The number of prayers available to the Orthodox today is impressive. The righteous person can decide which to read regularly either independently or together with his spiritual mentor. However, no prayer can completely replace the canon of repentance, through which a person realizes his imperfection.
Awareness of one's own sinfulness is the key to sincere repentance, without which forgiveness from the Almighty cannot be granted. It is recommended to read the prayer daily, starting and ending your day with it.
The meaning and power of repentance
The prayer of repentance to Jesus Christ for the remission of sins is priceless for any Christian, which is not surprising, given that our Savior called on people to atone for their sins in his first sermon. At the same time, experts studying this issue pay a lot of attention to the following question: “Is repentance obligatory only for sinners?”
Many lay people answer this in the affirmative, relying on the Gospel, which says that the Lord addressed a similar call primarily to apostates. Indeed, He often dealt with tax collectors and harlots, and other lawless people, but this does not mean that the righteous have no need to atone for their sins, since they do not have any. Theologians emphasize that the Almighty did not want to have anything in common with the “righteous,” since their souls suffered from self-delusion and pride, which were so hateful to Him.
Spiritually sick, they were hopeless, because they did not want to admit their own sinfulness, they simply did not realize it. Taking this into account, we can safely say that there are no true righteous people on earth, which means the prayer of the canon of repentance to our Lord Jesus Christ is useful for everyone who accepted Him.
Speaking about the meaning of turning to God with a request to forgive and forgive all sins, it is important to understand that through it a person comes to realize the illusory nature of his own “righteousness”, which is the first step towards saving a poor soul disgraced by passions, freeing it from the evil one.
The power of repentance should not be underestimated, since it combines all the Lord’s commandments. By opening up before the Almighty, a Christian recognizes his fall in sin, that is, he recognizes his spiritual defilement and the need for help from above.
This sacrament can help a person recover from spiritual wounds, the healer of which is God. Only He is able, without fear of the ugliness of the sorrowful spirit, to heal it, forgiving the believer all his sins.
Interestingly, the most effective repentance is considered to be one that involves the deepest awareness of one’s own sinfulness. It is not for nothing that they say that the soul of a Christian is washed in tears. This path of salvation was chosen by all who are revered by the Church today as saints. It is difficult, “close and narrow,” but the only one leading to salvation.
Canon of repentance to our Lord Jesus Christ
Song 1
Irmos:
As Israel walked across the dry land, with footsteps across the abyss, seeing the persecutor Pharaoh drowned, we sing a victorious song to God, crying out.
Chorus:
[1]
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.
Now I, a sinner and burdened, have come to You, my Master and God; I don’t dare look at heaven, only I pray, saying: give me, O Lord, understanding, so that I may weep bitterly for my deeds.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Oh, woe to me, a sinner! I am the most damned man of all; there is no repentance in me; Give me, Lord, tears, so that I may weep bitterly for my deeds.
Glory: Foolish, wretched man, you waste time in laziness; think about your life, and turn to the Lord God, and weep bitterly about your deeds.
And now: Most Pure Mother of God, look at me, a sinner, and deliver me from the snare of the devil, and guide me on the path of repentance, so that I may weep bitterly for my deeds.
Song 3
Irmos:
There is no one holy like You, O Lord my God, who has lifted up the horn of Your faithful, O Good One, and established us on the rock of Your confession.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Whenever thrones are set at the terrible judgment, then the deeds of all people will be exposed; woe there will be a sinner, sent to torment; and then, my soul, repent from your evil deeds.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
The righteous will rejoice, and the sinners will weep, then no one will be able to help us, but our deeds will condemn us, so before the end, repent of your evil deeds.
Glory: Alas for me, a great sinner, having been defiled by deeds and thoughts, I have not a drop of tears from hardness of heart; now arise from the earth, my soul, and repent from your evil deeds.
And now: Behold, O Lord, Thy Son calls us, and teaches us good, but I am a sinner who always runs from good; but You, Merciful One, have mercy on me, so that I may repent of my evil deeds.
Sedalen, voice 6th
I think about the terrible day and weep for the deeds of my evil ones: how will I answer the Immortal King, or with what boldness will I look at the Judge, the prodigal one? Compassionate Father, Only Begotten Son and Holy Soul, have mercy on me.
Glory even now: Theotokos
Bound now by many captives of sins and held by fierce passions and troubles, I resort to You, my salvation, and cry out: help me, Virgin, Mother of God.
Song 4
Irmos:
Christ is my strength, God and Lord, the honest Church sings divinely, crying out from a pure meaning, celebrating in the Lord.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
The path here is wide and pleasing to create sweetness, but it will be bitter on the last day, when the soul will be separated from the body: beware of this, man, from the Kingdom for the sake of God.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Why do you offend the poor, withhold bribes from a mercenary, do not love your brother, persecute fornication and pride? Forsake this, my soul, and repent for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
Glory: Oh, foolish man, how long will you gather your wealth like a bee? Soon it will perish like dust and ashes: but seek rather the Kingdom of God.
And now: Lady Theotokos, have mercy on me, a sinner, and strengthen me in virtue, and keep me, so that insolent death does not snatch me away unprepared, and bring me, O Virgin, to the Kingdom of God.
Song 5
Irmos:
With Thy God's light, O Blessed One, illumine the souls of Thy morning with love, I pray, Lead Thee, the Word of God, the true God, crying out from the darkness of sin.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Remember, accursed man, how you were enslaved to lies, slander, robbery, weakness, a fierce beast, for the sake of sins; My sinful soul, is this what you wanted?
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
They tremble, for I have committed guilt by all: with my eyes I behold, with my ears I hear, with my evil tongue I speak, I betray everything to myself to hell; My sinful soul, is this what you wanted?
Glory: You have received the fornicator and the repentant thief, O Savior, but I am the only one burdened with sinful laziness and enslaved by evil deeds, my sinful soul, is this what you wanted?
And now: Wonderful and quick helper to all people, Mother of God, help me, unworthy, for my sinful soul desires it.
Song 6
Irmos:
The sea of life, raised in vain by misfortunes and storms, flowed to Your quiet refuge, crying out to You: lift up my belly from aphids, O Most Merciful One.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Having lived fornication on earth and given my soul into darkness, now I pray to Thee, Merciful Master: free me from the work of this enemy, and give me the understanding to do Thy will.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Who creates something like me? Just as a pig lies in feces, so I serve sin. But You, Lord, pluck me from this vileness and give me the heart to do Your commandments.
Glory: Rise up, damned man, to God, remembering your sins, falling to the Creator, crying and groaning; He, who is merciful, will give you the mind to know His will.
And now: Virgin Mother of God, save me from visible and invisible evil, Most Pure One, and accept my prayers, and convey them to Your Son, that He may give me the mind to do His will.
Kontakion
My soul, why are you rich in sins, why do you do the will of the devil, in what do you place your hope?
Stop from this and turn to God with tears, calling: Merciful Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. Ikos
Think, my soul, the bitter hour of death and the terrible judgment of your Creator and God: For the threatening angels will understand you, my soul, and will lead you into eternal fire: for before death, repent, crying: Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.
Song 7
Irmos:
The angel made the venerable cave into the venerable youth, and the Chaldeans, the scorching command of God, exhorted the tormentor to cry out: Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Do not trust, my soul, in corruptible wealth and in unrighteous gatherings, for you will not leave all this to anyone, but cry out: have mercy on me, O Christ God, unworthy.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Do not trust, my soul, in bodily health and fleeting beauty, for you see how the strong and the young die; but cry: have mercy on me, O Christ God, unworthy.
Glory: Remember, my soul, eternal life, the Kingdom of Heaven prepared for the saints, and the total darkness and the wrath of God for the evil, and cry: have mercy on me, O Christ God, unworthy.
And now: Come, my soul, to the Mother of God and pray to Her, for she is a quick helper to those who repent, she will pray to the Son of Christ God, and will have mercy on me, the unworthy.
Song 8
Irmos:
You poured out dew from the flames of the saints and burned the righteous sacrifice with water: you did everything, O Christ, only as you wished. We extol You forever.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Why shouldn’t the Imam cry when I think about death when I see my brother lying in the grave, inglorious and ugly? What do I lose and what do I hope for? Just grant me, Lord, before the end, repentance. (Twice)
Glory: I believe that you will come to judge the living and the dead, and everyone will stand in their rank, old and young, rulers and princes, virgins and priestesses; where will I find myself? For this reason I cry: grant me, Lord, repentance before the end.
And now: Most Pure Mother of God, accept my unworthy prayer and save me from impudent death, and grant me repentance before the end.
Song 9
Irmos:
It is impossible for a man to see God; the angels do not dare to look at him; By You, O All-Pure One, the Word Incarnate as man, Who magnifies Him, with the heavenly howls we please You.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Now I come running to you, Angels, Archangels and all the heavenly powers standing at the Throne of God, pray to your Creator, that He may deliver my soul from eternal torment.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Now I cry to you, holy patriarchs, kings and prophets, apostles and saints and all the chosen ones of Christ: help me at the trial, so that my soul will be saved from the power of the enemy.
Glory: Now I lift up my hand to you, holy martyrs, hermits, virgins, righteous women and all the saints who pray to the Lord for the whole world, that He may have mercy on me at the hour of my death.
And now: Mother of God, help me, who trusts most strongly in You, beg Your Son to place me, unworthy, at His right hand, when the Judge of the living and the dead sits, amen.
Prayer
Master Christ God, who healed my passions with His passions and healed my ulcers with His wounds, grant me, who have sinned much to You, tears of tenderness; dissolve my body from the smell of Your Life-Giving Body, and delight my soul with Your Honest Blood from sorrow, with which the enemy gave me a drink; lift up my mind to You, which has fallen down, and lift me from the abyss of destruction: for I am not the imam of repentance, I am not the imam of tenderness, I am not the imam of consoling tears, leading children to their inheritance. Having darkened my mind in worldly passions, I cannot look to You in illness, I cannot warm myself with tears, even love for You. But, Master Lord Jesus Christ, treasure of the good, grant me complete repentance and a laborious heart to seek Thy, grant me Thy grace and renew in me the images of Thy image. Leave Thee, do not leave me; go forth to seek me, lead me to Thy pasture and number me among the sheep of Thy chosen flock, educate me with them from the grain of Thy Divine Sacraments, through the prayers of Thy Most Pure Mother and all Thy saints. Amen.
[1]In the canons, the chorus as a prayer appeal is pronounced before the first and second (and third, when there is one) troparion of each song, but is not read before the troparion beginning with “Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” and “And now and ever and unto ages of ages.” . Amen".
Text of the prayer of repentance
There are several versions of the prayer of repentance; they can differ from each other not only in their structural features, but also in their language. In Orthodoxy, the most popular versions of this text include Russian and Church Slavonic. The latter is usually read in church during services.
The prayer with the accents placed in it can be said at home; it is recommended for those who know Old Church Slavonic and those who are in the process of studying it. In other cases, it is advisable to take a modern translation into Russian as a basis. The church does not consider this a sin; moreover, for some laity this text is preferable, since its meaning is easier for an unprepared Christian to understand.
If you doubt that prayer in Russian is the right option for you, consult your spiritual mentor, get a blessing from a minister of the Church, part of the parish you are part of.
Text in Church Slavonic
Text in Russian
St. Matrona Moscow
Tone 6, Song 1
Irmos: As Israel walked across the dry land, with footsteps across the abyss, seeing the persecutor Pharaoh drowned, we sing a victorious song to God, crying out.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Now I, a sinner and burdened, have come to You, my Master and God; I don’t dare look at heaven, only I pray, saying: give me, O Lord, understanding, so that I may weep bitterly for my deeds.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Oh, woe to me, a sinner! I am the most damned man of all; there is no repentance in me; Give me, Lord, tears, so that I may weep bitterly for my deeds.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Foolish, wretched man, you waste time in laziness; think about your life, and turn to the Lord God, and weep bitterly about your deeds.
And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Most Pure Mother of God, look at me, a sinner, and deliver me from the snare of the devil, and guide me on the path of repentance, so that I may weep bitterly for my deeds.
Song 3
Irmos: There is nothing holy like You, O Lord my God, Who has lifted up the horn of Your faithful, O Good One, and established us on the rock of Your confession.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Whenever thrones are set at the terrible judgment, then the deeds of all people will be exposed; woe there will be a sinner, sent to torment; and then, my soul, repent from your evil deeds.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
The righteous will rejoice, and the sinners will weep, then no one will be able to help us, but our deeds will condemn us, so before the end, repent of your evil deeds.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Alas for me, a great sinner, having been defiled by deeds and thoughts, I have not a drop of tears from hard-heartedness; now arise from the earth, my soul, and repent from your evil deeds.
And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Behold, O Lady, Thy Son calls and teaches us to do good, but the sinner always runs from good; but You, Merciful One, have mercy on me, so that I may repent of my evil deeds.
Sedalen, voice 6th
I think about the terrible day and weep for the deeds of my evil ones: how will I answer the Immortal King, or with what boldness will I look at the Judge, the prodigal one? Compassionate Father, Only Begotten Son and Holy Soul, have mercy on me.
Theotokos
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Bound now by many captives of sins and held by fierce passions and troubles, I resort to You, my salvation, and cry out: help me, Virgin, Mother of God.
Song 4
Irmos: Christ is my strength, God and Lord, the honest Church sings divinely, crying out from a pure meaning, celebrating in the Lord.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
The path here is wide and pleasing to create sweetness, but it will be bitter on the last day, when the soul will be separated from the body: beware of this, man, from the Kingdom for the sake of God.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Why do you offend the poor, withhold bribes from a mercenary, do not love your brother, persecute fornication and pride? Forsake this, my soul, and repent for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Oh, foolish man, how long will you gather your wealth like a bee? Soon it will perish like dust and ashes: but seek rather the Kingdom of God.
And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lady Theotokos, have mercy on me, a sinner, and strengthen me in virtue, and protect me, so that insolent death does not snatch me away unprepared, and bring me, O Virgin, to the Kingdom of God.
Song 5
Irmos: With God's light, O Blessed One, illumine the souls of You in the morning with love, I pray, lead You, the Word of God, the true God, calling out from the darkness of sin.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Remember, accursed man, how you were enslaved to lies, slander, robbery, weakness, a fierce beast, for the sake of sins; My sinful soul, is this what you wanted?
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
They tremble, for I have committed guilt by all: with my eyes I behold, with my ears I hear, with my evil tongue I speak, I betray everything to myself to hell; My sinful soul, is this what you wanted?
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
You have received the fornicator and the repentant thief, O Savior, but I am the only one burdened with sinful laziness and enslaved by evil deeds, my sinful soul, is this what you wanted?
And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Wonderful and quick helper to all people, Mother of God, help me, unworthy, for my sinful soul desires it.
Song 6
Irmos: The sea of life, raised in vain by misfortunes and storms, has flowed to Your quiet refuge, crying to You: lift up my belly from aphids, O Omni-merciful One.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Having lived fornication on earth and given my soul into darkness, now I pray to Thee, Merciful Master: free me from the work of this enemy, and give me the understanding to do Thy will.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Who creates something like me? Just as a pig lies in feces, so I serve sin. But You, Lord, pluck me from this vileness and give me the heart to do Your commandments.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Rise up, accursed man, to God, remembering your sins, falling to the Creator, crying and groaning; He, who is merciful, will give you the mind to know His will.
And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Virgin Mother of God, save me from visible and invisible evil, Most Pure One, and accept my prayers, and convey them to Your Son, that He may give me the mind to do His will.
Kontakion
My soul, why are you rich in sins, why do you do the will of the devil, why do you place your hope in this? Stop from this and turn to God with tears, calling: Merciful Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Ikos
Think, my soul, the bitter hour of death and the terrible judgment of your Creator and God: For threatening angels will understand you, my soul, and will lead you into eternal fire: for before death, repent, crying: Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.
Song 7
Irmos: The angel made the furnace of the venerable youth, and the Chaldeans, the scorching command of God, admonished the tormentor to cry out: Blessed are you, O God of our fathers.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Do not trust, my soul, in corruptible wealth and in unrighteous gatherings, for you will not leave all this to anyone, but cry out: have mercy on me, O Christ God, unworthy.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Do not trust, my soul, in bodily health and fleeting beauty, for you see how the strong and the young die; but cry: have mercy on me, O Christ God, unworthy.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Remember, my soul, eternal life, the Kingdom of Heaven prepared for the saints, and the total darkness and the wrath of God for the evil, and cry: have mercy on me, O Christ God, unworthy.
And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Come, my soul, to the Mother of God and pray to her, for she is a quick helper to the repentant, she will pray to the Son of Christ God, and will have mercy on me, the unworthy.
Song 8
Irmos: From the flames of the saints you poured out dew and burned the righteous sacrifice with water: for you did everything, O Christ, only as you willed. We extol You forever.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Why shouldn’t the Imam cry when I think about death when I see my brother lying in the grave, inglorious and ugly? What do I lose and what do I hope for? Just grant me, Lord, before the end, repentance. (Twice)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
I believe that you will come to judge the living and the dead, and everyone will stand in their rank, old and young, rulers and princes, virgins and priestesses; where will I find myself? For this reason I cry: grant me, Lord, repentance before the end.
And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Most Pure Mother of God, accept my unworthy prayer and save me from insolent death, and grant me repentance before the end.
Song 9
Irmos: It is impossible for man to see God; the angels do not dare to look at Worthiness; By You, O All-Pure One, the Word Incarnate as man, Who magnifies Him, with the heavenly howls we please You.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Now I come running to you, Angels, Archangels and all the heavenly powers standing at the Throne of God, pray to your Creator, that He may deliver my soul from eternal torment.
Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me.
Now I cry to you, holy patriarchs, kings and prophets, apostles and saints and all the chosen ones of Christ: help me at the trial, so that my soul will be saved from the power of the enemy.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Now I will lift up my hand to you, holy martyrs, hermits, virgins, righteous women and all the saints who pray to the Lord for the whole world, that He may have mercy on me at the hour of my death.
And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Mother of God, help me, who trusts most strongly in You, beg Your Son to place me, unworthy, at His right hand, when the Judge of the living and the dead sits, amen.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Master Christ God, who healed my passions with His passions and healed my ulcers with His wounds, grant me, who have sinned much to You, tears of tenderness; dissolve my body from the smell of Your Life-Giving Body, and delight my soul with Your Honest Blood from sorrow, with which the enemy gave me a drink; lift up my mind to You, which has fallen down, and lift me from the abyss of destruction: for I am not the imam of repentance, I am not the imam of tenderness, I am not the imam of consoling tears, leading children to their inheritance. Having darkened my mind in worldly passions, I cannot look to You in illness, I cannot warm myself with tears, even love for You. But, Master Lord Jesus Christ, treasure of the good, grant me complete repentance and a laborious heart to seek Thy, grant me Thy grace and renew in me the images of Thy image. Leave Thee, do not leave me; go forth to seek me, lead me to Thy pasture and number me among the sheep of Thy chosen flock, educate me with them from the grain of Thy Divine Sacraments, through the prayers of Thy Most Pure Mother and all Thy saints. Amen.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl+Enter.
Other sections:
- Canon to the Guardian Angel
- Symbol of faith. Prayer
- Prayer to Saint Righteous John of Kronstadt
- On February 19, the Orthodox began Lent
Listen to the prayer of repentance
The prayer of repentance is something for which you should always find time, but you should not limit yourself to reading it. Listening to the text can also be beneficial. There are many options for scoring this canon, among them it is worth choosing the optimal one - the one that is characterized by regularity, calmness, reverence, and a slight, tenderly repentant mood, which is typical for the performance of this work in a church. You can listen to audio not only at home, while going about your business, but also on the road, at work, when you have a free minute.
Tone 6, Song 1
Irmos: As Israel walked across the dry land, with footsteps across the abyss, seeing the persecutor Pharaoh drowned, we sing a victorious song to God, crying out. Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Now I, a sinner and burdened, have come to You, my Master and God; I don’t dare look at heaven, only I pray, saying: give me, O Lord, understanding, so that I may weep bitterly for my deeds. Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Oh, woe to me, a sinner! I am the most damned man of all; there is no repentance in me; Give me, Lord, tears, so that I may weep bitterly for my deeds. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Foolish, wretched man, you waste time in laziness; think about your life, and turn to the Lord God, and weep bitterly about your deeds. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Most Pure Mother of God, look at me, a sinner, and deliver me from the snare of the devil, and guide me on the path of repentance, so that I may weep bitterly for my deeds.
Song 3
Irmos: There is nothing holy like You, O Lord my God, Who has lifted up the horn of Your faithful, O Good One, and established us on the rock of Your confession. Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Whenever thrones are set at the terrible judgment, then the deeds of all people will be exposed; woe there will be a sinner, sent to torment; and then, my soul, repent from your evil deeds. Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. The righteous will rejoice, and the sinners will weep, then no one will be able to help us, but our deeds will condemn us, so before the end, repent of your evil deeds. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Alas for me, a great sinner, having been defiled by deeds and thoughts, I have not a drop of tears from hard-heartedness; now arise from the earth, my soul, and repent from your evil deeds. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Behold, O Lady, Thy Son calls and teaches us to do good, but the sinner always runs from good; but You, Merciful One, have mercy on me, so that I may repent of my evil deeds.
Sedalen, voice 6th
I think about the terrible day and weep for the deeds of my evil ones: how will I answer the Immortal King, or with what boldness will I look at the Judge, the prodigal one? Compassionate Father, Only Begotten Son and Holy Soul, have mercy on me.
Theotokos
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Bound now by many captives of sins and held by fierce passions and troubles, I resort to You, my salvation, and cry out: help me, Virgin, Mother of God.
Song 4
Irmos: Christ is my strength, God and Lord, the honest Church sings divinely, crying out from a pure meaning, celebrating in the Lord. Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. The path here is wide and pleasing to create sweetness, but it will be bitter on the last day, when the soul will be separated from the body: beware of this, man, from the Kingdom for the sake of God. Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Why do you offend the poor, withhold bribes from a mercenary, do not love your brother, persecute fornication and pride? Forsake this, my soul, and repent for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Oh, foolish man, how long will you gather your wealth like a bee? Soon it will perish like dust and ashes: but seek rather the Kingdom of God. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lady Theotokos, have mercy on me, a sinner, and strengthen me in virtue, and protect me, so that insolent death does not snatch me away unprepared, and bring me, O Virgin, to the Kingdom of God.
Song 5
Irmos: With God's light, O Blessed One, illumine the souls of You in the morning with love, I pray, lead You, the Word of God, the true God, calling out from the darkness of sin. Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Remember, accursed man, how you were enslaved to lies, slander, robbery, weakness, a fierce beast, for the sake of sins; My sinful soul, is this what you wanted? Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. They tremble, for I have committed guilt by all: with my eyes I behold, with my ears I hear, with my evil tongue I speak, I betray everything to myself to hell; My sinful soul, is this what you wanted? Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. You have received the fornicator and the repentant thief, O Savior, but I am the only one burdened with sinful laziness and enslaved by evil deeds, my sinful soul, is this what you wanted? And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Wonderful and quick helper to all people, Mother of God, help me, unworthy, for my sinful soul desires it.
Song 6
Irmos: The sea of life, raised in vain by misfortunes and storms, has flowed to Your quiet refuge, crying to You: lift up my belly from aphids, O Omni-merciful One. Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Having lived fornication on earth and given my soul into darkness, now I pray to Thee, Merciful Master: free me from the work of this enemy, and give me the understanding to do Thy will. Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Who creates something like me? Just as a pig lies in feces, so I serve sin. But You, Lord, pluck me from this vileness and give me the heart to do Your commandments. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Rise up, accursed man, to God, remembering your sins, falling to the Creator, crying and groaning; He, who is merciful, will give you the mind to know His will. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Virgin Mother of God, save me from visible and invisible evil, Most Pure One, and accept my prayers, and convey them to Your Son, that He may give me the mind to do His will.
Kontakion
My soul, why are you rich in sins, why do you do the will of the devil, why do you place your hope in this? Stop from this and turn to God with tears, calling: Merciful Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Ikos
Think, my soul, the bitter hour of death and the terrible judgment of your Creator and God: For threatening angels will understand you, my soul, and will lead you into eternal fire: for before death, repent, crying: Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.
Song 7
Irmos: The angel made the furnace of the venerable youth, and the Chaldeans, the scorching command of God, admonished the tormentor to cry out: Blessed are you, O God of our fathers. Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Do not trust, my soul, in corruptible wealth and in unrighteous gatherings, for you will not leave all this to anyone, but cry out: have mercy on me, O Christ God, unworthy. Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Do not trust, my soul, in bodily health and fleeting beauty, for you see how the strong and the young die; but cry: have mercy on me, O Christ God, unworthy. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Remember, my soul, eternal life, the Kingdom of Heaven prepared for the saints, and the total darkness and the wrath of God for the evil, and cry: have mercy on me, O Christ God, unworthy. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Come, my soul, to the Mother of God and pray to her, for she is a quick helper to the repentant, she will pray to the Son of Christ God, and will have mercy on me, the unworthy.
Song 8
Irmos: From the flames of the saints you poured out dew and burned the righteous sacrifice with water: for you did everything, O Christ, only as you willed. We extol You forever. Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Why shouldn’t the Imam cry when I think about death when I see my brother lying in the grave, inglorious and ugly? What do I lose and what do I hope for? Just grant me, Lord, before the end, repentance. (Twice) Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. I believe that you will come to judge the living and the dead, and everyone will stand in their rank, old and young, rulers and princes, virgins and priestesses; where will I find myself? For this reason I cry: grant me, Lord, repentance before the end. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Most Pure Mother of God, accept my unworthy prayer and save me from insolent death, and grant me repentance before the end.
Song 9
Irmos: It is impossible for man to see God; the angels do not dare to look at Worthiness; By You, O All-Pure One, the Word Incarnate as man, Who magnifies Him, with the heavenly howls we please You. Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Now I come running to you, Angels, Archangels and all the heavenly powers standing at the Throne of God, pray to your Creator, that He may deliver my soul from eternal torment. Chorus: Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me. Now I cry to you, holy patriarchs, kings and prophets, apostles and saints and all the chosen ones of Christ: help me at the trial, so that my soul will be saved from the power of the enemy. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Now I will lift up my hand to you, holy martyrs, hermits, virgins, righteous women and all the saints who pray to the Lord for the whole world, that He may have mercy on me at the hour of my death. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Mother of God, help me, who trusts most strongly in You, beg Your Son to place me, unworthy, at His right hand, when the Judge of the living and the dead sits, amen.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Master Christ God, who healed my passions with His passions and healed my ulcers with His wounds, grant me, who have sinned much to You, tears of tenderness; dissolve my body from the smell of Your Life-Giving Body, and delight my soul with Your Honest Blood from sorrow, with which the enemy gave me a drink; lift up my mind to You, which has fallen down, and lift me from the abyss of destruction: for I am not the imam of repentance, I am not the imam of tenderness, I am not the imam of consoling tears, leading children to their inheritance. Having darkened my mind in worldly passions, I cannot look to You in illness, I cannot warm myself with tears, even love for You. But, Master Lord Jesus Christ, treasure of the good, grant me complete repentance and a laborious heart to seek Thy, grant me Thy grace and renew in me the images of Thy image. Leave Thee, do not leave me; go forth to seek me, lead me to Thy pasture and number me among the sheep of Thy chosen flock, educate me with them from the grain of Thy Divine Sacraments, through the prayers of Thy Most Pure Mother and all Thy saints. Amen.
Video prayer of repentance to Jesus Christ
The number of videos created specifically for Christians seeking spiritual development is impressive. These include a video prayer of repentance, which can be accessed using any modern gadget with a reliable Internet connection.
The thematic video is accompanied by divine words, spoken in a velvety voice, imbued with monastic solitude. By studying this material, delving into it, passing it through the heart, a Christian is filled with grace, which is priceless for every believer.
Orthodox prayers of repentance and forgiveness
Repentance is what Christ himself preached, what the Church focuses the attention of believers on. Speaking about this canon, many people think that its main goal is a feeling of relief comparable to that which a person feels when he is forgiven for an accidental or deliberate infliction of physical or spiritual pain.
However, this form of happiness is not comparable to that which can be experienced by a righteous person whose sins are forgiven by the Lord. The Orthodox prayer of repentance is capable of more than providing relief. Removing a painful burden from the soul of a Christian, it allows him to see the path that was chosen by God for people.
This path is full of joy and peace, but only those who are ready to sacrifice a lot for the opportunity to get closer to the Almighty and enter His kingdom can pass it.
It is interesting that there are many Orthodox prayers through which a believer can repent before the Lord. These include a prayer for the entire race, a short text addressed to God, as well as various options addressed to the Intercessors of the suffering before the One Creator.
WE RECOMMEND: Jesus Prayer against all evil.
Prayer of Simeon the New Theologian
Simeon the New Theologian is a figure who played a key role in the formation of Christianity and the spread of this religion. For many, the name of this saint is associated primarily with the prayer of repentance, intended for those who are spiritually contrite and humble before the Almighty.
It can also be combined with another work that has become part of the canonical Follow-up to Holy Communion; it is usually called the prayer before confession. It is small in volume, so it can be learned by heart, which is useful and easy to do for those righteous who often confess in church.
Prayer of John Chrysostom
This theologian is one of the most creatively prolific. He is credited with the authorship of many works; this saint is also considered the patron saint of clergy, missionaries, and scientists. Those suffering from persecution often turn to him and want to strengthen their faith.
He also provides assistance to schismatics, sectarians, and people of other faiths who want to take the right path and join the Christian Church. Prayers addressed to John Chrysostom are invaluable for those who are contemplating suicide, are on the verge of despair, or are suffering from mental illness.
And yet, most often this apologist is appealed to by believers seeking spiritual cleansing through repentance. Along with the prayer, the laity can read the “Conversations on Repentance” written by Chrysostom, as well as his work “On the One Lawgiver of the Old and New Testaments, on the clothing of a priest, and on repentance.”
Prayer to the Lord God
For obvious reasons, Christians consider turning to the Lord God the most healing and miraculous. Calling on Him, people call on the one who sacrificed himself for the remission of the sins of mankind and endured terrible torment on the cross. The power that the Almighty possesses cannot be changed, just like His mercy.
That is why all canonical texts addressed to Him are considered universal, those that the righteous read in difficult moments of life and in hours of absolute happiness.
A prayer of repentance to the Lord God is what allows people to cleanse themselves of filth, to free their souls from the captivity of the evil spirit and passions. Through it, a Christian’s gaze becomes pure, unclouded by temptations.
You can pronounce it not only for yourself, but also for your loved ones, even for your entire family. You can also read prayers for the forgiveness of sins of your kind.
Key Aspects of the Text
The first thing that should be contained in a prayer of repentance is a humble understanding of one’s wrongdoing and repentance. According to the Bible, there are no sinless people on earth and it is important to accept this. Because of the sins mankind has committed, it must suffer eternal punishment. But God loves his children and is ready to forgive them a lot if they want it.
The second thing that is important to understand is the awareness of the sacrifices He made in the name of people. The Almighty sent his son to earth - Jesus Christ. He tried to convey the truth to everyone. He lived 33 years in humility, despite all the difficulties that happened along his way, and in the end he died crucified on the cross. The purpose of all this is to take on the sins of God's children and accept the highest degree of punishment. As a result, as proof of victory over sinfulness, Jesus Christ was resurrected and ascended to heaven to his father.
Thanks to this act, the Orthodox had the opportunity to turn to the Lord with a prayer of repentance in order to forgive their sinful deeds. All a person needs is to believe that 2 thousand years ago Jesus Christ really died for people and rose from the dead.
Does the Lord hear us
Words addressed to heaven will be heard if the heart of the one uttering them is filled with love, understanding of one’s own wrongness and awareness of the sinfulness of all life. There is no need to do any rituals, make sacrifices or perform magical rites. You can turn to God in your own words, sincerely asking for forgiveness.
But it will not be superfluous if a true Orthodox Christian knows by heart one of the many prayers of repentance, namely the conversion of Jesus Christ. Church texts are a special vibration of sounds, written under the close instruction of the saints.
How to pray
The prayer of repentance of Jesus Christ must be read not only when it is “hot,” but daily. This is something that should become the norm for every believer who desires salvation in the afterlife. At the same time, the remorse experienced by a person should not be artificial, for show.
There is no need to theatrically shed tears in front of the icons in the temple. It is enough to understand your sins and why they poison your life. Realize the importance of truly accepting being wrong. According to the holy fathers, prayer for repentance must come from the heart. We have already told you how to pray correctly, you can read about it at the link.
