Daily Prayers An abbreviated rule of prayer for every day

Prepared and distributed by Saint John the Baptist Orthodox Church

Rochester NY June 2004

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy!

Prayers at the Beginning of the Day

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

Prayer to the Holy Spirit Heavenly King, the Comforter, and Spirit of Truth, You are present everywhere and You fill all things. You are the Treasury of Blessings and the Giver of Life. Come and dwell in us, cleanse us of all impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

The Song of the Angels

Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us. Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us. Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us.

Prayer to the Holy Trinity

Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, wash away our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your 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 evil. For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen. Come, let us worship God our King! Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ our King and our God! Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ Himself, our King and our God!

As I arise from sleep, I worship You – O good and almighty Lord – and I sing praises to You with the song of the angels in heaven: “Holy! Holy! You are Holy, O God!” Through the prayers of the Theotokos and all the saints, have mercy on me.

Lord, you have allowed me to awake from sleep and have raised me from my bed; I pray that You will enlighten my mind and open my heart and my lips so I may praise You by saying: “O Holy Trinity! Holy! Holy! You are Holy, O God!” Through the prayers of the Theotokos and all the saints, have mercy on me.

As I arise from sleep, I thank You -- O Holy Trinity. Through Your great goodness and patience You were not angry with me, a sinner. You did not destroy me because of my sins, but You have shown me Your love by raising me up this morning so I may glorify Your power. Enlighten my mind and my heart so I may understand Your commandments, that I may do Your will, and praise Your holy name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayers for the Living Lord, grant the forgiveness of sins, peace, health, salvation, and all good things worthy of Your blessing to your servants ______________. [Here you should remember and pray for people, by name. Consider your Priest, members of your family, friends, and anyone else you wish to include. Don’t forget to consider those who are sick, and those who you may have sinned against. The Lord also commands us to forgive and pray for those who have sinned against us or offended us.] On behalf of those I have remembered, and for myself also, I cry out to You and say, “Lord, have mercy.” Remember us in Your Kingdom.

Prayers for the Departed Merciful Lord, grant forgiveness and eternal rest to those who have departed this life before me in faith and the hope of resurrection to eternal life. In Your Kingdom, O Lord, remember Your servants _____________. [Here you should remember people, who have fallen asleep in the Lord, by name. Consider the members of your family, friends, and anyone else you with to include.] For You – Christ our God -- are the resurrection, the life, and the repose of Your servants who have fallen asleep, and to You we send up glory, together with Your eternal Father and the all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. May their memory be eternal!

The Father is my hope! The Son is my refuge! The Holy Spirit is my protector! Holy Trinity, glory to You!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Jesus Christ, my God and Savior, have mercy on me and save me: through the prayers of the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary; through the protection of the honorable and glorious angelic powers of heaven; through the prayers of the honorable and glorious prophet, forerunner and baptizer of our Lord, John; by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; through the prayers of the all-praised Apostles; through the prayers of the holy, glorious, and victorious Martyrs; through the prayers of my fervent intercessor Saint _________ [here remember the saint in whose name you were baptized]; through the prayers of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; and through the prayers of all the saints. Amen.

Psalms that may be added to the Morning Prayers

Psalm 3 Psalm 38 Psalm 63

Psalm 103 Psalm 143

The Praises Psalm 148 Psalm 149 Psalm 150

Prayers at the End of the Day

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Heavenly King, the Comforter, and Spirit of Truth, You are present everywhere and You fill all things. You are the Treasury of Blessings and the Giver of Life. Come and dwell in us, cleanse us of all impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

The Song of the Angels

Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us. Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us. Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us.

Prayer to the Holy Trinity

Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, wash away our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your 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 evil. For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen. Come, let us worship God our King! Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ our King and our God! Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ Himself, our King and our God!

Prayers for the Living Lord, grant the forgiveness of sins, peace, health, salvation, and all good things worthy of Your blessing to your servants ______________. [Here you should remember and pray for people, by name. Consider your Priest, members of your family, friends, and anyone else you wish to include. Don’t forget to consider those who are sick, and those who you may have sinned against. The Lord also commands us to forgive and pray for those who have sinned against us or offended us.] On behalf of those I have remembered, and for myself also, I cry out to You and say, “Lord, have mercy.” Remember us in Your Kingdom.

Prayers for the Departed Merciful Lord, grant forgiveness and eternal rest to those who have departed this life before me in faith and the hope of resurrection to eternal life. In Your Kingdom, O Lord, remember Your servants _____________. [Here you should remember people, who have fallen asleep in the Lord, by name. Consider the members of your family, friends, and anyone else you with to include.] For You – Christ our God -- are the resurrection, the life, and the repose of Your servants who have fallen asleep, and to You we send up glory, together with Your eternal Father and the all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. May their memory be eternal! Guard and protect me, O Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of Your precious and life-giving Cross, and keep me from all evil. Into Your hands, O Lord Jesus Christ, I commit my spirit and my body. Bless me, save me, and grant me eternal life. Amen. Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, be merciful to me a sinner. [This is “The Jesus Prayer,” which you may repeat as many times as necessary to bring peace to your soul before going to sleep]. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

As I prepare for sleep, O Master, grant rest to my body and soul. Keep me from the dark sleep of sin and from every dark and passionate pleasure of the night. Calm the impulses of evil thoughts and visions. Extinguish the flaming arrows of temptation which the Evil One directs against me. Calm the rebelliousness of my body and put to rest all of my earthly and material anxieties. O God, grant me an alert mind, pure thoughts, a thankful heart, and a peaceful sleep that is free from every fantasy of the devil. Raise me up in the morning, confirmed in Your commandments and mindful of Your will. Grant that I may glorify You throughout this night; that I may sing, bless, and glorify Your most honorable and majestic name: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Jesus Christ, my God and Savior, have mercy on me and save me: through the prayers of the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary; through the protection of the honorable and glorious angelic powers of heaven; through the prayers of the honorable and glorious prophet, forerunner and baptizer of our Lord, John; by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; through the prayers of the all-praised Apostles; through the prayers of the holy, glorious, and victorious Martyrs; through the prayers of my fervent intercessor Saint _________ [here remember the saint in whose name you were baptized]; through the prayers of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; and through the prayers of all the saints. Amen.

Psalms that may be added to the Evening Prayers

Psalm 104 Psalm 141 Psalm 142 Psalm 23

Assorted Prayers and Psalms

for any occasion

The Polyelaion (“Many Mercies”) from Psalm 135 and 136

Praise the name of the Lord; praise Him all you servants of the Lord! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise Him, you who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! O Lord, Your name endures forever. Your glory, O Lord, is remembered from generation to generation. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise be to the Lord from Zion, to Him who dwells in Jerusalem. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His mercy never fails. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Give thanks to the God of gods. His mercy never fails. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His mercy never fails. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! To Him who alone does great wonders. His mercy never fails. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! To Him who made the heavens. His mercy never fails. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! To Him who spread out the earth upon the waters. His mercy never fails. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! To Him who made the great lights. His mercy never fails. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! To Him who made the sun to rule the day. His mercy never fails. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! To Him who made the moon and stars to rule the night. His mercy never fails. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! To the One who remembered our low estate. His mercy never fails. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! To the One who freed us from our enemies. His mercy never fails. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! To the One who gives food to every creature. His mercy never fails. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Give thanks to the God of heaven. His mercy never fails. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

The Great Doxology (Prayer of Glory)

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will among all people. We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory.

O Lord God, heavenly King, and Father almighty!

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit! O Lord God, Lamb of God and Son of the Father; Who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. You take away the sins of the world; receive our prayer. You sit at the right hand of the Father; have mercy on us. For You only are holy, You only are the Lord – Jesus Christ – in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Every day I will bless You, and praise Your name forever.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. You are blessed, O Lord, God of our fathers; praised and glorified is Your name forever. Amen. May Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us for we have put our trust in You.

Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your commandments.

Blessed are You, O Master; let me understand Your commandments. Blessed are You, O Holy One; enlighten me with Your commandments.

Lord, You have been our helper from generation to generation. I said, “Lord have mercy on me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.” Lord, I run to You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; with You is the source of life, and in Your light we shall see light. Continue Your mercy to those who know You. Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us! Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us! Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us! Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us! Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us!

The Song of the Theotokos (The ever-virgin Mary, and Mother of our God)

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim; without defilement you gave birth to God the Word; true Theotokos we magnify you!

For He has regarded the humility of His handmaiden. Behold, from this time all generations will call me blessed.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim; without defilement you gave birth to God the Word; true Theotokos we magnify you!

For He who is mighty has done great wonders for me; and His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim; without defilement you gave birth to God the Word; true Theotokos we magnify you!

He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim; without defilement you gave birth to God the Word; true Theotokos we magnify you!

He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim; without defilement you gave birth to God the Word; true Theotokos we magnify you!

He has taken Israel as His child in remembrance of His mercy, as He promised to our fathers -- to Abraham and his children forever.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim; without defilement you gave birth to God the Word; true Theotokos we magnify you!

To the glory of God!

Amen