Evening Prayers

+ Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

Glory to you, our God, glory to you.

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, everywhere present and filling all things, Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life, come and dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save our souls, O gracious One.

From Easter to the Ascension, the Paschal troparion “Christ is risen” is sung three times in place of “Glory to you” and “Heavenly King.” See the Paschal Variants, p. . From the Ascension to Pentecost, begin with “Holy God”.

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

+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.

Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse us of our sins; Master, forgive our transgressions; Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. 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.

Amen.

TROPARIA OF REPENTANCE

Troparion Tone 6 adapt. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us: since we have no defense, we sinners offer this supplication to you, our Master; have mercy on us.

+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Troparion Tone 6 adapt. Lord, have mercy on us, for in you we place our hope. Be not exceedingly angry with us, nor mindful of our transgressions, but look upon us even now with mercy and deliver us from our enemies. For you are our God and we are your people: we all are the work of your hands, and we call upon your name.

Now and ever and forever. Amen.

Troparion Tone 6 adapt. Open unto us the doors of mercy, O blessed Theotokos. Let us not perish who place our trust in you, but rather through you be delivered from misfortune. For you are the salvation of all Christians.

Lord, have mercy. (12)

PRAYER OF EVENING BY SAINT BASIL

Blessed are you, O almighty Master, for you have lighted the day with the brilliance of the sun and the night with the fiery stars. You have counted us worthy of the length of this day and to come to the beginning of night. Hear our prayer and forgive the voluntary and involuntary sins of all your people. Accept our evening prayers and send down in return the greatness of your mercy and kindness upon us, your inheritance. Guard us with your holy angels, clothe us in righteousness as a defense, protect us in your truth, and keep us in your strength. Deliver us from all our enemies and their hostile attacks. Grant that this evening and the approaching night and all the days of our life may be perfect, holy, peaceful, sinless, without violence, and free of nightmares. Through the prayers of the holy Theotokos and of all the saints who from all ages have been pleasing to you. Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP

+ Come, let us worship our King and God.

+ Come, let us worship Christ, our King and God.

+ Come, let us worship and bow before the only Lord Jesus Christ, the King and our God.

PSALM 50

| Have mercy on me, O God, in your kindness. * In your compassion blot out my offense. | O wash me more and more from my guilt * and cleanse me from my sin. | My offenses truly I know them; * my sin is always before me. | Against you, you alone, have I sinned; * what is evil in your sight I have done. | That you may be justified when you give sentence * and be without reproach when you judge. | O see, in guilt I was born, * a sinner was I conceived. | Indeed you love truth in the heart; * then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom. | Sprinkle me with hyssop, then I shall be clean; * O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow. | Make me hear rejoicing and gladness, * that the bones you have crushed may thrill. | From my sins turn away your face * and blot out all my guilt. | A pure heart create for me, O God, * put a steadfast spirit within me. | Do not cast me away from your presence * nor deprive me of your Holy Spirit. | Give me again the joy of your help; * with a spirit of fervor sustain me, | that I may teach transgressors your ways * and sinners may return to you. | Deliver me from blood-guilt, O God, my saving God, * and my tongue shall ring out your goodness. | O Lord, open my lips, * and my mouth will declare your praise. | For in sacrifice you take no delight, * burnt offering from me you would refuse, | my sacrifice, a contrite spirit, * a contrite, humbled heart you will not spurn. | In your goodness, O Lord, show favor to Zion; * rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. | Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice, burnt offerings wholly consumed; * then you will be offered young bulls on your altar.

PROFESSION OF FAITH

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 from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in essence with the Father; through whom all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven and was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. 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 is coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of Life, who proceeds from the Father. Together with the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified; he 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.

PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS

Remit, pardon, and forgive our transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in deed and in word, with knowledge and in ignorance, in thought and in desire, by night and by day, forgive them all, O God, for you are good and love us all.

HYMNS TO THE THEOTOKOS

Troparion Tone 4 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 gave birth to Christ the Savior and Redeemer of our souls.

Samohlasen Tone 6 It is truly proper to glorify you, O Theotokos, the ever-blessed, immaculate, and the mother of our God. More honorable than the cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim; who, a virgin, gave birth to God the Word, you, truly the Theotokos, we magnify.

Special Podoben Tone Beneath your compassion we take refuge, O Virgin Theotokos. Despise not our prayers in our need, but deliver us from dangers, for you alone are pure and blessed.

CLOSING PRAYERS

My hope is the Father, my refuge the Son, my shelter the Holy Spirit; O most holy Trinity, glory be to you.

+ O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

+ O God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.

+ O Lord, forgive me for I have sinned without number.

+ Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.