Canon the Mother of God at Compline
Tone 1 – Saturday
In Tone 2

Ode I, Irmos.

In the deep of old, the glorious Lord overwhelmed all the hosts of Pharaoh, with their armed might; and the incarnate Word hath destroyed the sins that prevail, for He hath been glorified.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

O good Theotokos, who hearkenest unto all in affliction and helpest them in sorrow, grant grace unto those who dare to hymn thee, O Lady, Joy of those who sorrow.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

Having obtained most abundant grace, O Lady, through thy bold intercession, gloriously deliver me, thy poor servant, from adversities, O Joy of those who sorrow.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Deliver us, O Theotokos, from enemies visible and invisible, we beseech thee, who flee unto thee; and destroy every counsel of those who wage war against us.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Take away from me the reproach of men and the slanders of malicious accusers, O Theotokos, I beseech thee, that I may fervently glorify the Lord Whom thou didst nourish.

Ode III, Irmos.

Establish us by Thyself, O Lord, Who by the Tree hast put transgressions to death; and plant Thy fear in our hearts, O Lover of mankind.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

Having destroyed the vain plots of enemies, O all-hymned Theotokos, cease not in thy prayers to preserve us who praise thee.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

Look upon me, O pure one, with thy merciful eye, and deliver me from every plot of enemies visible and invisible, blinding the pupils of their eyes.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Quench with the dew of thy prayers, O Virgin, the evil assault of enemies, burning as fire, who ever seek to destroy us.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

O unsleeping lamp, O ever-radiant dawn, enlighten me, who am held fast in the night of sorrows, by thy prayers, O thou who gavest birth unto Christ, the Sun of glory.

Ode IV, Irmos.

I heard Thy voice, O Lord, which said: The voice of one crying in the wilderness. For Thou didst thunder over many waters, bearing witness unto Thy Son; and being wholly in the Spirit, he cried aloud: Thou art Christ, the Wisdom and Power of God.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

We beseech thee, O Mother of God, bridge of salvation, unsleeping prayer, and steadfast protection: have compassion and behold our unbearable sadness, sicknesses, sorrows, and passions; and graciously visit us, swiftly granting joy.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

We who sorrow are not without a share in thy protection, O Lady. Therefore help us now also with haste, O pure one, stretching forth thy hand unto us who are grievously storm-tossed; be merciful unto our afflictions, O Mother of God, swiftly granting joy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Those who work iniquity have not placed their hope in thee, O Lady, but have trusted in a boastful tongue, in the tongue of man, ever pouring forth envy and roaring that they might unjustly shed the blood of their neighbor. But do thou, O pure one, break their jaws.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Humble, O Lady, the uplifted neck of the enemies who speak arrogantly, their counsels and their ways, and their hearts which meditate upon evil against me all the days. But grant strength and victory unto those who call upon thee, O Mother of God, swiftly granting joy.

Ode V, Irmos.

The coal revealed unto Isaiah, the Sun shone forth from the virginal womb, granting the enlightenment of divine understanding unto those who wandered in darkness.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

O unfailing intercessor, O hope of Christians, thou who art filled with joy, receive our supplications, who fervently call upon thee and pray unto thee.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

Knowing thee, O pure one, to be the fountain of life, pouring forth the waters of immortality, we who are born of earth call thee blessed.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

The enemy hath craftily armed himself against us, desiring to destroy us with his tongue as with a sword; but do thou forestall him by thy power, O Birthgiver of God.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

O pure one, who can number the abyss of thy protection or reckon thy powers? Therefore make haste to come unto us who are in distress.

Ode VI, Irmos.

Held fast in the abyss of sins, I call upon the unfathomable abyss of Thy mercy: raise me up from corruption, O God.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

O intercessor for chastity, show thyself now unto those who call upon thee, and deliver them from every adversity and distress, O Bride of God.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

Destroy the evil deeds of the enemy, and put an end to unjust slanders, O blessed and most pure one, delivering the innocent from sorrow.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Surrounded by grievous sins and drowning amid the calamities of adversity, we flee beneath thy divine protection, O Mother of Christ our God.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Having given birth unto the Lord without knowing man, thou wast shown to remain a Virgin even after childbirth. O most glorious wonder wrought in thee, O Bride of God!

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 the ages of ages. Amen.

Sedalen, Tone 2.
O fervent intercessor and unassailable wall, fountain of mercy and refuge of the world, we fervently cry unto thee, O Lady Theotokos: make haste to deliver us from calamities, O thou who alone dost swiftly intercede.

Ode VII, Irmos.

That they might clearly prefigure Thy most glorious birth from the Virgin, O Christ, Thou didst preserve the children unconsumed in the furnace, as they sang in hymns: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

O thy compassion, O pure Virgin! For thou loosest immeasurable sorrows and adversities for those who call upon thee in distress and tribulation. Therefore help now also those who praise thee, O blessed one.

Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

Show forth thy swift protection; show that thou art able, as the Mother of God. We call upon thee from the heart, falling down before thee with tears: Quickly assuage the sorrow and affliction of thy servants.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

The mouths of men, like those of fierce lions, have opened against me, more grievously than the grave, to swallow me bitterly. But do thou, O Theotokos, appear as the Hope of the hopeless, and cast down their strength, O blessed one.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Let the enemies see and be put to shame; let them understand and behold thy power, which fighteth on our behalf against those who wage war upon us; and cast them down into the nethermost abyss, O blessed one, Hope of the hopeless.

Ode VIII, Irmos.

The fiery furnace in Babylon once divided its operation at God’s command, burning the Chaldeans but refreshing the faithful, who sang: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

Refrain: O Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

O Birthgiver of God, our refuge and the joy of the world, hasten to show compassion unto those who are afflicted; swiftly grant us thy grace, and protect thy servants, O good one.

Refrain: O Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

The assemblies of the ungodly have devised a vain and cruel counsel against us, as Ahithophel did of old. But we cry unto thee: By thy prayers destroy their designs, casting down their strength, O Theotokos.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Swiftly hear, O Lady Theotokos, those who call upon thee from the soul without falsehood, amid every sorrow, manifold sicknesses, and grievous calamities, ever delivering them by thy prayers.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Let thy name be glorified upon earth, O Theotokos; for He Who shone forth from thee hath given thee unto sinners as a mighty hope and a wall, for through thee everything that hath breath fleeth unto God.

Ode IX, Irmos.

Every tongue is at a loss to praise thee worthily, and even the heavenly mind is unable to hymn thee, O Theotokos. Yet, being wholly good, receive our faith, for thou knowest our divine love. For thou art the intercessor of Christians; thee do we magnify.

Refrain: O Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

Let every tongue that meditateth upon evil be stopped; let deceitful lips be silent, and mouths that unjustly utter the lawlessness of the unrighteous, with pride and hostile envy together, through the prayers of the Theotokos and of the saints of Christ.

Refrain: O Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)

We who are held fast by sickness and sorrow all call upon the pure Theotokos, who keepeth watch in prayer, crying aloud: O pure Lady, swiftly deliver thy servants from the afflictions that continually hold them fast, for after God we have no other intercessor.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Thou art a great refuge for the despairing and a tranquil haven for the storm-tossed, O Theotokos. Therefore we also flee unto thee with thanksgiving, that we may not be put to shame, O Mother of the true Life, and that, giving thanks, we may earnestly magnify thee.

Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.

Receive, O most pure Maiden, this divine hymn, granting grace unto those who hope in thee; and entreat that peace may ever be sent unto the Churches, and triumph and victory unto our realm, that every Christian tongue may magnify thee.

Then at Compline, “It is truly meet,” and the rest as usual, followed by the Dismissal.

10 October 2026