Canon the Mother of God at Compline
Tone 1 – Sunday

Ode I, Irmos.

Thy victorious right hand, O God, hath been glorified in strength; for it, O Immortal and Almighty One, hath crushed the adversaries, and for Israel made new a path through the deep.

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

Without wedlock didst thou conceive God, and above nature didst thou give birth unto the Master, O most pure one, Who hath delivered those born of earth from transgressions. Therefore I beseech thee: deliver me from my many transgressions.

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

I am plunged in the deep by the calamities of sins and by sorrows without number; but by thy mighty guidance and prayer, O all-immaculate one, direct me unto the divine calm of repentance.

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

O protectress of all my life, who deliverest me from many calamities, I sing unto thee a voice of thanksgiving, O pure Theotokos; deliver me also from the torment to come.

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

Still thou the storm of assaults and temptations that beset me, O all-immaculate Mother, granting unto me the grace of salvation and cleansing from our Deliverer and Creator and God.

Ode III, Irmos.

O Thou Who alone knowest the frailty of the nature of those born of earth, and Who mercifully didst clothe Thyself therein: gird me with power from on high, that I may cry unto Thee: Holy is the living temple of Thine ineffable glory, O Lover of mankind.

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

The sight of thine all-pure image is sweet unto the Angels, saving unto men, and terrible unto the spirits of wickedness; and venerating and kissing it with faith, O Theotokos, we are enlightened in soul.

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

With thy virginal blood did the Creator and Lord clothe Himself in flesh. Entreat Him, O all-immaculate one, to have compassion upon me, corrupted by unseemly deeds, according to His ineffable mercy.

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

Having acquired thee as the guardian of my life and an impregnable wall, may I also after my departure find thee to be a protection and an unconquerable intercessor before God, Who bringeth me in and granteth eternal life and glory, O most immaculate one.

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

Thy conception was without seed, O pure one, and thy childbirth without corruption; for He that was born appeared as God, recalling the fallen nature of man. Therefore we hymn thee as the true and veritable Theotokos.

Ode IV, Irmos.

Thee, the mountain overshadowed by the grace of God, did Habakkuk behold with his discerning eyes; and he proclaimed that from thee the Holy One of Israel should come forth, unto our salvation and renewal.

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

An unrestrained inclination toward evil draweth me, through the working of the enemy and wicked habit. Help me, O Lady, lest the all-destructive one utterly assail me, and by death prevent me from repentance.

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

All the time of my life have I spent in evil fornications and cruel wounds; and now the workers thereof lead my wretched soul into darkness. O Virgin Birthgiver of God, help me.

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

Hearken unto my sorrowful voice, O all-immaculate one, which from the depths of my soul I offer with groanings; and grant me release from the debts which I, the wretched one, have incurred through thought and senseless disposition.

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

O Lady of the world, Theotokos, help me: the most crafty enemy grievously devoureth me through cruel recollections and thoughts which separate me from God. Leave me not, therefore, neither despise me.

Ode V, Irmos.

Enlighten us with the radiance of Thy coming, O Christ, and illumine the ends of the world by Thy Cross; enlighten with the light of Thy divine understanding the hearts of those who praise Thee in right belief.

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

Behold, I have acquired thee as a help ready unto salvation; therefore I fall down before thee and cry with tears: O Theotokos, deliver me from the arrows of the stranger and from the trial to come.

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

Thou art my strength, thou art my praise and rejoicing; thou art my guardian and protection, my refuge and unconquerable protectress, O most holy Virgin Theotokos. Therefore save thy servant.

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

Cleanse my wretched soul, defiled by the passions, with the sprinkling of thy divine prayer, O most pure Theotokos, granting it the radiant hope of salvation.

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

Being the firm guidance of my life, delivering me from the tossing waves of many adversities, at my departure also, I beseech thee, stand before me, saving me, O Mother of Christ God.

Ode VI, Irmos.

The uttermost abyss hath encompassed us; there is none to deliver us; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Save Thy people, O our God, for Thou art the strength and restoration of the weak.

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

O unwedded and most pure Birthgiver of God, stretch forth thy hand unto me, and draw me out of the depth of evils which through foolishness I, the most wretched one, have procured for my passionate soul.

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

Arise, O pure one, unto the help of thy servant, who after God hath his hope in thine unconquerable protection, lest the enemy prevail, seize me, and destroy me.

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

O Theotokos, healer of the sick, raising up of the fallen, and cleansing of those who sin, I beseech thee; with tears I fall down and cry unto thee: as thou art mighty, do thou thyself save me who am perishing.

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

Have mercy, O pure one, upon my wretched soul; make haste before the evil one and snatch it away as he seizeth it, striving to cast it into the abyss because of the evils which through great sloth it hath wrought.

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.
We all have acquired thee as an intercessor before God, O pure one; we flee unto thy holy church, ever asking help of thee, O Virgin. Deliver us therefore from the malice of demons, and from torment and the dread condemnation, who call thee blessed.

Ode VII, Irmos.

We faithful perceive thee, O Theotokos, as the spiritual furnace; for as the Supremely Exalted One saved the three youths, so hath He renewed the world, being made perfect in thy womb: God praised by the fathers and greatly glorified.

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

Thou wast the divine tabernacle of the Master, for thou didst conceive Him in thy womb and give birth unto Him in the flesh, O only immaculate one. Therefore deliver us from passions and sicknesses, from sorrows and debts; for thou hast great might and power.

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

Assuage, O pure one, the unbearable pain of my most wretched soul, granting me true joy, O Lady, and stilling the troubled wave of my many transgressions; for thou art my refuge and deliverance.

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

All my hope of salvation have I placed upon thee; for I have acquired thee as my help, an unconquerable pillar and confirmation, and assurance of steadfastness; and through thee I hope to obtain the Kingdom, O Lady.

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

Thou wast the dawning of the Sun of glory, O pure Lady; for through thee, having appeared, He delivered all from darkness and ignorance and from fetid transgressions. Therefore I cry unto thee: deliver me from the outer darkness.

Ode VIII, Irmos.

In the furnace the children of Israel, as in a crucible, shone more brightly than gold with the beauty of godliness, saying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and supremely exalt Him unto the ages.

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

The tumult of the passions grievously afflicteth my soul, O Theotokos; but having given birth unto the Author and Giver of calm and peace, preserve me in peaceful tranquility, and fill me with quiet joy and gladness.

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

Thou hast appeared unto us as an intercessor for salvation, O Theotokos, having given birth unto the Saviour and Master of all. Therefore I beseech thee: vouchsafe my wretched soul salvation, that I may hymn thee faithfully unto all ages.

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

Having ineffably conceived the Creator and God of all, save me from corruption and from every temptation; and grant me ever to cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and supremely exalt Him unto the ages.

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

Thou hast given birth unto the Creator and God of all, O Virgin. Entreat Him to grant cleansing of transgressions, deliverance from sorrows and temptations, and from eternal fire and condemnation, unto those who unceasingly glorify thy glory.

Ode IX, Irmos.

The burning bush showed forth an image of thy pure childbirth, remaining unconsumed; and now we beseech thee to quench the furnace of temptations raging against us, that we may unceasingly magnify thee, O Theotokos.

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

O all-immaculate Mother of God, open unto me thy merciful womb, and deliver me from the jaws of the noetic wolf, who seeketh to destroy and corrupt me. Have mercy, I beseech thee; turn not away thy servant put to shame.

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

Be thou the protectress of all my life and my firm defense, O all-pure one; and deliver me from many temptations and sorrows, and from the enemy of evil speech; yea, deliver me also from eternal fire.

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

Thou alone art the visitation of the sick, thou alone the restoration of the fallen, O Lady; thou alone the guide and entrance unto God, thou alone the intercessor for eternal good things: have mercy upon me alone, who have sinned more than all.

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

Receive now my tearful prayer, and grant me remission of the many and evil sins which I have committed, O all-hymned Theotokos and Lady; for I am utterly perishing through immeasurable despair.

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

5 October 2026