Thursday Evening Compline: Supplicatory Canon in Tone V

A Supplicatory Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos

Ode I, Irmos: Christ, who with an upraised arm * bringeth wars to naught, * hath shaken horse and rider in the Red Sea; * but Israel hath He saved * as they chanted a song of victory.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

We know thee to be another, noetic garden of paradise, О Virgin Bride of God, beyond compare surpassing the Garden of Eden, О Mother of God; for thou hast budded forth incorruption for mankind.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

In paradise Adam was hindered from touching the tree of life, having partaken of the fruit of knowledge; but the Fruit received from thee hath given him immortality.

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

Adam was the first man created from earth by the most pure hands of the Almighty; but thou, О Virgin Theotokos, hast given birth without seed to the new Adam, the Creator of mankind.

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

The uttermost abyss of boundless transgressions hath engulfed me, and led me down into the depths of grievous despondency. О thou who hast given birth to the Abyss of loving-kindness, hasten thou and save me!

Ode III, Irmos: By Thy command Thou didst establish the earth upon nothing * and suspended it unsupported; * do Thou establish Thy Church on the unshakeable rock of Thy commandments, O Christ, * who alone art good * and the Lover of mankind.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

О immutable Word of God, Who didst make the earth the mother of living plants which did not exist on it in the beginning: Thou hast straightway come forth, seedlessly incarnate, from the woman who knew not a man, as from the earth.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thou art the hope and help, the joy, protection and refuge of mortals, О Lady and Mother of life; wherefore, we pray: Send down thine aid upon all who hymn thee.

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

Afflicted and stuck fast by grievous perils, О compassionate Accomplisher of all, Who art the God of all, we all set Thy thrice-holy tabernacle to pray before Thee, and we cry unto Thee: Loose Thou the bonds of Thy servants!

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

The billows of sin cruelly batter me and drag me down into the abyss of transgressions; and the tempests of adverse thoughts batter my soul. О thou who hast given birth to the Helmsman, hasten thou to rescue thy servant.

Ode IV, Irmos: Habbakuk, prophetically apprehending * Thy divine self-emptying, O Christ, * cried out to Thee with trembling: * Thou hast come for the salvation of Thy people; * to save Thine anointed Ones.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

In submitting to the serpent, Eve begat grief for women; but having believed the tidings of God, О Virgin, thou didst cause Joy to blossom forth for the whole world.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Eve was first formed from the rib of Adam of old; and now God is begotten of the Mother and Bride of God: He is born, incarnate without a father, from the Virgin.

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

Eve rejoiceth, for the Maiden who incorruptly conceived the Judge and gave birth to the Compassionate One, hath shown her first mother to be free from the ancient curse.

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

My life hath been filled with transgressions, my mind is plagued with passions, and my soul is condemned; wherefore, in thy compassion, have mercy and save me, О Lady.

Ode V, Irmos: O Thou Who hast clothed Thyself in light as with a garment, * I rise early unto Thee and cry out to Thee: * Enlighten my darkened soul, O Christ, * in that Thou alone art compassionate!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Having found thee to be a pillar and cloud of light, О Virgin Mother of the Bestower of light, we who walk in the wilderness of deception escape evils.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Rejoice, О thou who hast given birth in the flesh to God Who before the ages was incorporeally begotten of the Father, and hath been well-pleased to appear to us openly.

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

The sun hath been surpassed by thy radiance, О Mary; for thou hast held in thine arms Him Who adorned the sky with luminaries, and didst feed Him at thy breast.

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

Condemn me not to the unquenchable fire, О Christ my Saviour, by the supplications of the pure one who gave birth to Thee.

Ode VI, Irmos: Calm the raging sea of the passions, * O Master Christ, * with its soul-destroying tempest, * and lead me up from corruption * in that Thou art compassionate.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

О pure Ever-virgin, without sustaining harm thou didst bear in thy womb the wondrous God Who of old saved the Prophet Jonah in the sea monster.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Bearing the Lord God of hosts Who restraineth the storms of the sea, О most pure Virgin, thou didst still the briny billows of delusion.

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

Having given birth to Christ, the Peace of all, О most pure one, by thy prayers to Him tame the raging storms of the passions which assail me.

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

On the day of grief, when the bonds holding soul and body together will be severed, intercede for me, and rescue me from the surrounding demons.

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, in Tone V: Beholding Thee willingly hanging upon the Cross between two thieves, О Christ, Thy Mother, her maternal womb rent with pain, exclaimed: “O my sinless Son, how have they unjustly crucified Thee on the Cross as a malefactor, Thee Who desireth to bring life to the race of mankind, in that Thou art supremely good?”

Ode VII, Irmos: Irmos: The supremely exalted Lord of our fathers * quenched the flame, * and bedewed the Youths * as they chanted in harmony: * O God, blessed art Thou!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

God Who made a journey to meet with Abraham the forefather became thy Son, О blessed one; and He made his seed a blessing for the nations.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thou art the ladder of Jacob, О undefiled one; for God depicted thee as the one Mother, for whose sake God gathered together his children.

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

The incarnate Son, Who is supremely exalted with the Father and the Spirit, having chosen thee, О pure one, loved thee exceedingly, that thou mightest become a dwelling-place for Him.

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

Do thou ever entreat the God to Whom thou hast given birth, that He save me, wretch though I am, and accept me, the simple one who cries out with faith: Blessed art Thou, О God!

Ode VIII, Irmos: Unto Thee the Fashioner of all, * the children in the furnace chanted a hymn: * All ye works of the Lord, * supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Thy birth-giving eludes examination, О Virgin, and is revealed to those who cry out with faith: All ye works of the Lord, hymn ye the Lord, and supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

In nowise having fallen from the glory of virginity, thou hast been enriched also with the honour of motherhood, О thou who knewest not wedlock. He Who worketh wonders hath made this clearly known, and we supremely exalt Him throughout the ages.

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

Behold the affliction of my lowly soul, О most pure one, and quickly deliver me from pain, that I may glorify thee throughout the ages.

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

Mercifully accept Thy Mother, who prayeth that Thou save Thy people, whom Thou hast acquired by Thy precious Blood, О good Word, that we may call Thee blessed throughout all ages.

Ode IX, Irmos: O Isaiah, rejoice and be glad! * The Virgin hath conceived in her womb, * and hath borne a Son, Emmanuel, * who is both God and man; * and Orient is His name; * Him we magnify, and the Virgin we call blessed.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

О Lady Theotokos, entreat the adored Trinity, to Whom alone thou hast given birth for us without suffering in the flesh, that He grant peace to those on earth, and that remission of sins be granted to those who hymn thee.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Even though Emmanuel is understood to be a single Person, yet He hath two natures; for, lo! we proclaim two wills and activities in Him, and we confess thee, His Mother, to be the Theotokos.

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

I utter lamentation for myself, pondering the multitude of my sins, the uprisings of my passions, the despondency of my soul and the inconstancy of my mind. Grant salvation to me, wretch that I am,

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

Assailing me like brigands, and stripping me of my radiant and luminous vesture, mine enemies have inflicted many wounds upon me. О Lord, raise me up who am barely alive.

Posted in Home Services, Liturgical, Prayers.