Prayerbook

The daily prayers of the Church — uniting the faithful to God morning and evening in praise, repentance, and thanksgiving.

Daily Office

Evening Prayers

Before Sleep

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy Name's sake. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. 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 the evil one. Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

Psalm 50 (51)

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 bloodguiltiness, 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. Amen.

Lord, have mercy! (×12)

Prayer to the Holy Trinity

O eternal God and King of all creation, Who hast granted me to reach this hour: forgive me the sins I have committed this day in thought, word, and deed, and cleanse, O Lord, my humble soul from every defilement of flesh and spirit. Grant me, O Lord, to pass this night in peace. Send Thy holy angel to protect and keep me from every evil and assault of the adversary. Raise me up again in due time, that I may glorify Thee; for Thou art blessed, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and Thy Most Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer of St. Macarius the Great

O eternal God, Who art without beginning and without end, Who art the Creator of all things: grant me rest this night in peace, and guard me from every evil dream and dark delight of sin. Restrain the impulses of passion, extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one, and suppress the uprisings of my flesh. Grant that I may rest in purity, and if I sin, forgive me. I beseech Thee, O Lord, that I may arise in the morning with a peaceful mind, and that my lips may give Thee praise. Do Thou strengthen me to walk in Thy commandments and to work that which is pleasing in Thy sight. For Thou art the Light and the Life and the Peace of my soul, and to Thee do I ascribe glory, together with Thy Father, Who is without beginning, and Thine All-holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer of St. John Damascene

O Master, Lover of mankind, is it not this bed that will be my grave? Or wilt Thou again shine upon my wretched soul the light of another day? Behold, the grave lieth before me; behold, death standeth before me. I fear, O Lord, Thy judgment and the endless torment, yet I cease not to do evil. I ever anger Thee, my Lord God, and Thy Most Pure Mother, and all the heavenly powers, and my holy guardian angel. I know, O Lord, that I am unworthy of Thy love for mankind, but am worthy of every condemnation and torment. Yet, O Lord, save me according to Thy mercy, as Thou art a Lover of mankind. Let not my soul be seized by demons, and let them not darken me in the abyss of hell. Be my helper, O Lord, for the sake of Thy mercy and loving-kindness. O Lord, be my salvation for the sake of Thy holy Name.

The Nicene Creed

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 only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, Begotten, not made; Being of one essence with the Father; By Whom all things were made: Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost and of the Virgin Mary, And was made man: And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father: And He shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and 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. And I believe in one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church: I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins; And I look for the resurrection of the dead, And the life of the world to come. Amen.

Hymn to the Theotokos (Byzantine Hail Mary)

Hail, O Theotokos Virgin, full of grace, Mary, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, All glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and forever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer of Refuge

My hope is the Father, my refuge is the Son, my protection is the Holy Spirit. O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee!

Nightly Committal

Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commit my soul and my body. Bless me, have mercy on me, and grant me life eternal. Amen.

Final Blessing

Through the prayers of the Holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon us and save us, and grant us life eternal! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Amen.