Canon the Mother of God at Compline
Tone 8 – Friday
Ode I, Irmos.
Let us sing unto the Lord, Who led His people through the Red Sea, for He alone hath been gloriously glorified.
Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)
Mortify the mind of my flesh, O most pure Virgin, who hast borne the Life, and deliver me from every torment.
Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)
With the most radiant dawn of Him Who shone forth from thee, O Virgin, enlighten the pupils of my soul, that I may glorify thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Pray, O Lady, thou only holy Theotokos, that in the day of Judgment I may obtain salvation and divine radiance.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
O most pure Theotokos, assuage the pains of my heart, thou who beyond mind and word hast borne Christ without pain.
Ode III, Irmos.
Thou art the confirmation of those who flee unto Thee, O Lord; Thou also art the Light of those in darkness, and my spirit singeth unto Thee.
Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)
By thy prayers deliver me, O most pure one, from the arrows of the enemy, and spare my heart from the thoughts that assail it.
Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)
Heal the wounds of my soul, O all-immaculate Mother of God, and by thy prayers calm also the disturbance of my heart.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Subdue the unruliness of my thoughts, O pure Lady, and take away every sorrow from my soul, thou who hast borne the Joy.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Rejoice, O salvation of those who flee unto thee, O Virgin Mother of Christ; rejoice, praise of the Apostles and Martyrs.
Ode IV, Irmos.
I have heard, O Lord, the mystery of Thy dispensation; I have understood Thy works, and have glorified Thy Divinity.
Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)
Heal the wounds of my soul, O Word of God, Thou Who wast wounded for my sake as the Lover of mankind, and enlighten the darkness of my mind.
Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)
Through the drowsiness of my sloth, sinful sleep hath overtaken me, O Virgin; by thy vigilant prayer raise me up unto repentance.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O all-immaculate one, who from the Fountain hast poured forth the water of remission, give drink unto my heart, dried up by every transgression.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
O most holy Bride of God, Lady of the world, save me, turning away afflictions and driving off the tumult of the passions.
Ode V, Irmos.
Rising early, we cry unto Thee, O Lord: Save us; for Thou art our God, and besides Thee we know no other.
Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)
Look upon me, O most pure one, and hear my voice, and cleanse all mine iniquities, O Lady.
Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)
O Theotokos, who hast borne the Sun that setteth not, enlighten me wholly, who am darkened by the passions, that I may glorify and praise thee, O all-immaculate one.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Have compassion upon my soul, O most holy Maiden, and deliver me from judgment and eternal torment.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Heal my ailing soul, O most holy Lady, who hast borne Him Who taketh away the infirmities of all.
Ode VI, Irmos.
The abyss of sin and the storm of transgressions trouble me and drive me into the grievous depth of despair; but do Thou Thyself stretch forth unto me Thy mighty hand, as unto Peter, and raise me up from corruption, O my God.
Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)
Mortify the disordered movements of my flesh, O Theotokos, thou who by thy life-giving childbearing hast given life unto those put to death by evil, that I may glorify thee as the cause of the renewal of mankind.
Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)
O Virgin Theotokos, who hast borne the Abyss of mercies, save my soul from the sorrows of life, and open unto me the doors of spiritual joy; for upon thee alone have I placed my hope.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
That I may joyfully hymn thy mighty deeds, O most pure Virgin, and the great grace of thy wonders, by thy prayers turn away the unseemly thoughts that ever torment me.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Beyond nature hast thou borne Him Who is inseparable from the bosom of the Father and Who through thee, O Virgin, held converse with men. But since thou art the praise and confirmation of us all, O Theotokos, have compassion upon those who flee unto thee.
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 8.
The Word of the Father descended to earth, and the radiant Angel said unto the Theotokos: Rejoice, O blessed one, who alone hast preserved thy bridal chamber, having received the conception of the pre-eternal God and Lord, that, as God, He might save the race of man from deception.
Ode VII, Irmos.
The Hebrew children in the furnace, trampling upon the flame and boldly enduring it, and changing the fire into dew, cried: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, for ever.
Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)
Woe is me! How shall I escape the torments awaiting me, having lived wickedly here? How shall I, the wretched one, appear before the dread Judge? O Birthgiver of God and Lady, be thou then my helper.
Refrain: Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)
Quench the flame of my passions and calm the storm of my heart, O pure Mother of God; and deliver me, O most pure one, from the torment of the demons and from eternal fire.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Behold my sorrow, O Virgin, which the multitude of mine evils hath brought upon me, and grant me rest before my departure, by thy motherly prayers entreating thy Son.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Quench with thy dew, O Virgin, the flame of the passions of my heart, and snatch me, O Maiden, from the dread fire, from eternal judgment, and from the torment of the demons.
Ode VIII, Irmos.
Bless, O children equal in number to the Trinity, God the Father and Creator; hymn the Word Who descended and changed the fire into dew; and exalt above all for ever the Most Holy Spirit, Who giveth life unto all.
Refrain: O Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)
Mortify, O Virgin, all our bodily movements, thou who by thy life-bearing childbearing hast rendered the serpent dead; and pray that we may obtain the life that groweth not old, that we may hymn thee for ever.
Refrain: O Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)
Upon thee, O Birthgiver of God, do I ever call for help; put me not to shame, who have acquired shameful deeds, but have compassion upon me, O most pure one, and snatch me from the flame and deliver me from eternal torments.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O thou who art full of grace, show thyself my helper amid the assault of evils, delivering me from the demonic snares that come upon me, that I may ever bless thee, O Theotokos, intercessor for all.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
O most holy Maiden, praise of the Apostles and glory of the Martyrs, make me a partaker of eternal glory, as I cry: Bless the Most Holy Spirit for ever.
Ode IX, Irmos.
The law of nature was surpassed when thou didst conceive the Creator of creation, and thou becamest the door of salvation unto the world; wherefore we unceasingly magnify thee, O Theotokos.
Refrain: O Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)
With thy Light that knoweth no evening, O Door of Light, drive away the grievous darkness of my soul, and show me the radiant paths of repentance, that, walking therein, I may escape the darkness of sin and unceasingly magnify thee.
Refrain: O Most Holy Lady Mother of God, save us. (Bow)
Cleanse Thy servants, O Good One, and grant forgiveness of transgressions; deliver us from the everlasting flame and make us partakers of Thy Kingdom, O Word of God, for, desiring to save the race of man, Thou didst endure the Cross.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Grant me, O Theotokos, to pass safely through the course of life; and, as thou art good, subdue the uprisings of temptations and passions, and guide me unto the virtue of the heavenly Kingdom and divine rest, that, being saved, I may glorify thee.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Heal my soul, ailing with grievous passion, O merciful one who hast borne the all-good God; and deliver me, O most pure one, from those who ever afflict me and from the grievous evils that come upon me, that, being saved, I may fervently magnify thee, who hast magnified our race.
Then at Compline, “It is truly meet,” and the rest as usual, followed by the Dismissal.
2 October 2026