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Small Compline (The Little After-supper) Have mercy on me, O God, in the abundance of your love; In the abundance of your tender mercies, wipe out my offense. OPENING PRAYERS Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and forever. People: Amen. Priest: Glory be to You, 0 God, glory be to You! People: O Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, You are everywhere present and fill all things, Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life; * come and dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain and save our souls, 0 Gracious Lord. From Pascha until the Wednesday before Ascension we sing three times: People: Christ is risen from the dead! By death He conquered Death; and to those in the graves He granted life. And then immediately "Holy God..." Priest: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us! (3 times) People: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Priest: Now and ever and forever. Amen. People: O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us of our sins. O Master, forgive our transgressions. * O Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities for your Name’s sake! Priest: Lord, have mercy! (3 times) People: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Priest: Now and ever forever. Amen. People: 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. Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. People: Amen. Priest: Lord, have mercy! (6 times) People: Lord, have mercy! (6 times) Priest: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. People: Now and ever and forever. Amen. Priest: O, come let us adore the King, our God. People: O, come let us adore Christ, the King and our God. Priest: O, come let us adore and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God. PSALMS 50-51 The Psalms may be straight-chanted antiphonally between the Cantor and people. Alternatively each Psalm may be read by an individual reader. Have mercy on me, O God, Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, It is You alone I have offended: Behold I was born in iniquities, Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be pure, Turn your face away from my offenses, Cast me not away from your face; I shall teach your ways to the sinner, O Lord, you will open my lips
0 God, come to my aid!
O Lord, hear my prayer;
SMALL DOXOLOGY This is recited by the Cantor: Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, and among men love and understanding. 0 Lord, King of Heaven, God, the Father Almighty, 0 only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, 0 Holy Spirit. We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give You thanks for your great glory. 0 Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. You take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. You Who sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For You alone are holy, You alone are Lord, 0 Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Every day will I bless You, and the praise of your name will be on my lips for ever and ever. 0 Lord, You have been our refuge from generation to generation. I cried out: Lord have mercy on me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against You. I run to You, Lord, teach me to please You, for You are my God. The source of life, and in your light we see light: shower your mercy on those who believe in You. 0 Lord, keep us this day without sin. Blessed are You, 0 Lord, God of our Fathers, and praised and glorified is your name forever. Amen. Let your mercy, 0 Lord, be upon us, for we have placed our hope in you. Blessed are You, 0 Lord, teach me your commandments. Blessed are You, 0 Master, make me understand your commandments. Blessed are You, 0 Holy One, enlighten me with your commandments. 0 Lord, your mercy endures forever; do not despise the work of your hands. It is proper to praise You, and hymns belong to You. Glory belongs to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
THE SYMBOL OF FAITH All present straight-chant the Creed: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, * creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. * And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, the only-begotten, * born of the Father before all ages. * Light of light, true God of true God, * begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father, through Whom all things were made. * Who, for us men and our salvation, came down from heaven * and was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin and became man. * He was also crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. * And He rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures. * And He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. * And He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and of his kingdom there will be no end. * And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver 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 profess one baptism for the remission of sins. * I expect the resurrection of the dead; * and the life of the world to come. Amen.
CANON At this point we may chant a Canon (or part thereof to the All-Holy Mother of God from the Octoechos, or some other Canon . If the Divine Liturgy is to be celebrated the next day, it is appropriate to chant the Canon of Preparation for Holy Communion.) After the final Ode of the Canon, we all sing "It is truly proper This is sung even when the Canon is omitted: People: (Samohlasen Tone 6) It is truly proper to glorify you, who have borne God, the ever-blessed, immaculate, and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare than the Seraphim, who, a virgin, gave birth to God the Word; you, truly the Mother of God, we magnify! From Pascha until it leave taking we sing in lieu of "It is truly proper..." People: The angel exclaimed to her, full of grace: "Rejoice, O Pure Virgin; again I say rejoice! Your Son is risen from the grave on the third day and has raised the dead. Let all nations rejoice. Shine in splendor, O new Jerusalem! For the glory of the Lord is risen upon you, 0 Zion; sing with joy and rejoice! And you, 0 pure Mother of God, rejoice in the resurrection of your Son.
TROPARIA & KONTAKIA Sunday night through Thursday night we recite the patronal Troparion first ("The joyful message... ), then the Troparion of the day of the week, and finally the Troparia and Kontakia, "0 God of our Fathers etc. Friday night (Compline for Saturday) we do not take the patronal Troparion, or the Troparia "0 God of our Fathers..." etc. Special Troparia are prescribed instead. On feasts of Polyeleos and above, omit the following and sing the Kontakion of the Feast only. On Saturday night take the Troparion & Kontakion in the Tone of the Week. If the Sunday coincides with a feast of the Master, sing the Kontakion of the Feast only. In all other cases (including feasts of the Theotokos) the Resurrection texts prevail. During Great Lent, and from Pascha until All Saints Sunday, there are proper Kontakia from the Triodion or Pentecostarion as applicable.
Troparion of the Resurrection: Tone 4 (Sunday through Thursday nights) The joyful message of the resurrection * was heard by the faithful women from the Angel. * And being freed from the ancestral curse * they boasted to the apostles: * "Dead and despoiled is Death; * Christ our God is risen, * giving great mercy to the world!"
Troparia of the week: Monday (Sunday night). The Holy Angels Reader: (Tone 4) O Leaders of the heavenly armies, * although we are always unworthy, we beseech you * that with your prayers you may encircle us * with the protection of the wings of your angelic glory. * Watch over us as we bow low and cry out to you: * deliver us from trouble, * 0 princes of the heavenly armies.
Tuesday (Monday night). St. John the Forerunner Reader: (Tone 2) The remembrance of the just is worthy of praise, but the Lord’s testimony is sufficient for you, 0 Forerunner; * for it has shown that you are indeed more worthy of honor than the prophets. * You were found worthy to baptize the Lord whom you foretold. * Thereafter announcing the news to those in the Abyss * that God had appeared as man, * taking away the sins of the world * and granting to all of us the abundance of mercy.
Wednesday (Tuesday night): The Precious Cross, the Theotokos. Reader: (Tone 1) Save your people, 0 Lord, and bless your inheritance; * grant victory to your Church over her enemies * and protect your people by your Cross.
Thursday (Wednesday night): The Holy Apostles, St. Nicholas Reader: (Tone 3) O holy apostles, intercede with the all-merciful God, * that He may grant us forgiveness of our sins. (Tone 4) The sincerity of your deeds has revealed you to your people * as a teacher of moderation, * a model of faith and an example of virtue. * Therefore you attained greatness through humility * and wealth through poverty.* O father and archbishop Nicholas, * ask Christ our God to save our souls.
Friday (Thursday night): The Precious Cross Reader: (Tone 1) Save your people, O Lord, and bless your inheritance; * grant victory to your Church over her enemies * and protect your people by your Cross. The following are then recited: Reader: O God of our Father who always deal with us according to your everlasting compassion, do not withdraw your mercy from us, but through the prayers of our fathers, guide our lives along the ways of peace. O Christ God, your Church, crimsoned with the blood of your martyrs all over the world as with a cloak of murex and porphyry, cries out to you: "send your mercy upon your people, grant peace to your fold, and extend your great compassion upon our souls. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. With the saints, O Christ, grant rest to your servants. Where there is no pain, sorrow, nor mourning, but life everlasting. Now and ever and forever. Amen Through the prayers of the all the saints, and of the Mother of God, grant us your peace, 0 Lord, and have mercy on us, for You alone are merciful.
Saturday (Friday night): All saints and the faithful departed. (Omit all the above and recite instead only the following:) Reader: O Apostles, prophets, martyrs, hierarchs, saints and righteous ones who have fought the good fight and kept the faith, since you have acquired favor with the Savior, intercede with Him that, in his goodness, He may save our souls. With the saints, O Christ, grant rest to your servants. Where there is no pain, sorrow, nor mourning, but life everlasting. To You, O Lord, Author of all Creation, the universe offers the God-bearing martyrs as the first fruit of nature. Through their prayers and the intercession of the Mother of God preserve your Church, your dwelling place, in perfect peace, 0 most merciful Lord.
PRAYER OF THE HOUR People: Lord, have mercy. (40 times). Priest: O Christ our God, in all times and places You are worshipped and glorified both in heaven and on earth. You are long-suffering and generous in your mercy and compassion. You love the just and show mercy to the sinner, calling all people to repentance through the promise of blessings to come. Deem, 0 Lord, at this very hour, to receive our supplications and to direct our lives in the path of your commandments. Sanctify our souls; purify our bodies; set aright our minds; cleanse our thoughts; deliver us from all affliction, trouble and distress; surround us with your holy angels, so that guided and guarded in their camp, we may attain oneness of faith and the knowledge of your unutterable glory. For You are blessed forever and ever. People: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (3 times) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; * now and ever and forever. Amen. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare than the Seraphim, * who, a virgin, gave birth to God the Word; you, truly the Mother of God, we magnify! From Pascha until its leave taking, we sing in lieu of "More honorable..." People: Shine in splendor, 0 new Jerusalem; for the glory of the Lord is risen on you, 0 Zion. Sing with joy and rejoice. And you, 0 pure Mother of God, rejoice in the Resurrection of your son. Give the blessing, Father, in the Name of the Lord. Priest: May God be merciful to us and bless us; may He cause his countenance to shine upon us, and have mercy on us. People: Amen. On Sunday nights during Great Lent, we say here the prayer of St Ephraim: People: O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power and idle talk. Prostration. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to your servant. Prostration. Yea, 0 Lord and King, grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother, for you are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen. Prostration. Then we each say quietly 12 times with bows to the ground: O Lord cleanse me a sinner, and have mercy on me. O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to your servant. Yea, 0 Lord and King, grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother, for you are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen. Prostration
PRAYERS BEFORE THE ICONS Standing before the Icon of the Mother of God, the Priest says: Priest: O Lady, Bride of God, virginal, pure, immaculate, blameless, without stain or disgrace, who through your birth-giving brought together our fallen state and the things of heaven: 0 you, only hope of the hopeless, help of the oppressed, ready protection of those who flee to you and refuge of all Christians: turn not in loathing away from me, sinful, befouled with filthy thoughts, and with words and deeds which have made me utterly worthless, and through idle reason a slave to the lusts of life. But as Mother of God, Who is the Lover of Mankind, have mercy, have compassion on me a sinner and a prodigal son. Accept from me, even from lips defiled, the prayer offered to you. And with your mother’s boldness, beg your Son, our Master and Lord, to open the depths of his loving kindness also to me, and, scorning my countless sins, turn me to true repentance, and show me a proved worker of his commandments. 0 you who are compassionate, be my constant companion. In this present life be with me as an intercessor, as a powerful help to turn away the assaults of the enemy and to guide me to salvation. At the time of my departure, carefully guard my wretched soul, and drive far off from it the dark forms of evil demons: on the dreadful day of judgment, deliver me from torments eternal, and show me an heir of the glory ineffable of your Son and our God. And this I shall attain, my Lady, most holy Mother of God, through your mediation and intercession: through the grace and love for mankind of your only-begotten Son, Lord and God, and our Savior Jesus Christ. To Whom is due all glory, honor and worship, together with his Father without beginning, and his most holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever. People: Amen. Going before the icon of Christ, the Priest says: Priest: And grant to us, 0 Master, going off to sleep, rest of body and of soul: and preserve us from the gloom of sinful sleep, and from every lust of dark and night. Quieten the desires of passion, quench the fiery darts of evil, so cunningly directed against us: still the rebellions of our flesh, and calm every worldly and material care. Grant us, 0 God, a vigilant mind, chaste thought, a sober heart, sleep light and free from satanic fancy. Rouse us at the time for prayer strengthened in your commandments, and firmly retaining within us the memory of your judgments. Grant us to extol you throughout the night, that we sing, bless, and glorify your all-honorable and majestic Name, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. People: Amen. We now sing the Troparion to the Mother of God, "Searcher for the Lost": People: (Tone 4) Within the Temple, 0 Temple of Life * you found Him whom the universe cannot contain, * silencing the teachers by the word of God * which is above the wisdom of the wise.* 0 all-pure Mother of God, * do not cease seeking your children who are lost; * that with you we may treasure Christ in our hearts, * and live eternally in our Father’s house. When commemorating a notable saint, we sing this Kontakion: People: To thee, the Champion Leader, * we thy flock dedicate *a feast of victory and of thanksgiving, * as ones rescued out of sufferings, O Theotokos. * But, as thou art one with might which is invincible, * from all dangers that can be do thou deliver us. * That we may cry unto thee: *Rejoice, thou Bride unwedded! Standing before the Royal Doors and turning towards the icon of the Mother of God, the Priest says: Priest: Most glorious, ever-Virgin, blessed Mother of God, bring our prayers before your Son and our God, and beseech Him that, through you, He may save our souls. Facing the Royal Doors: Priest: My hope the Father, my refuge the Son, my shelter the Holy Spirit. O Holy Trinity, glory be to You! All my hope I lay upon you, 0 Mother of God, keep me in your shelter.
DISMISSAL Glory be to You, 0 Christ, our God, our hope, glory be to You. From Pascha until its leave taking we sing: People: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life (3 times).
Priest: May Christ our true God, risen from the dead and upon those in the tombs bestowing life, have mercy on us and save us ... etc. People: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever and forever. Amen. Lord, have mercy! (3 times) Father give the blessing! Priest: May Christ our true God have mercy on us and save us, through the prayers of his all-pure Mother, and of out venerable and God-bearing Fathers and Mothers, and of all the saints, for He is gracious and He loves mankind. People: Amen. CEREMONY OF MUTUAL FORGIVENESS Turning to face the community, the Priest (or in his absence the senior monk present) says: Priest: Bless me, holy fathers and brothers, and forgive me, the sinner, all my sins today, in deed, word and thought, and in all my senses. (prostration) People: May God forgive and have mercy on you, holy father. Bless me, holy father, and forgive me, the sinner, all my sins today, in deed, word and thought, and in all my senses. (prostration) Priest: Through his grace, may God forgive and have mercy on us all. During the following ektenija, we sing "Lord, have mercy" softly and quietly until the petitions are finished. Priest: Let us pray for His Holiness N. the Pope of Rome, for our Most Reverend Metropolitan N., for our God-loving Bishop N., for the venerable priesthood, the diaconate in Christ, all the clergy and monastic orders, and all our brothers and sisters in Christ. For our government and all in the service of our country. For those who hate us, and those who love us, and for those who are kind to us, and those who serve us. For those who have asked us unworthy ones to pray for them. For the deliverance of all those imprisoned or held captive. For our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters who have passed on before us. For those traveling by sea, air or land. For the sick and the suffering. Let us pray for the abundance of the fruits of the earth. For every orthodox Christian, for all pious rulers and the orthodox hierarchs. Let us pray for the founders and benefactors of this holy monastery. For our parents, and all who have passed on before us, our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, and the Orthodox here and everywhere laid asleep in the Lord. Let us say for us all! People: Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Priest For the sake of the intercessions of your most pure Mother, and of the honorable, glorious prophet, forerunner and baptist, John, patron of this holy Temple, and of all the saints, 0 Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and save us. People: Amen. We all now venerate the holy icons and receive the blessing of the Hegumen (or Priest), and retire in silence.
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