The Twelfth Hour ( Compline )

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit , one God. 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 the evil one, through Christ Jesus our Lord. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Let us give thanks unto the Beneficent and Merciful God, the Father of our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. For He has shielded us, rescued us, kept us, accepted us unto Him, had compassion on us, supported us, and brought us unto this hour. Let us ask Him also, to keep us this holy day and all the days of our life in all peace, the Almighty Lord our God. O Master, Lord, God Almighty, Father of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ; we thank Thee upon every condition, for any condition, and in whatever condition. For Thou hast shielded us, rescued us, kept us, accepted us unto Thee, had compassion on us, supported us and brought us unto this hour. Therefore we ask and entreat Thy goodness, O Lover-of-man, grant us to complete this holy day, and all the days of our life in all peace with Thy fear. All envy, all temptation, all the influence of Satan, the intrigue of wicked people, the rising up of enemies, hidden and manifest, take away from us, and from all Thy people, and from this, Thy holy place. But as for those things which are good and useful provide us with them. For Thou art the One who gave us the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and every power of the enemy. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, through the grace, compassion and love of man, of Thine only begotten Son, our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Through whom glory, honor, dominion, and worship befit Thee with Him and the Holy Spirit, the lifegiver who is of one essence with Thee, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

PSALM 50

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassion blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned and done this evil before Thee, that Thou mightiest be justified in Thy words, and prevail when Thou art judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, Thou hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom hast Thou made manifest unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice. Turn Thy face away from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and with Thy governing Spirit establish me. I shall teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn back unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had given it; with whole-burnt offerings Thou shalt not be pleased. A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar. Alleluia.

The prayer of the Twelfth Hour of the blessed day, I offer to Christ my King and my God, beseeching Him to forgive my sins.

Psalm 129

Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. If Thou should mark iniquities, O Lord; O Lord, who shall stand? For with Thee there is forgiveness. For Thy name's sake have I patiently waited for Thee, O Lord; my soul has waited patiently for Thy word, my soul has hoped in the Lord. From the morning watch until night,, from the morning watch let Israel hope in the Lord. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption; and He shall redeem Israel out of all his iniquities. Alleluia.

Psalm 130

O Lord, my heart is not exalted, nor are my eyes become lofty. Nor have I walked in things too great or too marvelous for me. If I were not humble-minded but exalted my soul, as one weaned from his mother, so would Thou requite my soul. Let Israel hope in the Lord, from henceforth and forever more. Alleluia.

Psalm 131

Remember, O Lord, David and all his meekness. How he made an oath to the Lord, and vowed to the God of Jacob: I shall not go into the dwelling of my house, I shall not ascend upon the bed of my couch. I shall not give sleep to my eyes, nor slumber to my eyelids, nor rest to my temples. Until I find a place for the Lord, a habitation for the God of Jacob. Lo, we have heard of it in Ephratha, we have found it in the plains of the wood. Let us go forth into His tabernacles, let us worship at the place where His feet have stood. Arise, O Lord, into Thy rest, Thou and the ark of Thy holiness. Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy righteous shall rejoice. For the sake of David Thy servant, turn not Thy face away from Thine anointed one. The Lord has sworn in truth unto David, and He will not annul it: of the fruit of thy loins will I set upon thy throne. If thy sons keep My covenant and these testimonies which I will teach them, their sons also shall sit forever on thy throne. For the Lord has elected Sion, He has chosen her to be a habitation for Himself. This is My rest forever and ever, here will I dwell, for I have chosen her. Blessing, I will bless her pursuits; her beggars will I satisfy with bread. Her priests will I clothe with salvation, and her saints with rejoicing shall rejoice. There will I make to spring forth a horn for David. I have prepared a lamp for My Christ. His enemies will I clothe with shame, but upon Him shall My sanctification flourish. Alleluia.

Psalm 132

Behold now, what is so good or so joyous as for brethren to dwell together in unity? It is like the oil of myrrh upon the head, which runs down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron, which runs down to the fringe of his raiment. It is like the dew of Aermon, which comes down upon the mountains of Sion. For there the Lord commanded the blessings, life for evermore. Alleluia.

Psalm 133

Behold now, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord. Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God, in the nights lift up your hands unto the holies, and bless the Lord. The Lord bless you out of Sion, He that made heaven and the earth. Alleluia.

Psalm 136

By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and we wept when we remembered Sion. Upon the willows in the midst thereof did we hang our instruments. For there, they that had taken us captive asked us for words of song. And they that had led us away asked us for a hymn, saying: Sing us one of the songs of Sion. How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten. Let my tongue cleave to my throat, if I remember thee not, if I set not Jerusalem above all other, as a the head of my joy. Remember, O Lord, the sons of Edom, in the day of Jerusalem. Who said: Lay waste, lay waste to her, even to the foundations thereof. O daughter of Babylon, you wretched one, blessed shall he be who shall reward you wherewith you have rewarded us. Blessed shall he be who shall seize and dash your infants against the rock. Alleluia.

Psalm 137

I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; and before angels will I chant unto Thee, for Thou hast heard all the words of my mouth. I will worship towards Thy holy temple and confess Thy name, for Thy mercy and for Thy truth; for Thou hast magnified Thy holy name above all that is. In whatsoever day I call upon Thee, quickly hear me; Thou shalt abundantly endow my soul with Thy strength. Let all the kings of the earth, O Lord, confess Thee, for they have heard all the words of Thy mouth. And let them sing in the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. For the Lord is exalted, yet on lowly things He looks; and things haughty He knows from afar. Though I should walk in the midst of affliction, Thou shalt quicken me; against the wrath of my enemies hast Thou stretched forth Thy hands, and Thy right hand has saved me. The Lord shall give recompense in my behalf. O Lord, Thy mercy endures forever; disdain not the work of Thy hands. Alleluia.

Psalm 140

Lord, I have cried unto Thee, hear me; attend to the voice of my supplication when I cry unto Thee. Let my prayer be set forth as incense before Thee, the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. Set, O Lord, a watch before my mouth, and a door of enclosure round about my lips. Incline not my heart unto words of evil, to make excuse with excuses in sins, with men that work iniquity; and I will not join with their chosen. The righteous man will chasten me with mercy and reprove me; as for the oil of the sinner, let it not anoint my head. For yet more is my prayer in the presence of their pleasures; swallowed up near by the rock have their judges been. They shall hear my words, for they be sweetened; as a clod of earth is broken upon the earth, so have their bones been scattered nigh unto Hades. For unto Thee, O Lord, O Lord, are our eyes, in Thee have I hoped; take not my soul away. Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, and from the stumbling-blocks of them that work iniquity. The sinners shall fall into their own net; I am alone until I pass by. Alleluia.

Psalm 141

With my voice unto the Lord have I cried, with my voice unto the Lord have I made supplication. I will pour our before Him my supplication, my affliction before Him will I declare. When my spirit was fainting within me, then Thou knew my paths. In this way wherein I have walked they hid for me a snare. I looked upon my right hand, and beheld, and there was none that did know me. Flight has failed me, and there is none that watches out for my soul. I have cried unto Thee, O Lord: I said: Thou art my hope, my portion art Thou in the land of the living. Attend unto my supplication, for I am brought very low. Deliver me from them that persecute me, for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison that I may confess Thy name. The righteous shall wait patiently for me until Thou shalt reward me. Alleluia.

Psalm 145

Praise the Lord, O my soul, I will praise the Lord in my life, I will chant unto my God for as long as I have my being. Trust not in princes, in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation. His spirit shall go forth, and he shall return unto his earth. In that day all his thoughts shall perish. Blessed is he of whom the God of Jacob is his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God, Who has made heaven and the earth, the sea and all that in therein, Who keeps truth to eternity, Who executes judgment for the wronged, Who give food to the hungry. The Lord looses the fettered; the Lord makes wise the blind; the Lord sets aright the fallen; the Lord loves the righteous; the Lord preserves the proselytes. He shall adopt for His own the orphan and widow, and the way of sinners shall He destroy. The Lord shall be King to eternity; your God, O Sion, from generation to generation. Alleluia.

Psalm 146

Praise the Lord, for a psalm is a good thing; let praise be sweet unto our God. The Lord builds up Jerusalem, He shall gather together the dispersed of Israel. He heals the broken in heart and binds their fractures together. He numbers the multitude of the stars and calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and great is His strength, and of His understanding there is no measure. The Lord lifts up the meek, but humbles sinners to the earth. Begin your song to the Lord with thanksgiving, chant unto God with the harp. To Him that covers heaven with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains, and green herb for the service of man, Who gives to the beasts their food, and to the younglings of the
ravens which call upon Him. He shall not delight in the strength of a horse, nor in the legs of man is He well pleased. The Lord is well pleased in them that fear Him, and in them that hope in His mercy. Alleluia.

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Sion. For He has strengthened the bars of your gates, He has blessed your sons within thee. He brings peace upon your borders, and with the fatness of the wheat He fills you. He sends His saying to the earth; right swiftly runs His word. He gives His snow like wool; the mist He sprinkles like ashes. He hurls His ice like morsels. Who shall stand before His cold? He shall send forth His word and melt them; His wind shall blow and the waters shall flow. He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel. He has not dealt so with every nation, nor has He shown His judgments to them, Alleluia.

Glory be to God, Holy, Holy, Holy. A passage from the Gospel according to Saint Luke. May his blessings be upon us all Amen.

LK.2:25-32

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law, then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: for my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to God forever. Amen.

May Thy saying be concluded in peace. We worship Thee O Christ together with Thy Good Father and the Holy Spirit, for Thou hast come and saved us.

Behold I am about to stand before the just Judge, trembling and exceedingly afraid on account of my many sins, for a life spent in pleasures deserves condemnation. But repent, O my soul, while you are dwelling on earth, for the dust in the grave offers no praise; and the dead remember not; nor do they who are in Hades offer thanks. But arise from the slumber of indolence imploring the Saviour and repenting and crying out saying: "O God have mercy on me and save me."

"Zoksapatri ke lyou-ke agi-you epnevmaty" (Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.)

If this life was permanent and this world eternal, you would have had,O my soul, an apparent execuse; but when your bad deeds and shameful sins are exposed before the just Judge, what will you give in answer while you are lying down on the bed of transgression, slow to control your body. O Christ, our God, before Thy dreadful judgment seat am I afraid, and of the counsel of Thy Judgment do I dread, and of the radiance of Thy Divinity do I tremble, I the wicked and defiled, who is lying down upon my bed, careless about my life. Yet like the publican, I beat upon my breast and cry: "O God be merciful to me, a sinner,"

"Kenin ke aa-ee ke-ic-touce e-on-ace ton e-onon Amen."(Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages, Amen.)

O Pure Virgin, draw the veil of thy speedy protection upon thy servant. Remove from me the billows of evil thoughts and raise my sick soul to pray and watch, because it has long lain in deep sleep; for thou art able, merciful, helpful, and the Birthgiver of the Spring of Life, my King and my God, Jesus Christ, my hope. Grant, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin, blessed art Thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, and full of blessings, and glorified is Thy Holy Name forever. Amen.

Let Thy mercy be upon us as we have set our hope on Thee, for the eyes of all hope on Thee, for Thou givest them their food in due season. Hear us O God, our Saviour, the hope of all the earth, and Thou, O Lord, will keep us and deliver us from this generation, and forever. Amen. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy righteousness, blessed are Thou O Lord, make me understand Thy truth, blessed art Thou, O Lord, enlighten me in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thy mercy is forever, despise not the works of Thy hands for Thou, O Lord, art our refuge, from generation unto generation. I cried unto the Lord and said: "Have mercy on me and save my soul for I have sinned against Thee." O Lord, unto Thee I flee for refuge, save me and teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God, with Thee is the Fountain of Life, and in Thy Light shall we see Light. Let Thy mercy come upon those who know Thee, and Thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Unto Thee is due blessing, unto Thee is due praise, unto Thee is due glory, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, ever existent, Amen. Good it is to praise the Lord, and to give thanks to Thy Name, O Most High, to declare Thy mercies in the mornings and Thy truth at every eventide.

The Trisagion

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was born of the virgin, have mercy on us.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was crucified for us, have mercy on us.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, who rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, have mercy on us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, both now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen. O Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins, Lord, forgive our iniquities. Lord, forgive our trespasses. Lord, visit the sick of Thy people, heal them for the sake of Thy Holy Name. Our fathers and brothers who have fallen asleep, repose their souls. O Thou who alone art without sin, help us and accept our prayers. For Thine is the glory, dominion, and triple holiness; Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord send Thy blessings. Amen.

Intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God
Hail thee. We ask thee, O saint, full of glory, the ever-virgin, the mother of Christ God; to lift up our prayers to Thy beloved son that He may forgive our sins. Hail her, the saint, the Virgin, who gave birth to the True Light, Christ Our Lord; ask the Lord to have mercy on us and forgive our sins. O Virgin Mary, Birthgiver of God, the faithful intercessor of the human race, intercede for us before Christ to whom thou gave birth, that He may grant us forgiveness of our sins. Hail thee, O Virgin, the true queen. Hail her who is the pride of our race, who gave birth to Emmanuel. We ask thee to remember us, O faithful intercessor, before our Lord, Jesus Christ, that He forgive our sins.

Introduction of the Creed
We magnify thee, O mother of the True Light, and we glorify thee, O Virgin Saint Birhtgiver of God, for thou hast born unto us the Saviour of the world; He came and saved our souls. Glory be to Thee, O Christ, our Master and our King, the honour of the apostles, the crown of the martyrs, the rejoicing of the righteous, the confirmation of the churches, the forgiveness of sins. We proclaim the Holy Trinity, One in essence. We worship Him and glorify Him. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord send Thy blessings. Amen.

The Creed

We believe in one God, God the Father the Pantocrator, Who created the heaven and the earth, and of all things seen and unseen. We believe in One Lord Jesus Christ, The Only Begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light; True God of True God, begotten, not created; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were created. Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from the heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontious Pilate, suffered, and was buried. And the third day He rose from the dead, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of His Father. And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, whose Kingdom shall have no end. And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke by the prophets in one Holy Katholik and Apostolic Church. We confess one baptism for the remission of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

O Lord, hear us, have mercy on us, and forgive our sins.

Lord have mercy (Kyrie eleison) 41 times

Holy, Holy, Holy, O Lord of Sabaoth, Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory and Thy majesty. Have mercy on us O God the Father Almighty. O Holy Trinity have mercy on us. O Lord of hosts be Thou with us. For we have no other helper in our tribulations and necessities but Thee.Loose, remit, and pardon, O God, our transgressions that we have committed voluntarily and involuntarily, consciously and unconsciously, hidden and manifest. O Lord, remit for the sake of Thy Holy Name, by which we are called, according to Thy mercy, O Lord, and not according to our sins.

Make us, O Lord, worthy to say with all thanksgiving:

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 the evil one, through Christ Jesus our Lord. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Then the worshipper prays this absolution:
O Lord, all things wherein we have sinned against Thee this day, whether in deed, or in word, or in thought, or in any feeling; do Thou graciously remit and forgive unto us, for the sake of Thy Holy Name, as good and lover of man, and grant us, O God, a peaceful night, and a sleep free from all worry. Send us an angel of peace to guard us from all evil, all plague, and all temptation of the enemy. Through the grace and mercies and love of man of Thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, through whom is due all honour and glory together with Thee and the Holy Spirit, the Life-giver, who is consubstantial with Thee both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The prayer of every hour
Have mercy on us O God, and have mercy on us. Thou who, at all times, and at every hour, in Heaven and on earth art worshipped and glorified. O Christ, our God, who art long-suffering, plenteous in mercy and most compassionate, who loves the righteous and has mercy on sinners, of whom I am first. Who does not wish the death of sinner, but to repent and to live. Who calls all to salvation through the promise of good things to come. Receive, O Lord, our prayers at this hour and at every hour; prosper our way, and guide our life toward Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, make chaste our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our intention, heal our sickness, remit our sins, and deliver us from every affliction evil and pain. Compass us about with Thy holy angels; that guided and guarded by their array we may attain to the unity of faith and the knowledge of Thine unapproachable and infinite glory for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER
Make us, O Lord, worthy to say with all thanksgiving:
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 the evil one, through Christ Jesus our Lord. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.