On Wednesday of the first week of Great Lent during Great Compline, we begin the third section of the Great Canon after the reading of Psalm 69. The refrains are sung after each Troparion. At each refrain we make the Sign of the Cross and a full prostration.

ODE 1
TONE 6
Irmos: A helper and a protector, He has become my salvation. This is my God, I will glorify Him, my father’s God will I exalt, for gloriously has He been glorified.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
Though I have sinned, O Saviour, yet I know that Thou art the Lover of mankind. Thou dost chastise with mercy and art fervent in compassion. Thou dost see my tears and Thou dost run to meet me, like the Father toward his Prodigal Son.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

From my youth, O Christ, I have rejected Thy commandments. Being entirely ruled by my passions, I have passed my entire life in indolence and sloth. Therefore I cry to Thee, O Saviour, even now at the end: Save me!

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

I lay prostrate now before Thy gates, O Saviour. Oh, cast me not into hell in mine old age, but before the end cometh, grant me remission of sins, as Thou art the Lover of mankind.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Like the Prodigal, I have squandered all my riches in riotous living, O my Saviour, and I am left barren of virtue and piety; but in my hunger I cry: O Bountiful Father, run quickly out to meet me and take pity on me.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

I am the man who fell in among robbers who now lieth wounded in body, beaten and bruised because of my thoughts. But come to me, O Christ my Saviour, and heal me.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

The Priest first saw me and passed me by, then the Levite looked upon me in my distress but despised my nakedness. But do Thou, O Jesus, Son of Mary, come to me and take pity on me.

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

To the Trinity: O Trinity, Who surpasseth all creation and is adored in Unity, take from me the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion grant me tears of compunction.

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

Theotokion: O Theotokos, the hope and protection of those who praise thee, take from me the heavy yoke of sin and as thou art our Most-pure Lady, accept me in repentance.

ODE 2
Irmos: Attend, O heaven and I will speak, I will sing of Christ, Who from the Virgin took flesh to dwell with us.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
I have buried the beauty of my original image with my passions, O Saviour; but seek me, as once Thou hast sought the lost coin, and find me.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Like the Harlot I cry to Thee: I have sinned, I alone have sinned against Thee. Oh, accept my tears as a sweet ointment, O Saviour.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Like David, I have fallen into lust and am covered in filth; but wash me clean with my tears, O my Saviour.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Like the Publican I cry to Thee: Be merciful, O Saviour, be merciful unto me; for no child of Adam hath ever sinned against Thee as I .

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

I have neither any tears, nor repentance, neither have I any compunction; but as God do Thou grant them to me, O my Saviour.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Lord, O Lord, shut not Thy door against me in that last day, but open it to me, for I repent before Thee.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

O Lover of mankind, Who desirest that all shall be saved, call me back and in Thy goodness, accept me in my repentance.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Give ear to the sighs and groans of my soul, and accept the drops of my eyes, O Saviour, and save me.

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

To the Trinity: I sing praises to the One in Three Persons, God of all, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

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

Theotokion: O Most-pure Theotokos and All-laudable Virgin, fervently intercede for our salvation.

ODE 3
Irmos: Establish, O Lord, mine unstable heart on the rock of Thy commandments, for Thou only art Holy and the Lord.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
Depart from sin and from the land of Haran, O my soul, and come to the land that Abraham inherited, which floweth with incorruption and eternal life.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast heard how Abraham in days of old left the land of his fathers and became a wanderer. Imitate his strength and resolution, O my soul.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

The Patriarch entertained the Angels at the Oak of Mamre, and he inherited in his old age the reward of the promise.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou knowest, O my wretched soul, how Isaac was mystically offered as a new sacrifice and whole-burnt offering to the Lord. Imitate his strength and resolution, O my soul.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast heard how Ishmael was driven out as the son of a slave; Beware, O my soul, lest the same should happen to thee because of thy sin.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Have mercy, O Lord, have mercy on me, when Thou comest with Thine Angels to reward each according to his deeds, have mercy on me.

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

To the Trinity: O simple Unity praised in a Trinity of Persons; O uncreated Nature without beginning, save us who in faith worship Thy power. (Prostration)

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

Theotokion: O Virgin Theotokos, thou hast given birth within time to the timeless Son of the Father. O strange wonder! Thou givest Him milk while still remaining Virgin!

ODE 4
Irmos: The prophet heard of Thy coming, O Lord, and was afraid that Thou wast to be born of a Virgin and appear to men, and he said, ‘I have heard the report of Thee and am afraid.’ Glory to Thy power, O Lord.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
Job, the righteous man of great possessions, with an abundance of riches and cattle, was clothed in royal dignity, in crown and purple robe. He was suddenly deprived of his wealth and kingship and glory, and reduced to the state of a beggar.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

If he who was righteous and blameless above all men could not escape the snares and assaults of the deceiver, what wilt thou do, O wretched and sinful soul, when some sudden misfortune befalleth thee?

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

My body is corrupt, my spirit is defiled, and I am all covered with sores; but as Physician, O Christ, heal both my body and my spirit through my repentance. Wash me, purify me, and cleanse me, O Saviour, and make me whiter than snow.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast offered Thy Body and Thy Blood for the sake of us all, O Crucified Word: Thy Body to renew me, Thy Blood to cleanse me, and Thou hast given up Thy Spirit, O Christ, to bring me to Thy Father.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast worked Salvation in the midst of the earth, O Compassionate Lord, so that we might be saved. Thou wast voluntarily crucified upon the Tree; and Eden hath been opened once again. All creation, both the things above and the things below, and all the nations have been saved and they praise and worship Thee.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

May the Blood that floweth from Thy side be a cleansing font for me, and may the Water that floweth with it be a drink of forgiveness. May I be cleansed by both, O Word, anointed and refreshed, having as chrism and drink Thy words of Life.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thy Life-giving side, O my Saviour, hath been granted to the Church as a chalice from which floweth a two-fold stream of forgiveness and spiritual understanding, representing the two Covenants, both the Old and the New.

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

To the Trinity: I confess Thee as undivided in Essence, unconfused in Persons, One Triune Divinity, co-reigning and co-enthroned! And to Thee, I raise the great Thrice-holy hymn that is sung on high.

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

Theotokion: Thou givest birth and art a virgin, and in both thou remainest a virgin by nature. He Who is born reneweth the laws of nature, and the womb giveth birth without travail. When God so willeth, the order of nature is overruled, for He doeth whatsoever He willeth.

ODE 5
Irmos: Out of the night watching early for Thee, enlighten me I pray, O Lover of mankind, and guide me in Thy commandments and teach me O Saviour, to do Thy will.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
Imagine, O my soul, the rod of Moses, which divided the sea and dried up the abyss as an image of the Divine and Holy Cross. Through the Cross thou canst also accomplish great things.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

While Aaron offered to God a fire that was pure and undefiled, Hophni and Phineas brought to Him, as didst thou, O my soul, a strange sacrifice and a polluted life.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

In both soul and body, O Lord, I am become like Jannes and Jambres, the magicians of cruel Pharaoh, for my will is heavy and my mind is drowned beneath the waters: but do Thou come and help me.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Wretch that I am, I have soiled my mind with filth; but cleanse me, O Master, I pray Thee, in the waters of my tears and make the garment of my flesh as white as snow.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

When I examine my deeds, O Saviour, I see that I have surpassed all men in sin; for I have sinned not in ignorance, but consciously, and with understanding.

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

To the Trinity: We glorify Thee, O Trinity, as One God! Holy, Holy, Holy, art Thou, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; simple Essence and Unity worshipped for ever. (Prostration.)

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

Theotokion: From thee, O Virgin undefiled and maiden Mother, hath God the Creator of the ages become vested in mine human flesh, uniting to Himself the nature of man.

ODE 6
Irmos: With mine whole heart, I cried unto the compassionate God: and He heard me, and He lifted up my soul from the depths of hell and from corruption.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
I offer to Thee in purity the tears of mine eyes and the sighs from the depth of my heart, which crieth: I have sinned against Thee, O God, have mercy on me.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Arise, O my soul, and make war against the passions of the flesh as Joshua did against Amalek, ever gaining the victory over the Gibeonites, thine evil thoughts.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Pass through the flowing waters of time, O my soul, and like the Ark of old, take possession of the Promised Land as God hath commanded.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

As Thou hast saved Peter when he cried: Save me, come quickly and save me from the beast before it is too late. Stretch out Thine hand, O my Saviour, and raise me from the depths of sin.

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

To the Trinity: I am the Trinity, simple and undivided, yet divided in Three Persons; and I am the Unity, united by Nature, saith the Father and the Son and the Divine Spirit.

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

Theotokion: Thy womb bore God for us, fashioned in our image. Implore thou Him as the Creator of all, O Theotokos, that we may be justified through thine intercessions.

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 6): I think of the dreadful day of Thy coming and judgment, O Christ, and weep over mine evil deeds. But before the end, O blessed Saviour, by the prayers of Thine Holy Mother save me, O only Lover of mankind.

ODE 7
Irmos: We have sinned, transgressed, done wrong before Thee. We have not watched or done as Thou hast commanded us. But do not give us up utterly, O God of our fathers.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
Solomon the wonderful was full of grace and wisdom, yet he too, committed evil in the sight of Heaven and turned away from God; and thou, my wretched soul, hast followed him, by thine accursèd life.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Carried away by his sensual passions, he defiled himself. Alas! Solomon the lover of wisdom became a lover of harlots and estranged himself from God. And thou, my soul hast imitated him through thy shameful desires.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast taken the example, O my soul, of Rehoboam who would not listen to the counselors of his father, and of Jeroboam, that evil and apostate servant. But flee from their example and cry aloud: I have sinned, O God, take pity on me.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Of thine own free will hast thou deliberately amassed the sins of Manasses, by setting up thy passions as idols and multiplying abominations. But fervently emulate his repentance now, and be truly sorry for thy sins.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast rivaled Ahab in his defilements, O my soul, and alas, thou hast become a palace of pollution and a shameful vessel of the passions. But sigh from the depths of thine heart, and confess all thy sins to God.

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

To the Trinity: O Trinity, simple and undivided, consubstantial and of One Nature. We praise Thee, Light and Lights, One Holy and Three Holies, God the Trinity! Sing, O my soul, and glorify the Life of Lives, the God of all.

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

Theotokion: We praise thee, we bless thee, we venerate thee, O Mother of God: (prostration) for thou hast given birth to Christ God, One of the undivided Trinity, and hast opened the Heavens to us on earth.

ODE 8
Irmos: Him Whom the hosts of heaven glorify, Whom the Cherubim and Seraphim dread, let every breath and creature praise, bless, and magnify throughout all ages.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
Thou hast heard, O my soul, how Daniel stopped the mouths of the lions in the pit; and how the Three Youths quenched the fiery flames of the furnace through faith.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

I have set before thee the names of people from the Old Testament to serve as examples, O my soul. Imitate the God-pleasing deeds of the righteous, and flee from the sins of the wicked.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

O righteous Judge and Saviour, have mercy on me and deliver me from the fire and from the punishment that I deserve to suffer at the Judgment. O grant me Thy forgiveness before the end, through my practice of the virtues and through my repentance.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Like the thief I cry: Remember me, and like Peter I weep: Forgive me; Like the Publican I cry: Have mercy on me, and like the Harlot I weep bitterly, O Saviour. Accept these, my lamentation, as once Thou didst accept those of the woman of Canaan.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Heal, O Saviour, the corruption of mine humbled soul; and as the One Physician, apply the healing salve and oil and wine, the works of repentance, compunction, and tears.

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

To the Trinity: O Eternal Father, Co-eternal Son, and Gracious Comforter, the Spirit of Righteousness, Father of the Divine Word, Word of the Eternal Father, and Living and Creating Spirit. O Trinity, One in Unity, have mercy on me!

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

Theotokion: The spiritual purple of Emmanuel was woven inside thy womb as if from scarlet silk, O Most-pure Virgin. Therefore we honour thee as truly Theotokos.

ODE 9
Irmos: Ineffable is the childbearing of a seedless conception; a mother remaining pure. For the birth of God renews nature’s birth; so in all ages we magnify thee in an Orthodox manner as the Mother and Bride of God.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Troparia.
By the touch of the hem of His garment the Lord healed the woman with the issue of blood; He cleansed the lepers, gave sight to the blind and made the lame to walk; with His word He cured the deaf and the dumb and the woman who was bent to the ground. He did this, O my wretched soul, so that thou mightest be saved.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Healing sickness, Christ the Word preached the Gospel to the poor, cured the crippled, ate with publicans, and conversed with the sinners; and with the touch of His hand, He brought back the departed soul of Jairus’ daughter.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

The Publican was saved and the Harlot turned to chastity, but the Pharisee with his boasting was condemned; for the first cried out: Be merciful unto me, and the second: Lord, have mercy on me. But the third said in his vanity: I thank Thee, O God, that I am not like them, and other words of madness.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Zacchaeus was a publican yet he was saved, but Simon the Pharisee went astray, while the Harlot received remission and release from Him Who hath the power to forgive all sins. Make haste then, O my soul, to follow her example.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou hast not imitated the Harlot, O my wretched soul, who took the alabaster jar of myrrh and with tears anointed the feet of the Saviour and wiped them with her hair. For this, He tore up the handwriting of her sins.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Thou knowest, O my soul, how the cities to which Christ offered the Gospel were cursed. Fear their example and their punishment, for the Master likened them to Sodom and condemned them all to hell.

Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Do not be overcome with despair, O my soul, for thou hast heard of the faith of the woman of Canaan, and how her daughter was healed by the Word of God. Cry out like her from the depth of thine heart: O Son of David, save me, as once she cried to Christ.

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

To the Trinity: We sing Thy praises, O Trinity, One in Essence and Unity in Three Persons: we glorify the Father, we magnify the Son, and we worship the Spirit; (prostration) One in Nature truly God, Life and Lives, Kingdom without end.

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

Theotokion: Thou didst give birth to the One God, uniquely remaining a virgin. O extraordinary Nativity from a Conception without seed; O extraordinary Conception bringing a Nativity surpassing nature! Do thou, O Bride of God, every day watch over the flock of thy Son!

Irmos: Ineffable is the childbearing of a seedless conception; a mother remaining pure. For the birth of God renews nature’s birth; so in all ages we magnify thee in an Orthodox manner as the Mother and Bride of God. Prostration.

Now the Reader continues with Psalm 4, and the rest of Great Compline follows.