The mark + indicates that the Sign of the Cross is made here.
When you get ready to go to sleep, even when it is late, take time to pray to God with a humble, thankful and unhurried spirit. Even after a tiring day allow these evening prayers to give you peace and comfort from all your worries. Just as with Morning Prayers, take a moment to gather your thoughts and direct them towards God. After a moment of silence pray with a calm spirit, paying attention to the meaning of the words of your prayers.
+ In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of your most pure Mother and of all the Saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to you, our God, glory to you.
Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who is everywhere present and fills all things, Treasury of Good Things and Giver of Life, come and dwell in us and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.
Between Easter and Ascension Day the above prayer, Heavenly King, is replaced by Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and on those in the graves bestowing life.
+ Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (x3)
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, forgive our sins; Master, pardon our transgressions; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for your name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (x3)
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
+ Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Troparia
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us. For we sinners, lacking all defence, offer to you, as to our Master, this prayer: have mercy on us.
+ Glory to the Father to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit …
Lord, have mercy on us, for in you we have put our hope. Do not be angry with us nor remember our iniquities, but even now look down on us in your goodness and deliver us from our enemies. For you are our God and we are your people, the works of your hands, and we call on your name.
… both now and for ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Blessed Mother of God, open the door of mercy to us, so that we who set our hope in you may not perish, but may be delivered by you from all misfortunes. For you are the salvation of all Christian people.
Lord, have mercy. (x12)
Prayers to the Saviour
Now that the day has come to a close I thank you, Lord, and ask that the evening with the night may be sinless; grant this to me, Saviour, and save me.
+ Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit …
Now that the day has passed I glorify you, Master, and ask that the evening with the night may be free of stumbling; grant this to me, Saviour, and save me.
… both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Now that the day has run its course I praise you, Holy One, and ask that the evening with the night may be undisturbed by evil; grant this to me, Saviour, and save me.
Prayer of Repentance
Lord, our God, by your goodness and mercy forgive all the sins I have committed this day in thought, word, and deed. [Specify your sins to God and repent of them] Grant me peaceful and undisturbed sleep, and deliver me from all temptations and attacks of the evil one. Wake me again in the morning to glorify you, for you are blessed, together with your Only-begotten Son and your All-holy Spirit, now and for ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
At every time and at every hour in heaven and on earth you are worshipped and glorified, Christ our God, you who are long-suffering, most merciful, most compassionate, who love the just and are merciful to sinners, who call all to salvation through the promise of the good things to come. Accept, Lord, our prayers at this hour, and guide our lives that we may keep your commandments. Sanctify our souls; purify our bodies; correct our thoughts; purify our ideas; and deliver us from all distress, evil and pain. Surround us with your holy angels so that, protected and guided by their host, we may attain unity of faith and the knowledge of your unapproachable glory. For blessed are you for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of Intercession
Lord, we pray for peace in the world.
For all the faithful and Orthodox Christians.
For our father and Metropolitan, Silouan, and all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
For our country, our sovereign lord the King, and all those in public service.
For our parents, our brothers and sisters, our children, our relatives and friends, and all people.
For those who hate us and those who love us.
For those who work with us and those who serve us.
For those who have asked us, unworthy as we are, to pray for them.
For travellers by land, sea and air. For prisoners and captives.
For those who are hungry, those who are suffering, and those who are sick.
For those departed from this life in the hope of the resurrection.
Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
Guardian Angel, keep and preserve all of us from every evil, sickness, and grief. Help us, Lord, to be good, obedient and kind. I thank you, Lord, for all the good things you have sent to me during the past day. Let me spend this night in peace and protect me from all harm. Amen.
Prayer to the Most Holy Mother of God
O gracious Mother of our gracious King, most pure and blessed Mother of God, Mary, pour out the mercy of your Son and our God on my passionate soul, and by your prayers set me to good deeds so that I may pass the remaining time of my life without fault, and through you find paradise, Mother of God and Virgin who alone is pure and blessed. Amen.
Prayer to your Holy Guardian Angel
Angel of Christ, my holy guardian and protector of my soul and body, forgive me every transgression which I have committed this day; and deliver me from all the evil of my enemy and adversary so that I may not anger my God by any sin. But pray for me, his sinful and unworthy servant, so that you may make me worthy of the goodness and mercy of the All-holy Trinity and of the Mother of my Lord Jesus Christ and of all the Saints. Amen.
Prayer to the Most Holy Mother of God
Virgin Mother of God, rejoice, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, for you have borne the Saviour of our souls. Most glorious Ever-virgin Mother of Christ our God, present our prayer to your Son and our God, and pray that through you he may save our souls.
Prayer of St Ioannicus
The Father is my hope; the Son is my refuge; the Holy Spirit is my protection; O Holy Trinity, glory to you.
It is truly fitting to bless you, Theotokos, ever-blessed and all-blameless, and Mother of our God.
+ More honourable than the cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim; you who without corruption gave birth to God the Word, very Mother of God, we magnify you.
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (x3)
The Blessing
+ Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
As you give yourself up to sleep, say:
Into your hands, Lord Jesus Christ my God, I commend my spirit. Bless me; have mercy on me; and grant me eternal life. Amen.