Sunday Evening Compline: Supplicatory Canon in Tone I

A Supplicatory Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos

Ode I, Irmos: Thy victorious right arm, * in a manner befitting God, * hath been glorified in strength, O Immortal One; * for in its infinite strength it shattered the enemy, * fashioning anew a path for the Israelites through the deep.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Ineffably didst thou conceive God, О most pure Lady, and supra-naturally didst thou give birth to Him Who hath set mortals free from their transgressions. Wherefore, I entreat thee: Deliver me from my manifold transgressions!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Though I am engulfed by tribulations and the abyss of countless sins and sorrows, yet through thy mighty guidance and supplication, О all-immaculate one, do thou direct me to the divine stillness of repentance.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  

From the manifold misfortunes of my whole life do thou deliver me, О intercessor, that I may raise my voice in thanksgiving to thee: О pure Theotokos, rescue me from the torment which is to come!

Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

Still thou the assaults of evil circumstances and perils, О all-immaculate Mother of our Redeemer, Creator and God, granting me the grace of salvation and purification.

Ode III, Irmos: Thou alone knowest the weakness of human nature * and in compassion hast assumed its form; * do Thou gird me with power from on high, * that I may cry unto Thee: * Holy is the animate temple of Thine ineffable glory, O Lover of mankind!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The sight of thy pure face delights the angels, and is salvific to mortals, but it is terrible to the spirits of wickedness! And, honouring and venerating it with faith, О Theotokos, we illumine our souls

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

With virginal blood from thee, the Creator and Lord wrapped Himself in flesh. О all-immaculate one, entreat Him, that, in His ineffable mercy, He take pity on me who am become corrupt through mine unseemly deeds.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  

Having acquired thee as a preserver of our life and an unassailable rampart, may I also find thee after mine end to be a protection and an invincible helper, leading me to God and granting me glory and life everlasting, О most immaculate one.

Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

Seedless was thy conception, and incorrupt thy birthgiving, О pure one; for God was manifestly born, setting aright the fall of human nature. Wherefore, we hymn thee, who art the true Theotokos.

Ode IV, Irmos: Perceiving thee with prophetic eyes * as the mountain overshadowed by the grace of God, * Habbakuk proclaimed that the Holy One of Israel * would come forth from thee, * for our salvation and restoration.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

An unrestrainable urge for evil doth seize me through the activity of the enemy and mine own wicked habits. Help me, О Lady, that the most pernicious one not fall upon me utterly, depriving me of repentance through death.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

All the time of my life have I squandered in the prodigality of wickedness; and now the servants thereof lead my lowly soul into cruel woundings. Help me, О Virgin Birthgiver of God!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  

О all-immaculate one, hearken to my cry of pain, which I bring forth in groans from the depths of my soul; and grant me release from the debts which, wretch that I am, I have incurred through my mindless thoughts and character.

Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

О Sovereign Lady of the world, О Theotokos, help me! The most wicked enemy seeketh evilly to devour me through my grievous imaginings and thoughts, which separate me from God. Wherefore, forsake me not, neither disdain me.

Ode V, Irmos: Thou hast shone upon us with the radiance * of Thy coming O Christ, * and illumined the ends of the world with Thy Cross, * enlighten with the light of thine understanding * the hearts of those who with right worship hymn Thee.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Behold, I have acquired a ready assistance toward salvation! Wherefore, I fall down before thee and cry out with tears: О Theotokos, deliver me from the darts of the alien and from the difficult tests that are to come!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thou art my strength, thou art my boast and joy! Thou art my preserver, my help, refuge and mine invincible intercessor, О most holy Virgin Theotokos. Wherefore, save thou thy servant!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  

With the sprinkling of thy divine supplication, О most pure Theotokos, cleanse my wretched soul which hath been defiled by the passions, granting it the splendid vesture of thy salvation.

Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

Thou art the steady guidance of my life, delivering it from the threefold billows of many evil circumstances even at the time of my departure. I beseech thee: Stand thou forth, saving me, О Mother of Christ God!

Ode VI, Irmos: The deepest abyss hath surrounded us, * and there is none to deliver us, * yea we have been counted as sheep for the slaughter; * save Thy people O our God, * for thou art the strength and restoration of the weak.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

О most pure Birthgiver of God who knewest not wedlock, extend thy hand unto me and rescue me from the abyss of the evils which, wretch that I am, I have brought upon my passion-plagued soul through mindlessness.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Arise thou, О pure one, to aid thy servant who, placing my hope in thee and God, hastens to thine invincible aid, that the enemy be not able to seize and destroy me.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  

О Theotokos, I beseech thee, the healer of the sick, raising of the fallen and cleansing of the sinful, and with tears I fall down and cry out to thee: As thou art mighty, save me who am perishing!

Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

Have mercy upon my lowly soul, О pure one, go thou before it and rescue it, snatching it from the talons of the evil one; for he seeketh to send it into the abyss because of the evils which my great slothfulness hath wrought.

Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

Sessional hymn, Tone I: О pure one, we have all acquired thee as our supplicant before the Lord, and we hasten to thy holy church, asking help of thee, О Ever-virgin. Wherefore, deliver us who bless thee from the malice of the demons, from torment and dread condemnation.

Ode VII, Irmos: We the faithful perceive thee, O Theotokos, * to be a noetic furnace; * for as He, the supremely exalted One, * saved the three children, * so hath He wholly refashioned fallen humanity, in thy womb, * O Thou praised and supremely glorified God of our fathers.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thou wast a divine tabernacle for the Master, having conceived Him in thy womb and given birth to Him in the flesh, О only immaculate one. Wherefore, deliver us from sufferings, pain, tribulations and debts, for thou hast might and great power.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

О pure Lady, put an end to the unbearable pain of my most wretched soul, giving me true joy and freeing me from the raging billows of my many transgressions. For thou art my refuge and deliverance.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  

On thee have I set all my hope of salvation; for I have acquired thee as an invincible tower and foundation, a token of steadfastness, and through thee I hope to receive the kingdom, О Lady.

Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

Thou wast the dawning of the Sun of glory, О pure Lady; for through thee hath He, appearing, freed all from darkness and ignorance, and from fetid transgressions. Wherefore, I cry to thee: Free me from the outer darkness!

Ode VIII, Irmos: In the furnace as in a fiery smelter * the Israelite children shone more brightly than gold * with the beauty of godliness, * as they exclaimed: Bless the Lord all ye works of the Lord, * hymn and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

The turmoil of the passions cruelly afflicts my soul, О Theotokos. As thou hast given birth to the Author and Bestower of peace and tranquillity, О pure one, fill me with serene joy and gladness, preserving me in peace.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thou hast been revealed to us as the mediatress of salvation who hast given birth to the Saviour and Master of all, О Theotokos. Wherefore, I entreat thee: Grant salvation to my lowly soul, that with faith I may sing hymns to thee throughout all ages.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  

Having ineffably conceived the God and Creator of all, save me from corruption and from every temptation, and grant that I may ever cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord! Hymn and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!

Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

О Virgin, thou hast given birth to the God and Creator of all. Him do thou beseech, that He grant cleansing from transgressions and deliverance from tribulations, perils, from everlasting-fire and condemnation, to those who unceasingly glorify thy glory.

Ode IX, Irmos: The Bush, which burnt without being consumed, * prefigured thy pure birthgiving, O Theotokos. * Wherefore we now entreat Thee: * quench the raging furnace of temptations that beset us, * that we may unceasingly magnify Thee.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

О all-immaculate Mother of God, open unto me the depths of thy mercy, and deliver me from the mouth of the noetic wolf, who seeketh to devour and ruin me. Have mercy, I pray thee, and turn not away from me, thy shameful servant.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Be thou the intercessor for my whole life and my steadfast aid, О all-pure one, and deliver me from manifold perils and grief, and from the blasphemy of mine enemies, and deliver me from everlasting fire.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  

Thou alone art the visitation of the sick. Thou alone art the setting aright of the fallen. Thou alone art our guide and entry unto God. Thou alone art the mediatress of everlasting good things. Have mercy upon me, who alone have sinned more than all others!

Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

Accept thou my tearful supplication, and grant me remission of the offenses and many evils which I have committed, О Theotokos, all-hymned Lady; for I perish utterly in my boundless despair.

Posted in Home Services, Liturgical, Prayers.