Daily Prayers
Daily Prayers
Jesus Prayer
The Trisagion Prayers
Preparation for Holy Communion
Prayers for Holy Communion said during the Divine Liturgy
Thanksgiving after Holy Communion
Psalm 51: A Prayer of Repentance
The Creed
Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner.
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The Trisagion Prayers
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glory to you, our God, glory to you.
Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of truth,
present everywhere and filling all things,
the treasury of good and giver of life,
come and dwell in us
and cleanse us from every impurity,
and save our souls, Gracious One.
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 the Son and the Holy Spirit;
Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us.
Lord be merciful to our sins.
Master forgive our transgressions
Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities, for your name's sake.
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit;
Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
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Preparation for Holy Communion
These prayers are best read before coming to Church to receive Holy Communion - perhaps the night before or in the morning before leaving home, if not rushed.
May your holy Body be for me the bread of life everlasting, compassionate Lord,
and may your precious Blood be a protection from all illness.
May your most precious Body and Blood be to me as fire and light, my Saviour,
consuming the substance of sin and burning the thorns of my passions,
and enlightening the whole of me to worship your Divinity.
Psalm 22
The Lord is my shepherd, and I will lack nothing.
In a place of green pasture, there has he made me dwell,
beside the water of rest has he nurtured me.
He has converted my soul,
He has led me on the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
For though I walk in the midst of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
Your rod and your staff have comforted me.
You have prepared a table before me, in the presence of those who afflict me.
You have anointed my head with oil, and your cup fills me abundantly.
Your mercy will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Prayer of St Basil the Great
I know, Lord, that I partake of your pure Body and precious Blood unworthily,
and that I am guilty, and eat and drink judgement to myself,
not discerning your Body and Blood, Christ my God.
But encouraged by your mercy I approach you, who said
He who eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood abides in me and I in him.
Have compassion therefore, Lord,
and do not make an example of me a sinner,
but deal with me according to your mercy;
and let these holy gifts be to me for healing,
purification, illumination, protection, salvation
and sanctification of both soul and body;
for the averting of every fantasy and evil deed
and activity of the devil working in my members through my thoughts;
for confidence and love towards you,
for amendment of life, for security,
for increase of virtue and perfection,
for keeping of the commandments,
for communion with the Holy Spirit,
for sustenance on the journey of eternal life,
and for an acceptable defence at your fearful judgement seat,
not for judgement or condemnation.
Prayer of St John Chrysostom
I am not worthy, Master and Lord,
that you should enter under the roof of my soul;
but since you in your loving kindness wish to dwell in me,
with courage I approach.
You bid me open wide the gates which you alone have created,
that you may enter and enlighten my darkened mind.
I believe that you will do this,
for you did not turn away from the Harlot who approached you with tears,
you did not reject the Tax Collector who repented,
you did not drive away the Thief who recognised your kingdom,
you did not abandon the Persecutor who repented of what he was;
but all who were brought to you by repentance
you established in the choir of your friends,
you who alone are blessed,
always, now and to the endless ages. Amen
Prayer of St John of Damascus
Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God,
who alone have authority to forgive sins:
as a good and loving God,
overlook all my faults, committed in knowledge or in ignorance,
and make me worthy to receive without condemnation
your divine, glorious, pure and life-giving mysteries,
not for punishment, or for an increase of sins,
but for purification and sanctification,
as a pledge of the life and kingdom to come;
as a defence and a help,
for the overturning of enemies,
and for the wiping out of my many transgressions.
For you are a God of mercy and compassion and loving kindness,
and to you we offer glory,
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
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Prayers for Holy Communion during the Divine Liturgy
The following prayers may be said during the Divine Liturgy and while the priest is preparing to receive and distribute Holy Communion
Prayer of St John Chrysostom
I believe, Lord, and I confess
that you are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God,
who came into the world to save sinners,
of whom I am the first.
I also believe that this is indeed your pure Body,
and this is indeed your precious Blood.
I ask you, therefore, have mercy on me and forgive me my transgressions,
voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed,
in knowledge and in ignorance;
and make me worthy, uncondemned, to partake of your pure mysteries,
for the forgiveness of sins and life eternal. Amen
Verses of St Symeon Metaphrastes
Behold, I approach for holy Communion;
Maker, burn me not as I partake;
For you are fire burning the unworthy;
But cleanse me from every impurity.
Troparion
Of your mystical Supper, Son of God, receive me today as a partaker;
for I will not speak of the mystery to your enemies;
I will not kiss you as did Judas;
but as the Thief do I confess you;
Remember me, Lord, in your kingdom.
Verses
Tremble, mortal, as you behold the deifying Blood;
For it is a burning coal consuming the unworthy.
The Body of God both deifies and nourishes me;
It deifies the spirit and wondrously nourishes the mind.
Troparia
You have smitten me with yearning, Christ,
and by your divine love you have changed me;
but consume my sins with immaterial fire,
and make me worthy to be filled with delight in you,
that leaping for joy, Gracious One,
I may magnify your first and second comings.
Into the splendour of your Saints how shall I, the unworthy one, enter?
For if I dare to enter the bridal chamber, my clothing betrays me,
for it is not a wedding garment,
and I shall be bound and cast out by the Angels.
Cleanse the defilement of my soul, Lord,
and save me in your loving kindness.
Prayer
Loving Master, Lord Jesus Christ my God,
let not these holy gifts be to me for judgement through my unworthiness,
but for the purification and sanctification of both soul and body,
and as a pledge of the life and kingdom to come.
For it is good for me to cling to God,
and to place in the Lord the hope of my salvation.
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Thanksgiving after Holy Communion
Glory to you, O God
Glory to you, O God
Glory to you, O God
Anonymous
I thank you, Lord my God,
for not rejecting me a sinner,
but making me worthy to be a partaker of your holy things.
I thank you for making me, who am unworthy,
worthy to partake of your pure and heavenly gifts.
But loving Master, who died for us and rose again
and bestowed on us these your dread and life-giving mysteries,
for the benefit and sanctification of our souls and bodies,
grant that they may be to me for the healing of both soul and body,
for the averting of everything hostile,
for the illumination of the eyes of my heart,
for the peace of my spiritual powers,
for faith unashamed,
for love unfeigned,
for the fullness of wisdom,
for the observing of your commandments,
for the increase of your divine grace,
and the attainment of your kingdom;
so that protected by them in your holiness
I may always remember your grace
and no longer live for myself,
but for you our Master and benefactor.
And so when I have departed this life in the hope of eternal life
may I attain to everlasting rest,
where the sound of festival is unceasing,
and the pleasure is endless
of those who behold the indescribable beauty of your countenance.
For you are that which is truly desired,
and the inexpressible gladness of those who love you, Christ our God,
and all creation praises you for ever. Amen.
Prayer of St Basil the Great
Master, Christ our God,
King of the ages and creator of all,
I thank you for all the good things you have bestowed on me
and for the partaking of your pure and life-giving mysteries.
I ask you therefore, good and loving one,
guard me under your protection
and in the shadow of your wings;
and grant that with a pure conscience until my last breath
I may worthily partake of your holy things
for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
For you are the bread of life,
and the source of holiness,
and the giver of good,
and to you we offer glory,
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Anonymous
May your holy Body, Lord Jesus Christ our God,
be to me for eternal life,
and your precious Blood for the forgiveness of sins.
And may this Eucharist be to me for joy, health and gladness;
and in your fearful second coming
make me, a sinner, worthy to stand at the right hand of your glory,
through the intercessions of your all-pure Mother
and all your Saints. Amen.
Anonymous
All-holy Lady Theotokos,
the light of my darkened soul,
my hope, protection, refuge, consolation and joy,
I thank you for making me, who am unworthy,
worthy to partake of the pure Body and precious Blood of your Son.
But you who gave birth to the true light,
enlighten the spiritual eyes of my heart;
you who conceived the source of immortality,
give life to me who am dead through sin;
you the compassionate Mother of the merciful God,
have mercy on me
and give me compunction and contrition in my heart,
humility in my reasoning,
and the recall of my thoughts from captivity.
And make me worthy until my last breath
to receive without condemnation the sanctification of the pure mysteries,
for the healing of both soul and body;
and grant me tears of repentance and confession,
so that I may praise and glorify you all the days of my life.
For you are blessed and glorified for ever. Amen.
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Psalm 51 (50) A Prayer of Repentance
Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight-
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother did bear me.
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
For You do not desire sacrifice,
or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and contrite heart-
These, O God, You will not despise.
Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.
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These prayers above can be found in the "Book of Prayers. A selection for Orthodox Christians" published by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, 1993. This book can be purchased from your local Greek Orthodox Church.
The Creed
I believe in one God, Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of the Father before all ages,
light from light,
true God from true God,
begotten not made,
of one essence with the Father;
through him all things were made.
Who for us and for our salvation
came down from heaven,
and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit
and the Virgin Mary,
and became human,
and was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate,
and suffered and was buried,
and rose on the third day according to the Scriptures,
and ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
and in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father,
who together with the Father and the Son
is worshipped and glorified,
and who spoke through the Prophets.
In one holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
I expect the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the age to come.
Amen.
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