Evening Prayers

The Opening

Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee.

O Heavenly King, O Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, that art every where present and that fillest all things, that art the Treasury of blessings and the Giver of life; come, and make thine abode in us, and cleanse us from every defilement, and save our souls, O Blessed One.

The Trisagion Prayers

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us. (Thrice.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, both now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, cleanse our sins. O Master, forgive our transgressions. Visit us, O Holy One, and heal our infirmities, for thy name's sake.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Glory. Both now.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, which 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 them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Psalm 69 (70)

O God, come to mine assistance: O Lord, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul. Let them be turned backward and put to confusion that wish me evil. Let them be turned back instantly and put to shame that cry over me, There, there. But let all that seek thee, O God, rejoice and be glad in thee. And let them that love thy salvation say alway, The Lord be magnified. But I am poor and in misery: O God, help me. Thou art my helper and my redeemer: O Lord, make no long tarrying.

Evening Troparia of Thanksgiving

I have passed through the day and I thank thee, O Lord, and I pray that the evening and the night may be sinless. Grant me this, O Redeemer, and save me.

Glory. I have come through the day and I praise thee, O Master, and I pray that the evening and the night may be void of offence. Grant me this, O Redeemer, and save me.

Both now. I have finished the day and I sing to thee, O Holy One, and I pray that the evening and the night may be guileless. Grant me this, O Redeemer, and save me.

Evening Troparia: Lighten Mine Eyes

Lighten mine eyes, O Christ my God, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him.

Glory. O God, be the defender of my soul, for I walk in the midst of many snares. Deliver me from these and save me, O good Lover of mankind.

Both now. As we have not daring on account of our many sins, do thou, O Virgin Mother of God, pray him that was born of thee. For thy maternal prayer availeth much to gain the clemency of the Lord. Despise not, O most pure one, the prayers of sinners, for he that vouchsafed to suffer for us is merciful and powerful to save.

Prayer of Basil the Great

Evening Prayer of St Basil the Great

Lord, O Lord, who savest us from every arrow that flieth by day, save us from every danger that lurketh in darkness. Accept the lifting up of our hands as an evening sacrifice. Let us pass through the watches of the night without defilement and without temptation, and deliver us from restlessness and fear of the devil. Let the repentance of our souls and the examination of our intentions in the light of thy terrible and righteous judgment be pleasing before thee. Penetrate our flesh with fear of thee, and mortify our earthly members, so that in our sleep we may be enlightened with the vision of thy judgment. Remove far from us every unseemly imagination and every harmful lust. And rouse us at the hour of prayer, strengthened in faith and advanced in thy commandments. Through the satisfaction and goodness of thine only-begotten Son, with whom, and with thy most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, thou art blessed, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer at Every Hour

Thou that in all times and at every hour, in heaven and upon earth, art worshipped and glorified, Christ God, long-suffering, most merciful and of great tenderness, who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners, who hast called all men to salvation by the promise of future blessings; do thou, O Lord, accept our prayers at this hour, and guide our life in thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, make chaste our bodies, govern our thoughts, purify our intentions, and deliver us from every affliction and pain, and from all evil. Surround us by thy holy Angels, that, preserved and guided by their hosts, we may come to the unity of the faith, and to the knowledge of thine inaccessible glory; for blessed art thou to ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer to the Mother of God

O thou Virgin, spotless, undefiled, incorruptible, most chaste and pure, Lady, Bride of God, who by thy glorious giving birth hast united God the Word with men, and linked our apostate nature with heavenly things; who art the one hope of the hopeless, the helper of the oppressed, the ready protection of them that flee unto thee, and the refuge of all Christians; despise not me, a defiled sinner, who, by my impious thoughts, words and deeds, have made myself an unprofitable servant, and, by reason of my sloth, am become a slave of sensual life. But thou, O Mother of the man-loving God, have mercy and compassion upon me, a sinner and a prodigal. Accept this my prayer offered unto thee by unhallowed lips, and using thy maternal influence with thy Son, our Lord and Master, beseech him to open unto me the loving tenderness of his grace, and, despising my numberless transgressions, to bring me to repentance, and make me a zealous doer of his commandments. Be ever present with me, as the merciful, compassionate, good and loving helper and advocate in this present life, turning aside the assaults of enemies and guiding me unto salvation. And at the hour of my death preserve my miserable soul, and drive far from it all dark visions of evil demons. Deliver me on the terrible day of judgment from everlasting punishment, and make me an inheritor of the unspeakable glory of thy Son, our God. Grant me to obtain this, O most holy Lady and Mother of God, through thine intercession and protection, by the grace and loving-kindness of thine only-begotten Son, our Lord, God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ, to whom with his Father everlasting, and the most holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, is due all honour, glory and worship, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ before Sleep

And grant unto us, O Master, now retiring to sleep, repose of body and soul, and keep us from the dark sleep of sin, and from every dark and nightly lust. Subdue our unruly passions, and quench the fiery darts of the evil one that are treacherously thrown against us. Quell the commotions of our flesh, and lull our earthly and sinful thoughts to sleep. And give unto us, O God, a watchful mind, pure thoughts, a temperate heart, and quiet sleep free from every illusion of Satan. And rouse us at the hour of prayer confirmed in thy commandments, and with the remembrance of thy judgment strong within us. And make us worthy to sing thy nocturnal song, and to bless and glorify thy most honourable and majestic name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.

Concluding Praises

O most glorious, ever-virgin Mother of Christ our God, bring our prayers to thy Son and our God, that, for thy sake, he may save our souls.

The Father is my trust, the Son is my refuge, the Holy Ghost is my protection. O holy Trinity, glory to thee.

Intercession at the Close of the Day

Lord, forgive them that hate and injure us. Do good to them that do good to us. To our brethren and kinsfolk grant their desires for salvation and eternal life. Visit them that are in sickness and heal them. Guide them that are on the sea. Journey with the travellers. To them that minister and are beneficent unto us grant forgiveness of sins. According to thy great mercy, have mercy upon them that have desired us, unworthy ones, to pray for them. Remember, O Lord, our fathers and brethren that have fallen asleep before us, and give them rest where the light of thy countenance shineth. Remember, O Lord, our brethren that are in captivity, and deliver them from all their bonds. Remember, O Lord, them that bring forth fruit and do good works in thy holy Churches, and grant them their desires for salvation and eternal life. Remember us also, O Lord, thine humble, sinful and unworthy servants; and enlighten our minds with the light of thy knowledge, and guide us in the way of thy commandments. Through the prayers of our most holy Lady, the God-bearing ever-virgin Mary, and of all thy Saints; for thou art blessed to ages of ages. Amen.