Canon the Mother of God at Compline
Tone 1 – Friday

Ode I, Irmos.

Let us all sing a song of victory unto God, Who hath wrought wondrous miracles with His uplifted arm, and hath saved Israel, for He hath been glorified.

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

Thou art a haven of salvation and a shelter unto those who call upon thee, O most pure Theotokos. Therefore I also call upon thee fervently from my soul: O Lady, save me.

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

O most pure Mary, Mother of the Creator, heal my lowly soul, corrupted by passions and transgressions, for thou art good and readily moved to compassion.

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

O Lady who knewest not wedlock, cease not to entreat my Creator and God, that I, who continually flee unto thy protection, may obtain mercy.

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

O ensouled palace of the King and fire-formed throne, with the holy martyrs and Apostles ever entreat Christ to deliver us from adversities.

Ode III, Irmos.

The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner. This is the stone upon which Christ established His Church, which He redeemed from among the nations.

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

The darkness of transgressions holdeth my heart captive, O Lady, and I dare not lift mine eyes unto heaven. Therefore I cry: Enlighten my mind and soul and heart with the commandments of Christ.

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

I look upon thy divine image and thy sovereign imprint, and honor thee, the most pure Mother, as the prototype; and I kiss and venerate the image, and praise thee, knowing the honor of thee and of it to be one.

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

Restrain the cruel impulses of the flesh, O Virgin, and quench the flame of the passions, with which the cruel serpent plaiteth for me a many-plaited bond of transgressions, desiring to snatch me away unto destruction.

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

The Word was wholly clothed in Adam from thee, O Theotokos, having passed through in bodily form. Entreat Him, therefore, to deliver us from the passions, from manifold adversities, and from everlasting fire.

Ode IV, Irmos.

Foreseeing by the Spirit, the Prophet Habakkuk proclaimed the incarnation of the Word, saying: When the years draw nigh, Thou shalt be known; when the time is come, Thou shalt appear. Glory to Thy power, O Lord.

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

Having given birth unto the Creator and Maker of all, O Virgin, thou hast ineffable power and unconquerable strength, and savest those who come unto thee in faith. Therefore I cry unto thee: O Lady of the world, help me.

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

Cast down, O Lady, the assaults of the unseen, spiritual enemies, who vainly assail my wretched heart; grant me divine stillness and peace, that I may joyfully hymn thee.

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

Hope of the hopeless, helper of the poor, consolation of those who weep, cleansing of sinners, guide of those who have gone astray, healer of the sick, and restoration of the fallen.

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

O pure and blessed Virgin Mary, who alone hast changed the curse of all, with the Apostles, martyrs, and prophets entreat Him Who passed through thy womb, that He may save the souls of those who hymn thee.

Ode V, Irmos.

Give us Thy peace, O Son of God, for we know none other God save Thee; we call upon Thy Name, for Thou art God of the living and the dead.

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

O Lady, save me from the depths of adversities, and sorrows, and griefs, and bodily passions; and preserve my soul in divine stillness.

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

Thou hast been unto me fervent and steadfast protection throughout all my life, O all-immaculate one. Therefore I beseech thee: after death also extend unto me thy rich mercy.

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

O thou who gavest birth unto the Creator and Deliverer of all, deliver me from the bodily passions which burn my heart and draw me unto unseemly deeds.

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

Having been shown to be a place of spiritual sanctification, O Lady, sanctify me wholly; and with the saints and wise Apostles pray that I may be saved, O Virgin.

Ode VI, Irmos.

Likening myself unto the Prophet Jonas, I cry: Deliver my life from corruption, O Good One, and save me, O Saviour of the world, as I cry: Glory to Thee.

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

Thou preservest me while I live, delivering me from adversities; and when I depart from the earth, bring me unto eternal life by thy mercy, O Virgin Mother.

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

Thou art an indestructible wall; thou art a steadfast protection, O blessed Theotokos; thou art a mighty intercessor for thy servant. Therefore I call upon thee unceasingly.

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

Having obtained powerful prayer unto God, O blessed Theotokos, despise me not, who fervently flee unto thy protection. Have mercy upon me, O Mother of the God of all.

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

Cast me not away, O Christ; disdain me not, O Saviour. The Ewe-Lamb who bore Thee in the flesh entreateth Thee, together with the Apostles and the prophets and Thy passion-bearers.

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 1.
O most pure Maiden, the prophets foretold thee, O Virgin, as the cloud of the ever-existing Light of God, the ark, the lampstand, the jar, and the unhewn mountain; for from thee Christ our God came forth without seed in the latter times, according to the good pleasure of the Father.

Ode VII, Irmos.

He Who saved Thy children in the furnace suffered not the fire to touch or harm them; then the three, as with one mouth, sang and blessed, saying: Blessed is the God of our fathers.

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

Being in despair through transgressions and fleshly pleasures, O pure one, and drawn toward the depths of destruction, make haste to deliver me by thy mercy, O most pure Lady.

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

O Theotokos, refuge and mighty protection and deliverance of all the faithful, be thou my guide unto the Creator, granting me deliverance from transgressions through thy compassion.

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

Thou hast destroyed the curse, O pure one, having given birth unto Christ, our Joy. Loose also by thy power, O all-immaculate one, the curse which hath come upon me through sin, and grant me joy.

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

O most holy and pure one, we thy servants ever beseech thee, praying day and night with a broken mind: grant us deliverance from our transgressions through thy prayers.

Ode VIII, Irmos.

Him before Whom the Angels and all the hosts tremble, as Creator and Lord: hymn Him, ye priests; glorify Him, ye children; bless Him, ye people, and supremely exalt Him unto all ages.

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

Arise, make haste, and do battle against the enemies who vainly trouble and afflict us, showing forth thy power, O holy Virgin, helper of the world.

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

Having saved the world from death and corruption through thy divine childbirth, O good Virgin, now also by thy prayers snatch us who praise thee away from the passions, and save us.

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

Great and ineffable is thy strength, O Virgin; manifold and unconquerable are thy divine mercies and compassion. Therefore save us who call upon thee in truth.

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

As an ensouled vine, O Virgin, thou hast brought forth unto us the ripe cluster, which hath poured forth the wine of remission and dried up the drunkenness of sin.

Ode IX, Irmos.

O light-bearing cloud, upon whom the Master of all descended from heaven as rain upon the fleece, and for our sake was incarnate, becoming man, though without beginning: we all magnify thee as the pure Mother of our God.

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

In the sea of life, sorely tossed by fleshly pleasures, I fall down before thee and cry: Have mercy upon me who flee unto thee, O Lady, and stretch forth unto me the hand of salvation, delivering me from the depths of destruction.

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

Unto thee I confess my sins, O Virgin; before thy countenance I present my shame, and cry from my soul: Have mercy upon me and show me compassion, O most pure one, for upon thee, together with God, have I firmly set my hope.

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

Thee who without seed gavest birth unto the Creator and Master do I call upon from my soul, and fervently cry: Save me from the corruption of my many transgressions, and deliver me from the unquenchable fire, O most holy and good Theotokos.

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

O impassable door, gate of Paradise, way of those who are saved, and paths of salvation: with the martyrs and prophets, with the righteous and venerable, and with the divine Apostles, pray, O pure one, that our souls may be saved.

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

9 October 2026