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The Prayer of St. Ephrem is typically prayed during Great and Holy Lent. 

The directions for prostrations are included with the second translation.

Prayer of St. Ephrem

O Lord and Master of my life,
Grant not unto me a spirit of idleness,
of discouragement,
of lust for power,
and of vain speaking.

But bestow upon me, Thy servant,
the spirit of chastity,
of meekness,
of patience,
and of love.

Yea, O Lord and King,
grant that I may perceive
my own transgressions,
and judge not my brother,
for blessed art Thou
unto ages of ages.
Amen.

another translation:

Prayer of St. Ephrem

O Lord and Master of my life,

keep from me

the spirit of indifference and discouragement,

lust of power and idle chatter.

          (Prostration)

Instead, grant to me, Your servant,

the spirit of wholeness of being,

humble-mindedness, patience, and love.

          (Prostration)

O Lord and King,

grant me the grace to be aware of my sins

and not to judge my brother;

for You are blessed

now and ever, and forever.

Amen.

          (Prostration)

                   ~~~~~~~

Prayer of the Publican

O God, be merciful to me a sinner,

O God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me,

O Lord, forgive me for I have sinned without number.

          (Four times with twelve lesser reverences, that is,
            bowing while making the Sign of the Cross)

                   ~~~~~~~

(Repeat entire prayer of St. Ephrem,

but with only one great prostration at its conclusion.)

 

 

Psalm of Ascent - Psalm 133 (134)

Behold now, bless the Lord

   all you servants of the Lord.

Who stand in the house of the Lord,

   in the courts of the house of our God.

By night, lift your hands to the holy places

   and bless the Lord.

May the Lord who made heaven and earth

   bless you out of Sion.

 

                                                     Psalm 50 (51)

Have mercy on me, O God, in Your kindness,

In Your tenderness wipe out my sin.

        Cleanse me of all malice,

From my fault purify me.

 

For my sin is only too clear to me,

My sin is ever before me.

       Against You, You alone, have I sinned

What is evil in Your eyes, this I have done.

 

You are just when You decree,

Without reproach when You judge,

Look, in guilt was I born,

A sinner my mother conceived.

 

But You love truth at the heart of my being,

Teach me wisdom deep within me.

Purify me: I shall be clean,

Wash me: I shall be whiter than snow.

 

Let me hear the sound of joy and feasting,

Let them dance, these bones You have crushed! Turn Your face away from my sins,

Cleanse me of all malice.

 

O God, create for me a pure heart.

In my belly, a firm spirit!

Do not chase me out of your presence,

Do not deprive me of your Holy Spirit!

 

Give me the joy of your help,

Insure within me a spirit of fervor.

       That I may teach sinners your ways,

That the misguided may return to You.

 

Rescue me from blood, my Saving God,

And my tongue shall ring out your justice.

Lord, open my lips,

                     And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

 

For you take no delight in sacrifice,

Of my burnt offering you want no part.

My sacrifice, a broken spirit,

A heart broken and crushed you have

never disdained.

 

In your kindness be good to Sion,

Rebuild Jerusalem within its Walls!

     Then you will delight in just sacrifices -

      burnt offerings completely consumed -

                       Then will they lay calves upon Your altar.

 

O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, You are everywhere present and fill all things. Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life, come and dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save our souls, O gracious Lord.

    or
the newer translation:

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, everywhere present and filling all things, Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life, come and dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save our souls, O gracious One.

 

Prayer of the Publican

Oh God, be merciful to me a sinner.
Oh God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.
Oh Lord, forgive me for I have sinned without number

 

Veličaja or Magnificat

 

Priest:  Let us sing the praises of the Theotokos and Mother of Light!

And we, antiphonally:

ã My soul tells out the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit leaps for joy in God my Savior. 

To each verse, we sing the following refrain:

            More honorable than the Cherubim

            And beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim,

            Who, a virgin, gave birth to God the Word;

            You, truly the Theotokos, we magnify.

 

● For so tenderly has he looked upon his handmaid, humble as she is, for from this day forth all generations will count me blessed.

 

ã So wonderfully has he dealt with me, the Almighty. Holy is his name, and his mercy reaches out from age to age, to those who revere him.

 

● The deeds his own right arm has done disclose his might: he routs the arrogant of heart and mind, he has torn imperial powers from their thrones, and raised the humble ones on high.

 

ã He has filled the hungry with everything good, but the rich he has sent away with empty hands.

 

● He has ranged himself on the side of Israel, his servant, mindful of his mercy ─ as he promised our fathers ─ in favor of Abraham and all his

children forever.

 

 

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