bring my soul out of affliction, and in your mercy you shall destroy my enemies. And will utterly destroy all those who afflict my soul, for I am your servant.
Doxology
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will to all people. We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to you for Your great glory. Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father, almighty Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father who take away the sin of the world, have mercy upon 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 upon us. For You only are holy, only You are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Each evening we bless You, and we praise Your name forever and to the ages of ages. Lord, You have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: Lord, have mercy upon me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against You . Lord, to You have I fled; teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. For You are the source of life, and in Your light we shall see light. Continue Your mercy to those who know You. Lord, grant to keep us this night without sin. Blessed are You, Lord, God of our fathers. Your name is praised and glorified from all ages. Amen. Let Your mercy, Lord, lighten upon us, as our trust is in You. Blessed are You, Lord, teach me Your commandments. Blessed are You, Master, teach me Your commandments. Blessed are You, Holy One, enlighten me in Your commandments. Your mercy, Lord, endures forever; turn not away from the works of Your hands. To you belongs praise, to You belongs worship, to you belongs glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
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 men 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.

Service of Preparation for Holy Communion

During Small Compline
After the Small Compline, at the end of
«I believe in one God...»,
λέγε μετὰ κατανύξεως τὸν παρόντα Κανόνα, οὗ ἡ ἀκροστιχὶς κατ᾿ ἀλφάβητον.
The Canon
Ode i. Peoples, now come.
Merciful Lord, may Your holy body be for me the bread of everlasting life; and may Your precious blood, O compassionate Master, prevent me from succumbing to illness of any kind.
I am defiled by my inappropriate deeds, for which I am unworthy of the most pure body and divine blood of my Savior. O Christ, I entreat You, let me partake of them.
Theotokion.
Bride of God, you are the blessed good earth that produced the ear of grain, which no man sowed and which became the world's salvation. And now, as I eat it, grant that I be saved by it.
Ode iii. You strengthened me.
O Christ, grant me a faucet of cleansing teardrops to wash away the stain of my heart's defilement, that purified by them and with a good conscience, O Master, I may come to You with fear and faith, and with love partake of Your holy gifts, O Lord.
For pardon of the multitude of transgressions be Your divine blood and Your pure body, O Lover of humanity, and for communion with the Holy Spirit and eternal life, and complete estrangement from passions troubling me.
Theotokion.
O Virgin Maid, you are the all-holy table of the Bread of life, the Son of God, who for mercy came down and gave new life to the world and saved it. Now I who am unworthy earnestly entreat that you count me worthy to eat it and to live.
Ode iv. You came, O Lord.
You willed to become incarnate for us, Lord most merciful, and as a Lamb be sacrificed for all the sins of humanity. Therefore I implore You now, to blot out my offenses and to wash me from my lawlessness.
O Master, I pray You, heal the wounds of my sorry soul, and though I am wretched, sanctify me, body and soul alike. Make me worthy to partake of Your divine and most mystical supper, O gracious Lord.
Theotokion.
O Lady, implore your Son to be merciful unto me. I entreat you, keep me free of every sin and impurity, so that when I dare receive the holy pearl of communion, I may truly be sanctified.
Ode v. Lord, the provider of light.
As You once said it, O Christ, so let it be to me Your worthless servant: Abide in me, even as you promised. For now I am about to eat Your holy body and drink Your most precious blood.
O Word of God and God, may the live coal of Your divine body be illumination to me, bedarkened, and may Your holy blood be purification for my defiled soul.
Theotokion.
O Mary, Mother of God, the tabernacle of the fragrance of God, I pray you make me a chosen vessel, by your almighty prayers, that I may partake of your Son's holy Sacrament.
Ode vi. Like a deep sea, my sins.
Savior, hallow my intellect, soul and heart, and my body, so that I may worthily approach Your awe-inspiring Mysteries, and not eat and drink judgment upon myself.
Through communion of Your holy Mysteries, may I become a stranger to the sinful passions, may grace be added unto me, and may I have assurance of life, O Christ.
Theotokion.
Being holy, as God and the Word of God, through Your holy Mother's intercession, sanctify the whole of me as I approach Your divine and immaculate Mysteries.
Kontakion. Mode 2. In seeking the heights.
I pray you do not forbid me to receive the Bread, Your Body, O Christ, nor deny me Your holy Blood. May receiving Your awe-inspiring, immaculate Mysteries be to me, wretched sinner, not for judgment, O loving Lord; may it rather be to me for immortal and everlasting life.
Ode vii. The image of gold.
Immortal, O Christ, are Your Mysteries, of which I am partaking. May this become for me the source of light and life, dispassion and every good; may it give me growth and advancement in divine virtue by Your grace, that I may glorify You, only good and merciful Lord.
From passions and foes, from necessity and every tribulation, may I be rescued as I come to Your divine, immortal Mysteries reverently with trembling and longing, only Friend of humanity, to sing to You, "O God of our Fathers, glory to You."
Theotokion.
O Maid full of grace, you ineffably gave birth to Christ the Savior. Now I, your unclean servant pray to you who are most pure and immaculate: As I now prepare to go forward to receive the Holy Eucharist, completely cleanse me of impurities of body and soul.
Ode viii. Mode 2. When God went down.
Your holy Mysteries, O Christ, are from heaven and are therefore awe-inspiring. And the mystical Supper that You prepared is divine. Now I who am desperate pray to You: Grant me to partake of it, O my God and Savior.
To Your compassion I have run, and with fear I cry to You the only Good One: As You said, so abide in me and let me abide in You. For trusting in Your mercy, behold, I eat Your all-holy Body and drink Your Blood, O Savior.
Theotokion.
I am afraid as I partake of the fire, lest I burn like wax and hay do. Awesome Mystery! Wonderful is the mercy of God! How I, who am clay, can partake of God's Body and His Blood and can thus become immortal!
Ode ix. Mode 2. To us was revealed.
Yes, Christ is the Lord; and therefore taste and see that He is good. For of old He came down and became like us for us. Only once He offered himself as a sacrifice to His God and Father, yet He is forever slain, sanctifying us communicants.
O Lord, may my body with my soul alike be sanctified, and illumined and saved and become Your dwelling place, through participation in Your sacred and divine Mysteries, O Master. May You and the Father and the Holy Spirit also dwell in me.
O Savior most merciful, I pray to You that Your divine precious Body and Blood be for me both light and fire, burning up the causes of sin and also the thorns of the sinful passions, and fully enlightening me to worship Your Divinity.
Theotokion.
When God formed a body for himself, He did it in your womb. Therefore all generations, O Lady, sing your praise. Multitudes of Angels give glory, for now through you they can clearly see Him, the Lord of the universe, one in essence with humanity.
Ἄξιόν ἐστιν...Τρισάγιον.
Δόξα... Καὶ νῦν...
Παναγία Τριάς...
Κύριε, ἐλέησον (γ´).
Δόξα... Καὶ νῦν...
Πάτερ ἡμῶν...
Ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν...
Καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τοῦ Ἀποδείπνου καὶ Ἀπόλυσις.
It is truly worthy to bless you, the Theotokos, the ever blessed and most pure and mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, incorruptibly you gave birth to God the Word. We magnify you, the true Theotokos.
Amen. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.(3 times).
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name's sake.
Lord, have mercy.(3)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
Our Father, Who art in the Heavens, hallowed by 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.
Ὁ Θεός τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν, ὁ ποιῶν ἀεὶ μεθ' ἡμῶν κατὰ τὴν σην ἐπιείκειαν, μὴ ἀποστήσῃς τὸ ἔλεός σου ἀφ' ἡμῶν, ἀλλὰ ταῖς αὐτῶν ἱκεσίαις, ἐν εἰρήνῃ κυβέρνησον τὴν ζωὴν ἡμῶν.
Τῶν ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ κόσμῳ Μαρτύρων σου, ὡς πορφύραν καὶ βύσσον τὰ αἵματα, ἡ Ἐκκλησία σου στολισαμένη, δι' αὐτῶν βοᾷ σοι Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός. Τῷ λαῷ σου τοὺς οἰκτιρμούς σου κατάπεμψον, εἰρήνην τῇ πολιτείᾳ σου δώρησαι, καὶ ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἡμῶν τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
Μετὰ τῶν Ἁγίων ἀνάπαυσον, Χριστε, τὰς ψυχὰς τῶν δούλων σου, ἔνθα οὐκ ἔστι πόνος, οὐ λύπη, οὐ στεναγμός, ἀλλὰ ζωὴ ἀτελεύτητος.
Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Τῇ πρεσβείᾳ Κύριε, πάντων τῶν Ἁγίων, καὶ τῆς Θεοτόκου, τὴν σὴν εἰρήνην δὸς ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς, ὡς μόνος οἰκτίρμων.
Lord, have mercy.(40)
At all times and in every hour, You are worshiped and glorified in heaven and on earth, Christ our God. Long in patience, great in mercy and compassion, You love the righteous and show mercy to sinners. You call all to salvation through the promise of good things to come. Lord, receive our prayers at the present time. Direct our lives according to Your commandments. Sanctify our souls. Purify our bodies. Set our minds aright. Cleanse our thoughts and deliver us from all sorrow, evil, and distress. Surround us with Your holy angels that, guarded and guided by them, we may arrive at the unity of faith and the understanding of Your ineffable glory. For You are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy.(3)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
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 bless.
Lord, have mercy.(3)
and save us O Most Holy Virgin.
PRAYER TO THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS
(Paul the monk, Monastery of Evergetidos)
Spotless, undefiled, immaculate, unstained, pure Virgin, Lady, and Bride of God, by your wondrous conception you united God the Word with human beings and joined the fallen nature of our race to heavenly things. You are the only, hope of the hopeless, and the help of those oppressed. You are the ready protection of those who flee to you and the refuge of all Christians. Do not spurn me an accused sinner, though I have made myself completely useless by my shameful thoughts, words, and deeds and through indolence have become a slave to the pleasures of life. But as the Mother of God who loves all people, mercifully have compassion upon me a sinner and a prodigal and receive my prayer though it be offered to you by unclean lips. Entreat your Son and our Lord and Master, using your boldness as a mother, so that he may open to me the loving mercy of his goodness, overlook my numberless transgressions, turn me to repentance, and make me an acceptable doer of his commandments. Always be near me, for You are merciful, compassionate, and loving. Be my ardent help and protection in this present life, defending me from the assaults of adversaries, and lead me to salvation. At the hour of my death, care for my miserable soul and drive the dark faces of evil spirits far from it. On the awesome day of judgment, save me from eternal punishment and make me an inheritor of the ineffable glory of your Son, our God. May this be my lot, my Lady, all holy Theotokos, through your intercession and help, by the grace and love of your only begotten Son, our Lord and God and Savior Jesus to whom belong all glory, honor, and worship with his eternal Father, and his all holy, righteous, and life giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
PRAYER TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
(Antiochus the monk of Pandektou)
Grant us, Master, as we depart for sleep, rest for body and soul. Protect us from the gloom of sinful sleep and from all dark pleasures of the night. Calm the impulses of passion, and quench the fiery darts of evil which are treacherously cast against us. Check the turbulence of our flesh and lull all our earthly and mundane thoughts. Grant us, O God, a watchful mind, prudent reason, a vigilant heart, and tranquil sleep, free from all evil fantasies. Raise us up at the hour of prayer, strengthen us in Your commandments, and keep unshaken within us the remembrance of Your judgments. Grant us to glorify You all night long that we may praise and 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.
Most glorious, ever virgin, blessed Theotokos, present our prayers to your Son and our God, and plead with him, that through you he may save our souls.
My hope is the Father; my refuge, the Son; my protection, the Holy Spirit. Holy Trinity, glory to You.
My every hope I place in you, Mother of God, keep me under your protection.
All creation – the assembly of angels and the race of man – rejoiceth in thee, O thou who art full of grace, O sacred temple and noetical paradise, boast of virgins, from whom God, Who existeth from before time, was incarnate and became a child; for He made thy body a throne, and thy womb He made more spacious than the heavens. All creation rejoiceth in thee, O thou who art full of grace. Glory to thee!
Prayer to the Angel
guardian of the human life
O holy angel that standeth by my wretched soul and my passionate life, forsake not me a sinner, nor shrink from me because of mine intemperance. Give no place for the cunning demon to master me through the violence of my mortal body, strengthen my poor and feeble hand, and guide me in the way of salvation. Yea, O holy angel of God, guardian and protector of my wretched soul and body, forgive me all wherein I have offended thee all the days of my life; and if I have sinned in anything this day, protect me during this present night, and guard me from every temptation of the enemy, that I may not anger God by any sin. And pray to the Lord for me, that he may establish me in His fear, and show me, His servant, to be worthy of His goodness. Amen.
O Theotokos and Virgin, rejoice, O 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 Savior of our souls.
(3)With the blessings of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us. Amen.