My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ! ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΑΙ.
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY: COMMUNION WITH GOD THROUGH PRAYER
Compline (Apodeipnos) Divine Service
"In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety" (Psalm 4).
After the evening meal and before going to sleep, let us glorify our Creator. We should thank Him again for the blessings of the day and ask His forgiveness of our faults and negligence. Let us entrust ourselves to Him Who created us and sleep in peace, knowing that we are under the protection of the Lord Who holds all things in His hands.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, You are everywhere and fill 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!
Psalm 51[50]
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, according to the multitude of Your tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me...
Evening Prayer to Christ
Grant rest, Master, to our souls and bodies as we sleep, preserve us from the gloomy slumber of sin and from the dark passions of the night. Calm the impulses of carnal desires, quench the fiery darts of the Evil One which are craftily directed against us. Still the rebellions of the flesh and put far from all anxiety and worldly cares.
Grant us, O God, a watchful mind, pure thoughts, a sober heart, and a quiet rest free from every vision of the devil. Raise us up again at the hour of prayer, strengthened in Your holding within us steadfastly the thought of Your Commandments.
Grant that we may sing praises to You through the night, and that we may hymn, bless and glorify Your All-Honorable and Majestic Name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer of Intercession
Forgive, O Lord, those who hate us and treat us unjustly. Do good to those who do good.
Grant our brethren and families their requests which are for salvation and eternal life.
Visit those who are ill and grant them healing.
Watch over those at sea and accompany those who travel.
Be an ally to our armed forces and to those in authority.
Grant remission of sins to those who serve us and are kind to us.
Be merciful according to Your great mercy to those who have asked us to pray for them, unworthy though we be.
Remember, O Lord, our fathers and brethren who have fallen asleep before us and grant them rest where the Light of Your Countenance shines.
Remember, O Lord, those who are in captivity and deliver them from every distress.
Remember, O Lord, those who bring offerings and do good in Your Holy Churches and grant them their requests which are for salvation and eternal life.
Remember us, Your sinful and unworthy servants, O Lord, and enlighten our minds with the light of Your knowledge, guiding us along the way of Your Commandments, by the intercessions of Your immaculate Mother, Our Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, and of all Your Saints. For You are Blessed to the ages of ages. Amen.
A Prayer to the Theotokos
Exceedingly glorious and Ever-Virgin Theotokos: Bring our petitions before your Son, and our God, and implore Him that through you He will save our souls. Amen.
A Prayer to Our Guardian Angel
Holy Angel, companion of my soul and my whole life, do not abandon me nor depart from me because of my weakness and sin.
Do not allow the wicked demon to overcome me by the oppression of this mortal body.
Restrain and strengthen me and guide me in the way of salvation.
O Holy Angel of God, guardian and protector of my wretched soul and body, forgive me everything in which I have grieved you all the days of my life, and in which I have sinned in the day just past.
Protect me during the coming night and keep me from every influence of the enemy (devil), that I may not anger God in any sin. Intercede for me to the Lord that He may strengthen me in His fear and make worthy to be a servant of His Goodness. Amen
Through the prayers of Our Holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ Our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen
(Source: A Manual of the Hours of the Orthodox Church. Compiled by Archimandrite Cherubim. Monastery of the Paraclete, Attica, Greece)
(To be continued)
In Christ Our Lord,
+Father George