The Order of Compline
The priest gives the blessing:
Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages!
NOTE: In the absence of a priest, laymen begin with:
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us!
The Reader continues:
Amen! Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee!
O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere and fillest all things. Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life: Come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us! (3 times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy! (3 times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. 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 evil.
The priest exclaims:
Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
The Reader continues:
Amen! Lord, have mercy! (12 times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Come, let us worship God, our King!
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God!
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God!
Psalm 50
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Thy sight, so that Thou art justified in Thy sentence and blameless in Thy judgment.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sins did my mother conceive me.
Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Fill me with joy and gladness; let the bones which Thou hast broken rejoice.
Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways, and sinners will return to Thee.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of Thy deliverance.
O Lord, open Thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.
For Thou hast no delight in sacrifice; were I to give a burnt offering, Thou wouldst not be pleased.
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
Do good to Zion in Thy good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
Then wilt Thou delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Thy altar.
Psalm 69
O God, attend to helping me! O Lord, make haste to help me!
Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life!
Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire my hurt!
Let them be turned back in their shame who jeer saying: “Well done! Well done!”
May all who seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee!
May those who love Thy salvation say evermore, “God is great!”
But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God!
Thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not tarry!
Psalm 142
Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my supplications! In Thy faithfulness answer me, in Thy righteousness!
Enter not into judgment with Thy servant; for no man living is righteous before Thee.
For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.
I remember the days of old, I meditate on all Thou hast done; I muse on what Thy hands have wrought.
I stretch out my hands to Thee; my soul thirsts for Thee like a parched land.
Make haste to answer me, O Lord! My spirit fails!
Hide not Thy face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the Pit.
Let me hear in the morning of Thy steadfast love, for in Thee I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go, for to Thee I lift up my soul.
Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies! I have fled to Thee for refuge!
Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God!
Let Thy Good Spirit lead me on a level path!
For Thy name’s sake, O Lord, give me life! in Thy righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
And in Thy steadfast love cut off my enemies and destroy all those who afflict my soul, for I am Thy servant.
The Doxology
Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.
We praise Thee! We bless Thee! We worship Thee! We glorify Thee! We give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory!
O Lord, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty! O Lord, the only-begotten Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit!
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us!
Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father have mercy on us!
For Thou alone art holy, Thou only art Lord, Thou only, O Jesus Christ, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen!
Every night will I give thanks to Thee and praise Thy name for ever and ever!
Lord, Thou hast been our refuge from generation to generation!
I said, Lord be merciful to me, heal my soul for I have sinned against Thee.
Lord, I flee unto Thee. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God.
For with Thee is the fountain of life, and in Thy light shall we see light.
O continue forth Thy mercy upon those who know Thee!
Grant, Lord, that we may be kept this night without sin!
Blessed art Thou, Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified be Thy name forever. Amen!
Let Thy mercy, Lord, be upon us, as we have set our hope on Thee.
Blessed art Thou, Lord, teach me Thy statutes!
Blessed art Thou, Master, make me to understand Thy commandments!
Blessed art Thou, Holy One, enlighten me with Thy precepts!
Thy mercy, Lord, endures forever! O despise not the works of Thy hands!
To Thee belongs worship! To Thee belongs praise! To Thee belongs glory: To the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen!
The Symbol of Faith
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose Kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. In one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
NOTE: In churches, the appointed Compline Canon to the Theotokos is sung from the Octoechos at this point.
When Compline is read privately, one or more Canons and/or an Akathist Hymn is sung instead.
It is the tradition of the Russian Church that those preparing to receive the Holy Mysteries (Communion) read at least three Canons and one Akathist Hymn the evening before (See page 89). Some read the Canon of Preparation at this point (See page 119).
Whenever a Canon is sung, the following is sung to the same melody as the Irmos of the Canon. If there is no Canon, it is either read or sung to the 8th Tone.
It is truly meet to bless you, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God. 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.
The Reader continues:
Holy God! Holy Mighty! Holy Immortal! Have mercy on us! (3 times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us! Lord, cleanse us from our sins! Master, pardon our transgressions! Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake!
Lord, have mercy! (3 times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. 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 evil.
If there is a priest, he gives the usual exclamation.
After saying AMEN!, the Reader reads the appropriate TROPARIA:
Sunday Evening
We, the unworthy, ever pray to you, Supreme Commanders of the Heavenly Hosts: shelter us, through your prayers, with the protective wings of your glory. Keep us who fall down with fervor and cry: deliver us from misfortunes, for you command the powers on high.
O God of our fathers, Who dealest ever with us according to Thy meekness: take not Thy mercy from us, but direct our lives in peace through their prayers.
Thy Church has been adorned with a robe of fine purple linen—the blood of Thy Martyrs throughout the world, O Christ God. She therefore cries to Thee: send Thy mercies upon Thy people, give peace to Thy community and great mercy to our souls.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
O Christ, give rest to the souls of Thy servants with the saints, where there is no sickness, sorrow or sighing, but everlasting life.
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Grant us Thy peace, O Lord, through the prayers of all the saints and the Theotokos. Have mercy on us, for Thou alone art compassionate.
Monday Evening
The just man is remembered with praises. For you, O Forerunner, the witness of the Lord is sufficient. You truly showed yourself more honorable than the prophets, for you were made worthy to baptize in the streams the One Whom you proclaimed. Having gladly suffered for the truth, you proclaimed to those in Hades the true God Who has revealed Himself in the flesh, taken away the sin of the world and given us great mercy.
O God of our Fathers …
Thy Church has been adorned …
Glory to the Father …
O Christ, give rest …
Now and ever …
Grant us Thy peace, O Lord, …
Tuesday Evening
O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries; and by the virtue of Thy Cross, preserve Thy habitation.
O God of our Fathers …
Thy Church has been adorned …
Glory to the Father …
O Christ, give rest …
Now and ever …
Grant us Thy peace, O Lord, …
Wednesday Evening
O holy Apostles, pray to our merciful God, that He grant remission of sins to our souls.
The truth of things revealed you to your flock as a rule of faith, an Icon of meekness and a teacher of abstinence. You thus reached the heights through humility and wealth through poverty. O holy hierarch, father Nicholas, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
O God of our Fathers …
Thy Church has been adorned …
Glory to the Father …
O Christ, give rest …
Now and ever …
Grant us Thy peace, O Lord, …
Thursday Evening
The same as Tuesday evening.
Friday Evening
We pray to you, apostles, martyrs and prophets, hierarchs, venerable and righteous ones, who have fought the good fight and kept the faith: having boldness before the Savior, pray to Him Who is good for the salvation of our souls.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
To Thee, Lord, the Planter of Creation, the universe offers the God-bearing Martyrs as the first-fruits of nature. Through their prayers and the Theotokos, Most Merciful One, keep Thy Church and Thy people in profound peace.
Saturday Evening
The Sunday Troparia and Kontakia are read, according to the Tone of the week.
Tone 1
When the stone had been sealed by the Jews; while the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure Body; Thou didst rise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. The powers of heaven therefore cried to Thee, O Giver of Life: Glory to Thy resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Thy Kingdom! Glory to Thy dispensation, O Thou who lovest mankind.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
As God, Thou didst rise from the tomb in glory, raising the world with Thyself. Human nature praises Thee as God, for death has vanished! Adam exults, O Master! Eve rejoices, for she is freed from bondage, and cries to Thee: Thou art the Giver of Resurrection to all, O Christ!
Tone 2
When Thou didst descend to death, O Life Immortal, Thou didst slay hell with the splendor of Thy Godhead! And when from the depths Thou didst raise the dead, all the powers of heaven cried out: O Giver of Life! Christ our God! Glory to Thee!
Glory to the Father… Now and ever…
Hell became afraid, O Almighty Savior, seeing the miracle of Thy resurrection from the tomb! The dead arose! Creation, with Adam, beheld this and rejoiced with Thee! And the world, O my Savior, praises Thee forever.
Tone 3
Let the heavens rejoice! Let the earth be glad! For the Lord has shown strength with His arm! He has trampled down death by death! He has become the firstborn of the dead! He has delivered us from the depths of hell, and has granted the world great mercy!
Glory to the Father… Now and ever…
On this day Thou didst rise from the tomb, O Merciful One, leading us from the gates of death. On this day Adam exults as Eve rejoices; with the prophets and patriarchs they unceasingly praise the divine majesty of Thy power!
Tone 4
When the women disciples of the Lord learned from the angel the joyous message of Thy Resurrection; they cast away the ancestral curse and elatedly told the apostles: Death is overthrown! Christ God is risen, granting the world great mercy.
Glory to the Father… Now and ever…
My Savior and Redeemer as God rose from the tomb and delivered the earthborn from their chains. He has shattered the gates of hell, and as Master, He has risen on the third day!
Tone 5
Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born for our salvation from the Virgin; for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh, to endure death, and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.
Glory to the Father… Now and ever…
Thou didst descend into hell, O my Savior, shattering its gates as Almighty; resurrecting the dead as Creator, and destroying the sting of death. Thou hast delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Man, and we all cry to Thee: O Lord, save us!
Tone 6
The angelic powers were at Thy tomb; the guards became as dead men. Mary stood by Thy grave, seeking Thy most pure Body. Thou didst capture hell, not being tempted by it. Thou didst come to the Virgin, granting life. O Lord who didst rise from the dead: glory to Thee!
Glory to the Father… Now and ever…
When Christ God, the Giver of Life, raised all of the dead from the valleys of misery with His mighty hand, He bestowed resurrection on the human race. He is the Savior of all, the Resurrection, the Life, and the God of all.
Tone 7
By Thy Cross, Thou didst destroy death! To the thief, Thou didst open Paradise! For the myrrhbearers, Thou didst change weeping into joy! And Thou didst command Thy disciples, O Christ God, to proclaim that Thou art risen, granting the world great mercy!
Glory to the Father… Now and ever…
The dominion of death can no longer hold men captive, for Christ descended, shattering and destroying its powers! Hell is bound, while the prophets rejoice and cry: The Savior has come to those in faith! Enter, you faithful, into the Resurrection!
Tone 8
Thou didst descend from on high, O Merciful One! Thou didst accept the three-day burial to free us from our sufferings! O Lord, our Life and Resurrection: glory to Thee!
Glory to the Father… Now and ever…
By rising from the tomb, Thou didst raise the dead and resurrect Adam. Eve exults in Thy Resurrection, and the world celebrates Thy rising from the dead, O greatly Merciful One!
NOTE: On the eve of Great Feasts of the Lord or the Theotokos, the Troparion and Kontakion of the Feast are read.
After the Troparia, the Reader continues:
Lord, have mercy! (40 times)
A Prayer of St. Basil the Great
O Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy! (3 times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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!
When a priest is serving, the Reader concludes:
Bless, father, in the name of the Lord!
The priest exclaims:
Priest: O God, be gracious to us and bless us! Shine Thy countenance upon us, and have mercy on us!
In the absence of a priest, a layman says:
“Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Amen”.
In either case, the Reader, after saying “Amen”, continues with the following:
NOTE: During Great Lent the Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim is said at this point of most services during the week (not on Saturday or Sunday). It is also appropriate for Morning Prayers and the Prayers Before Sleep on the same days.
Prayer of St. Ephraim
O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power and idle talk. (Prostration)
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant. (Prostration)
Yea, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages. (Prostration)
O God, cleanse me a sinner. (12 times)
(Then the entire Prayer of St. Ephraim is read and a single prostration is made at the end.)
Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos
by the Monk Paul
O undefiled, immaculate, incorrupt and most pure Lady, the pure Virgin Bride of God! Through your most glorious birth-giving, you united God the Word to mankind and joined our fallen human nature to the heavenly. You are the only hope of the hopeless, the aid of the embattled a ready help to those who run to you and a refuge for all Christians. Do not turn away from me who am sinful and vile, even though I have made myself totally useless through defiled thoughts, words and deeds, and my mind has become enslaved to the lazy pleasures of this life. As Mother of the God Who loves mankind, have pity on me, a prodigal sinner, in that same love for mankind. Receive the prayer I offer to you with defiled lips and pray to your Son, our Master and Lord, with your maternal boldness. May He open even to me the goodness of His deep love for mankind. May He overlook my countless transgressions, turn me to repentance and make me an experienced accomplisher of His commandments. Stand by me always in your mercy, compassion and love of good. Be my fervent intercessor and help in this life, driving off the assaults of enemies and guiding me to salvation. Guard my wretched soul at the time of my death, driving away the dark forms of the evil demons. Deliver me from eternal torments at the Day of Judgment and reveal me an heir of the inexpressible glory of your Son and our God. May I receive this, my Lady most glorious Theotokos, through your help and intercession: through the Grace and love for mankind of your only-begotten Son, our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, to Whom belong all glory, honor and worship, with His Father Who is without beginning, and His most holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
A Prayer to Our Lord Jesus Christ
by the Monk Antiochus
As we prepare for sleep, Master, grant rest to our bodies and souls. Keep us from the dark sleep of sin and from every dark and passionate pleasure of the night. Still the impulses of passions and put out the flaming arrows which the Evil One looses deceitfully against us. Still the rebellions of the flesh and put to sleep our worldly and material reasonings. O God, grant us an alert mind, chaste thoughts, a sober heart, and a light sleep, free of every satanic dream. Raise us at the time of prayer confirmed in Thy commandments—the memory of Thy judgments firmly in us. Grant that we may glorify Thee throughout this night, singing, blessing and glorifying Thy most honorable and majestic name: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
NOTE: In churches, Compline concludes at this point with brief prayers and a Litany. (See the BOOK OF HOURS)
When read privately, Compline moves into PRAYERS BEFORE SLEEP, beginning with the Troparia: “Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us…” (page 68).