Canon of Repentance to Our Lord Jesus Christ

A canon with prayers for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of sincere repentance.

Ode 1 (Tone 6)

Irmos: Treading over the floor of the sea as over dry land, and seeing their pursuer Pharaoh drown, Israel cried out: Let us sing to God a song of victory.

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Sinful and burdened, I now approach Thee, my Master and my God. I dare not look up towards heaven, but simply pray, saying: grant me, Lord, the sense to weep bitterly over my deeds.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

O woe is me, a sinner. I am the most wretched of men; there is no repentance in me. Grant me tears, Lord, that I may weep bitterly over my deeds.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: O senseless and wretched man, you are destroying your life in laziness. Think about your life and turn to the Lord God, weeping bitterly over your deeds.

Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. O most pure Mother of God, look on me, a sinner, and deliver me from the snares of the devil. Direct me onto the path of repentance, that I may weep bitterly over my deeds.

Ode 3

Irmos: None is holy as Thou, O Lord my God. Thou hast raised the strength of Thy faithful, O Good One, and made us stand firmly on the rock of Thy confession.

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

When the thrones will be set up for the dread Judgment, the deeds of all men will be recalled. Alas for the sinners who will be sent to torment. Knowing this, my soul, repent of your evil deeds.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The righteous shall rejoice, but sinners shall lament. No one will be able to help us at that moment—our deeds will condemn us. Before the end comes, repent of your evil deeds.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: Woe is me, a great sinner. I have defiled myself in deed and thought and cannot even shed a single tear in my hard-heartedness. Free yourself from the earth, my soul, and repent of your evil deeds.

Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Your Son calls, O Lady, and teaches us what is good. Yet I, a sinner, always flee from good. Have mercy on me, nevertheless, O merciful one, that I may repent of my evil deeds.

Sessional Hymn, Tone 6

I think of the Dread Day and weep over my evil deeds. How shall I answer the immortal King? Or how shall a prodigal like me dare to look up at the Judge? O compassionate Father, only-begotten Son, and Holy Spirit: have mercy on me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: Bound now by many fetters of sin, and held by fierce passions and distresses, to thee do I run, my salvation, and cry: Help me, O Virgin, Mother of God.

Ode 4

Irmos: “Christ is my strength, my God and my Lord”—the sacred Church reverently sings with a mighty voice, rejoicing in the Lord.

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Our present path is wide and conducive to pleasures, but bitter will the Last Day be when the soul will part from the body. O man, beware of those pleasures, for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Why do you mistreat the poor? Why do you withhold the worker’s pay? Why do you not love your brother? Why do you pursue lust and pride? Abandon all that, my soul, and repent for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: O senseless man, how long will you store up wealth like a bee? It will all soon perish like dust and ashes. Seek instead the Kingdom of God.

Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. O Lady Theotokos, have mercy on me, a sinner. Strengthen me in virtue and keep me, lest sudden death snatch me away unprepared. Guide me, O Virgin, to the Kingdom of God.

Ode 5

Irmos: Enlighten with Thy divine light, O Good One, the souls of those who lovingly rise early to cry to Thee: I pray Thee, O Word of God, lead them to know Thee as the true God, Who recalls them from the darkness of sin.

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Remember, wretched man, how you have become enslaved to lies, slanders, theft, weakness, fierce passions, and sin. Repent, my soul, before the end.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

My limbs tremble, for I have sinned with all of them: my eyes in looking, my ears in hearing, my tongue in speaking evil, and my whole self in committing sin. Repent, my soul, before the end.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: Thou didst receive the repenting harlot and the thief, O Savior. I alone have surpassed all in laziness and sin and am enslaved to evil deeds. Repent, my soul, before the end.

Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. O Virgin, Mother of God, the wonderful and swift helper of all: assist me, the unworthy, for my soul is enslaved to sin. Repent, my soul, before the end.

Ode 6

Irmos: Beholding the Sea of Life raging with the storm of temptations, I have fled to Thy calm haven and cry to Thee: Deliver my life from destruction, O Most-merciful One.

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

I have lived my life on earth prodigally and committed my soul to darkness. Now, O Merciful Master, I pray: free me from the Enemy’s labor and give me the intelligence to do Thy will.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Who does what I do? As a pig wallows in mud, so do I serve sin. Pull me out of this mire, Lord, and give me the heart to accomplish Thy commandments.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: Lift yourself towards God, wretched man, recalling your transgressions. Fall down before the Creator with tears and groans. Being merciful, He will give you the mind to know His will.

Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Keep us from both visible and invisible harm, O Virgin Theotokos. Receive my prayers, Most Pure One, and bear them to your Son, that He may give me the mind to do His will.

Kontakion, Tone 6

O my soul, why do you enrich yourself with sins. Why do you do the Devil’s will. In what have you put your hope. Cease all this and turn to God, weeping and crying: O compassionate Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Ikos

Contemplate, my soul, the bitter hour of death and the dread judgment of your Creator and God. Threatening angels will seize you, my soul, and lead you to eternal flames. Repent before your death, therefore, crying: O Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Ode 7

Irmos: The Angel made the furnace a source of dew for the pious youths, and the Will of God, which burned the Chaldeans, made the persecutor call out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers.

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Put not your hope in corruptible wealth, my soul, nor in things unjustly gathered. You do not know to whom you will leave it all. Instead, cry out: O Christ God, have mercy on me, the unworthy.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Do not count on physical health, my soul, nor on fleeting beauty. You see how both the strong and the young die. Instead, cry out: O Christ God, have mercy on me, the unworthy.

Remember, my soul, both the eternal life and the Heavenly Kingdom prepared for the saints and the outer darkness and divine wrath prepared for the wicked. Then cry out: O Christ God, have mercy on me, the unworthy.

Fall down before the Mother of God, my soul, and pray to her, for she is the swift helper of penitents. She will entreat her Son, Christ God, and He will have mercy on me, the unworthy.

Ode 8

Irmos: Thou didst cause dew to pour from the flames over the pious youths, and didst burn the sacrifice of a righteous man with water—for Thou doest all things, O Christ, by Thy Will alone. We exalt Thee throughout all ages.

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

How can I not weep when I think of death. I have seen my brother lying in the tomb without glory and without form. What can I expect. What can I hope. Only grant me, Lord, repentance before the end. (twice)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: I believe that Thou wilt come to judge the living and the dead, and that everyone will stand in his rank: the old and the young; masters and princes; virgins and priests. Where will I find myself. Therefore, I cry out: grant me, Lord, repentance before the end.

Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Receive my unworthy prayer, Most Pure Theotokos. Keep me from sudden death, and grant me repentance before the end.

Ode 9

Irmos: No man can see God, upon Whom the Angelic ranks dare not gaze. But through you, O Pure One, the Incarnate Word was revealed to mankind. Magnifying Him with the heavenly hosts, we call you blessed.

Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

I now turn to you, angels, archangels, and all the heavenly host who stand by the throne of God: pray to your Creator that He deliver my soul from eternal torments.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

I now weep before you, holy patriarchs, kings and prophets, apostles and hierarchs, and all the elect of Christ: help me at the Judgment, that my soul be saved from the strength of the Enemy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: I now lift up my hands to you, holy martyrs, desert-dwellers, virgins, righteous ones, and all saints who pray to the Lord for the whole world: may He have mercy on me at the hour of my death.

Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Help me, Mother of God, for I have great hope in you. Pray to your Son, that when He sits to judge the living and the dead, He may place me at His right hand, even though I am unworthy.

Prayer to Our Lord Jesus Christ

O Master Christ God, Who hast healed my passions through Thy Passion, and hast cured my wounds through Thy wounds, grant me, who have sinned greatly against Thee, tears of compunction. Transform my body with the fragrance of Thy life-giving Body, and sweeten my soul with Thy precious Blood from the bitterness with which the foe has fed me. Lift up my down-cast mind to Thee, and take it out of the pit of perdition, for I have no repentance, I have no compunction, I have no consoling tears, which uplift children to their heritage.

My mind has been darkened through earthly passions, I cannot look up to Thee in pain. I cannot warm myself with tears of love for Thee. But, O Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ, Treasury of good things, give me thorough repentance and a diligent heart to seek Thee; grant me Thy grace, and renew in me the likeness of Thine image. I have forsaken Thee — do then not forsake me! Come out to seek me; lead me up to Thy pasturage and number me among the lambs of Thy chosen flock. Nourish me with them on the grass of Thy Holy Mysteries, through the intercessions of Thy most pure Mother and all Thy saints. Amen.