These are the night prayers which are found in the old English prayer books, originating mainly from Saint Benedict in the 6th century. The words in bold are those which are said or sung in church by all the faithful in unison. This is an ancient tradition of the eastern orthodox Church which can still be seen in the western rite. I have put together and edited these prayers from various sources. The passages from the Bible are basically from the King James Version of 1611, as well as from the Douai-Rheims Version of 1582 and 1610 (see here). After these prayers, one may recite the Salutations (or «Akathist») to the Blessed Virgin, as well as other prayers, such as the one to the guardian angel. I hope this will be helpful for you.
Raphael Papanikolaou
TRADITIONAL ENGLISH COMPLINE
A General Thanksgiving
God pantokrator, father of all compassions, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we shew forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
The Lord pantokrator grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Amen.
Brethren, be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist, steadfast in the faith. (1 Peter 5:8-9)
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
Thanks be to God.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth. (See Psalms 123:8)
The following or other suitable words of penitence may be used:
I confess to God pantokrator, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the Saints, and to you, brethren: that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed: through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the Saints, and you, brethren, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
O God, make speed to save us:
O Lord, make haste to help us. (See Psalms 69:1)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son:
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be:
world without end. Amen.
Praise ye the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.
The following or another suitable hymn may be sung:
To Thee before the close of day,
Creator of the world, we pray,
That, with thy wonted favour, thou
Wouldst be our guard and keeper now. Διαβάστε τη συνέχεια του άρθρου »
Απόψεις για τη Μονή Βατοπαιδίου (και όχι μόνο) 