The Lord's Prayer
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 in temptations, but deliver us from evil. Amen
The Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son (and Word*) of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.
[This prayer can be repeated as many times as possible and is also used when praying with a prayer rope].
*and Word; is not always included. Both with and without this addition is used as a "recognized" prayer.
The 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 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 rose on the third day, according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated on the right hand of the Father; And He will come again with glory to judge the living and the 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.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
O Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth who art everywhere and fillest all things. Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life: Come and abide in us, cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.
Prayer to the Mother of God
O Theotokos and Virgin rejoice, O Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women and blessed is the Fruit in your womb, because you have borne the Savior of our souls.
MORNING PRAYERS
[After rising from sleep, stand with reference and fear of God, make the sign of the cross, and say:]
In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Glory to you, our God, glory to you.
Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth,
who are present everywhere fillest all things.
Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Live:
Come and abide in us, cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3x)
TO THE HOLY TRINITY:
Having arisen from sleep, we fall down before Thee, O Blessed One, and sing to Thee, O Mighty One, the angelic hymn: Holy! Holy! Holy! art Thou, O God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Do Thou, O Lord, Who hast raised me from my bed and from sleep, enlighten my mind and heart, and open my lips that I may praise Thee, O Holy Trinity: Holy! Holy! Holy! art Thou, O God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The Judge will come suddenly and the acts of every man will be revealed; but with fear we cry in the middle of the night: Holy! Holy! Holy! art Thou, O God; through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.
TO THE FATHER:
O Lord Almighty, God of hosts and of all flesh, dwelling in the highest, caring for the humble, searching the reins and the heart, and clearly discerning the hidden things of men - O unoriginate and ever-existing Light, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change, do Thou, O immortal King, accept our prayers which we offer to Thee at this present time from our soiled lips, trusting in the multitude of Thy bounties - forgive us our transgressions which we have committed knowingly or unknowingly, whether in word or deed or thought; cleanse us from all stain of body and soul. Grant us to pass through all the night of this present life with vigilant heart and sober thought, awaiting the coming of the radiant and manifest Day of Thy only-begotten Son, our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, on which the judgment of all men shall come with glory, when to each man shall be given the reward of his deeds. May we not fall and become lazy, but instead have courage that, being roused to action, we may be found ready to enter into the joy and the divine bride-chamber of His glory, where the voice of those who feast is unceasing, and the gladness of those who behold the goodness of Thy countenance is unending. For Thou art the True light Who enlighten and sanctify all things, and all creation sings Thy praise forever. Amen.
TO THE THEOTOKOS:
I sing the praises of your grace, O Lady, entreating you to enrich my mind with grace! Teach me to walk uprightly, in the way of Christ’s commandments. Strengthen my vigilance in song and prayer, which drive away the despair of sleep. Free me by your entreaties, O Bride of God, who am bound by sinful garments. Protect me in the night and in the day, delivering me from the enemies who contend against me. Give life to me who have been deadened by passion, you that gave birth to the life-giving God. Enlighten my blinded soul, you that gave birth to the never-ending light. O wonderful Palace of the Master, make me a house of the Divine Spirit. You that gave birth to the Physician, make well the passions of my soul. Lead me who am bestormed by life to the ways of repentance. Deliver me from the eternal flames. Do not show me to be the joy of demons because of my many sins.
Establish me anew who have been made senseless by transgressions, O Blameless One. Show me a stranger to every torment, and entreat the Master of All. Enable me to attain to the gladness of Heaven together with all the saints. O most Holy Virgin, hear the voice of your unprofitable servant. Grant me a stream of tears, O Most Pure One, to wash away the defilement of my soul. I bring to you the groaning of my heart unceasingly; beseech the Master to listen. Accept my prayerful service and bear it to the compassionate God! You that are higher than the angels, make me to be above the gloominess of the world. O light-bearing Cloud of Heaven, establish spiritual grace in me. Although stained by sin, I raise my hands and open my lips in praise of you! Deliver me from soul-corrupting wounds, entreating Christ fervently. To Him honor and worship are due, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
TO THE GUARDIAN ANGEL:
O Holy Angel, keeping guard over my wretched soul and my passionate life, do not forsake me, a sinner, nor depart from me because of my incontinence. Do not give the evil enemy room to overcome me by force of this mortal body. Strengthen my weak and feeble hand, and set me on the way of salvation. Yea, O Holy Angel of God, guardian and protector of my wretched soul and body, forgive me everything by which I have offended you all the days of my life, and even what I have done this past night; protect me during this day, and guard me from every temptation of the enemy, that I may not anger God by any sin. Pray to the Lord for me, that He may confirm me in His fear and prove me a worthy servant of His goodness. Amen.
TO ONE’S PATRON SAINT:
Pray to God for me, O Saint _____________ well-pleasing to God. I fervently entreat you who are the sure help and intercessor for my soul.
EVENING PRAYERS
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for laying aside all excuse, we sinners offer to Thee, as to our Master, this supplication: Have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Lord, have mercy on us, for in Thee have we put our trust. Do not be angry with us, nor remember our iniquities, but look down on us even now, since Thou art compassionate, and deliver us from our enemies. For Thou art our God, and we are Thy people; we are all the work of Thy hands, and we call on Thy name.
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O blessed Theotokos, open the doors of compassion to us whose hope is in you, that we may not perish but be delivered from adversity through you, who are the salvation of the Christian people.
TO THE FATHER:
O Eternal God, King of every creature, Who hast enabled me to attain to this hour, forgive me the sins which I have committed this day by thought, word and deed. Cleanse my humble soul, O Lord, from every defilement of flesh and spirit. Grant me, O Lord, to pass through the sleep of this night in peace, that I may rise from my humble bed and please Thy most Holy Name all the days of my life, vanquishing the enemies both fleshly and bodiless that contend against me. Deliver me from vain thoughts that defile me, O Lord, and from evil desires. 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 ages of ages. Amen.
TO JESUS CHRIST:
O Almighty Word of the Father, Jesus Christ, Who art Thyself perfect: Because of Thy great mercy, do not ever depart from me, Thy servant, but always abide in me. O Jesus, Good Shepherd of Thy sheep, let me not fall into the disobedience of the serpent, nor leave me to the will of Satan, for the seeds of corruption are in me. O Lord God adorable, O Holy King Jesus, guard me while I sleep with the unfading light, Thy Holy Spirit, through Whom Thou didst sanctify Thy disciples. Grant even to me, Thy unworthy servant, O Lord, Thy salvation upon my bed. Enlighten my mind with the light of the understanding of Thy Gospel; my soul with love of Thy Cross; my heart with the purity of Thy word; my body with Thy passionless passion; preserve my thought in Thy humility, and raise me at the time proper for Thy glorification. For Thou art most glorified with Thy Father, Who is without beginning, and Thy Most Holy Spirit, unto the ages. Amen.
TO THE HOLY SPIRIT:
O Lord, Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, be compassionate and have mercy on me, Thy sinful servant. Remit and forgive me, the unworthy one, all the things which I have sinned as a man, both voluntary and involuntary, in knowledge and in ignorance: from my youth, from learning of evil, and from emptiness or despair. If I swore with Thy name, or stained it in my reasoning; or dishonored someone; or cursed someone with my anger; or saddened him; or if I have become angry over something; or lied; or slept unfittingly; or if a poor man came to me and I despised him; or if I saddened my brother; or frustrated or judged someone; or became puffed up and proud; or if while standing in prayer my mind was moved by the evil of this world; or contemplated suicide; or over ate and over drank, or laughed without reason; or thought of evil; or if I saw another’s good and was bound by it in my heart; or spoke in an unseemly manner; or laughed at my brother’s sin; forgive me, for my sins are countless in number. If I have forsaken prayer, or done anything evil - I do not remember, for I have committed even more! Have mercy on me, O Master my Creator, Thine unworthy and unprofitable servant. Forgive, remit, and loose my sins, for Thou art gracious and lovest mankind; that I may rest in peace and sleep, though a prodigal, sinful and wretched, so that I may adore and praise and glorify Thy most honorable Name, together with the Father and His only-begotten Son, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
TO THE VIRGIN THEOTOKOS:
Rejoice! O Virgin Theotokos! Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, for you have borne the Savior of our souls!
O victorious leader of triumphant host! We, your servants, delivered from evil, sing our grateful thanks to you, O Theotokos! As you possess invincible might set us free from every calamity so that we may sing: Rejoice! O unwedded Bride!
PRAYERS FOR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS
Before Reading the Holy Scripture
Illumine our hearts, O Master Who lovest mankind, with the pure light of Thy divine knowledge. Open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of Thy gospel teachings. Implant also in us the fear of Thy blessed commandments, that trampling down all carnal desires, we may enter upon a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things as are well-pleasing unto Thee. For Thou art the illumination of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thy Father, Who is from everlasting, and Thine all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
BEFORE MEALS:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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 evil.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
O Christ our God, bless the food, drink, and fellowship of Thy servants, for Thou art holy always, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
AFTER MEALS:
We give thanks to Thee, O Christ our God, that Thou hast satisfied us with Thy earthly blessings; deprive us not also of Thy Heavenly Kingdom. As Thou didst come to Thy disciples and didst grant them peace; so come to us and save us, O Savior.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Blessed is God, Who has fed and nourished us with His bountiful gifts by His grace and compassion always, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.