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Works

Kanon pokajanen

1997

Scored for

mixed choir (SATB) a cappella

Duration

90–110 min

Short description

Kanon pokajanen, composed in 1997 using the text of the Canon of Repentance, is the most extensive a cappella choir piece by Arvo Pärt. The composer had already drawn inspiration from this source in the Slavonic Church before; in 1989 he composed the a cappella choir piece Nyne k vam, and five years later, Memento.

A canon used in the Orthodox Church consists of nine odes based on Biblical themes, which are made of several short stanzas. Traditionally, the second ode is omitted in all canons, and the composer too has followed this practice. The first stanza in each ode is called an irmos. It offers praise to the Lord, with its contents usually taken from the Old Testament. Irmoi are followed by troparia that speak about repentance and lament…

Kanon pokajanen, composed in 1997 using the text of the Canon of Repentance, is the most extensive a cappella choir piece by Arvo Pärt. The composer had already drawn inspiration from this source in the Slavonic Church before; in 1989 he composed the a cappella choir piece Nyne k vam, and five years later, Memento.

A canon used in the Orthodox Church consists of nine odes based on Biblical themes, which are made of several short stanzas. Traditionally, the second ode is omitted in all canons, and the composer too has followed this practice. The first stanza in each ode is called an irmos. It offers praise to the Lord, with its contents usually taken from the Old Testament. Irmoi are followed by troparia that speak about repentance and lamentations over one’s own weakness. Just as the irmoi contrast with the troparia in a canon, in Pärt’s composition too we witness a clear musical contrast between these two.

It took more than two years to compose Kanon pokajanen, and similar to his other vocal pieces, this too is directly based on language. Arvo Pärt: "I wanted to give the words the opportunity of choosing their own sounds, of drawing their own musical line. So—to my own surprise—a music arose that was permeated with the strange character of this special language used only in liturgical texts. It was this Canon that showed me clearly how much the choice of a language predetermines the character of a work—to such an extent in fact that the whole construction of the composition is subjugated to the text and its laws, if one allows the language to “make its music.”" (Enzo Restagno (2012). Arvo Pärt in Conversation. Dalkey Archive Press 2012, p. 85).

The composition was premiered on 17 March 1998 in Germany, at a concert celebrating the 750th anniversary of the Cologne Cathedral. It was presented by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir conducted by Tõnu Kaljuste, to whom (the choir and the conductor) the piece was also dedicated. The way Kanon pokajanen is composed gives a conductor the freedom to choose which parts of the composition he or she wishes to bring to the audience. However, regardless of its shortened form, the essence of the piece remains the same. The eternal prayer in Kanon still connects performers with listeners, creating in all of us the need for light and the purity of the soul.

World premiere

17.03.1998
Cologne Cathedral, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Composer's recital: Arvo Pärt. Kanon pokajanen

Tõnu Kaljuste (conductor), Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Parts

  • Ode I
  • Ode 3
  • Sedalen
  • Ode IV
  • Ode V
  • Ode VI
  • Kontakion
  • Ikos
  • Ode VII („Memento“)
  • Ode VIII
  • Ode IX („Nun eile ich zu euch“, „Nyne k vam“)
  • Prayer after the Canon

Completion year

1997

Dedication

to Tõnu Kaljuste and Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Prayer after the Canon is dedicated to the memory of Vladimir Zalipski (1926-1997)

Commissioned by

KölnMusik for the 750th anniversary of the Cologne Cathedral

Scored for

mixed choir (SATB) a cappella

Duration

90–110 min

Publishers

Universal Edition

Language

Church Slavonic

Vocal text

Canon of Repentance to our Lord Jesus Christ from the Orthodox prayer tradition

Песнь 1

Ирмос: Яко по суху пешешествовав Израиль, по бе́здне стопами, гонителя фараона видя потопляема, Богу победную песнь поим, вопияше.

Помилуй мя, Боже, помилуй мя.

Ныне приступих аз грешный и обремененный к Тебе, Владыце и Богу моему; не смею же взирати на небо, токмо молюся, глаголя: даждь ми, Господи, ум, да плачуся дел моих горько.

Помилуй мя, Боже, помилуй мя.

О, горе мне грешному! Паче всех человек окаянен есмь, покаяния несть во мне; даждь ми, Господи, слезы, да плачуся дел моих горько.

Слава Отцу, и Сыну, и Святому Духу.

Безумне, окаянне человече, в лености время губиши; помысли житие твое, и обратися ко Господу Богу, и плачися о делех твоих горько.

И ныне, и присно, и во веки веков, аминь.

Мати Божия Пречистая, воззри на мя грешнаго, и от сети д…
Canon of Repentance to our Lord Jesus Christ from the Orthodox prayer tradition

Песнь 1

Ирмос: Яко по суху пешешествовав Израиль, по бе́здне стопами, гонителя фараона видя потопляема, Богу победную песнь поим, вопияше.

Помилуй мя, Боже, помилуй мя.

Ныне приступих аз грешный и обремененный к Тебе, Владыце и Богу моему; не смею же взирати на небо, токмо молюся, глаголя: даждь ми, Господи, ум, да плачуся дел моих горько.

Помилуй мя, Боже, помилуй мя.

О, горе мне грешному! Паче всех человек окаянен есмь, покаяния несть во мне; даждь ми, Господи, слезы, да плачуся дел моих горько.

Слава Отцу, и Сыну, и Святому Духу.

Безумне, окаянне человече, в лености время губиши; помысли житие твое, и обратися ко Господу Богу, и плачися о делех твоих горько.

И ныне, и присно, и во веки веков, аминь.

Мати Божия Пречистая, воззри на мя грешнаго, и от сети диаволи избави мя, и на путь покаяния настави мя, да плачуся дел моих горько.

Песнь 3

Ирмос: Несть свят, якоже Ты, Господи Боже мой, вознесый рог верных Твоих, Блаже, и утвердивый нас на камени исповедания Твоего.

Помилуй мя, Боже, помилуй мя.

Внегда поставлени будут престоли на судищи страшнем, тогда всех человек дела обличатся; горе тамо будет грешным, в муку отсылаемым; и то ведущи, душе моя, покайся от злых дел твоих.

Помилуй мя, Боже, помилуй мя.

Праведницы возрадуются, а грешнии восплачутся, тогда никтоже возможет помощи нам, но дела наша осудят нас, темже прежде конца покайся от злых дел твоих.

Слава Отцу, и Сыну, и Святому Духу.

Увы мне великогрешному, иже делы и мысльми осквернився, ни капли слез имею от жестосердия; ныне возникни от земли, душе моя, и покайся от злых дел твоих.

И ныне, и присно, и во веки веков, аминь.

Се, взывает, Госпоже, Сын Твой, и поучает нас на доброе, аз же грешный добра всегда бегаю; но Ты, Милостивая, помилуй мя, да покаюся от злых моих дел.

Седален
Помышляю день страшный и плачуся деяний моих лукавых: како отвещаю Безсмертному Царю, или коим дерзновением воззрю на Судию, блудный аз? Благоутробный Отче, Сыне Единородный и Душе Святый, помилуй мя.

Слава Отцу, и Сыну, и Святому Духу, и ныне, и присно, и во веки веков, аминь.

Богородичен
Связан многими ныне пленицами грехов и содержим лютыми страстьми и бедами, к Тебе прибегаю, моему спасению, и вопию: помози ми, Дево, Мати Божия.

Песнь 4

Ирмос: Христос моя сила, Бог и Господь, честная Церковь боголепно поет, взывающи от смысла чиста, о Господе празднующи.

Помилуй мя, Боже, помилуй мя.

Широк путь зде и угодный сласти творити, но горько будет в последний день, егда душа от тела разлучатися будет: блюдися от сих, человече, Царствия ради Божия.

Помилуй мя, Боже, помилуй мя.

Почто убогаго обидиши, мзду наемничу удержуеши, брата твоего не любиши, блуд и гордость гониши? Остави убо сия, душе моя, и покайся Царствия ради Божия.

Слава Отцу, и Сыну, и Святому Духу.

О, безумный человече, доколе углебаеши, яко пчела, собирающи богатство твое? Вскоре бо погибнет, яко прах и пепел: но более взыщи Царствия Божия.

И ныне, и присно, и во веки веков, аминь.

Госпоже Богородице, помилуй мя грешнаго, и в добродетели укрепи, и соблюди мя, да наглая смерть не похитит мя неготоваго, и доведи мя, Дево, Царствия Божия.

Песнь 5

Ирмос: Божиим светом Твоим, Блаже, утренюющих Ти души любовию озари, молюся, Тя ведети, Слове Божий, истиннаго Бога, от мрака греховнаго взывающа.

Помилуй мя, Боже, помилуй мя.

Воспомяни, окаянный человече, како лжам, клеветам, разбою, немощем, лютым зверем, грехов ради порабощен еси; душе моя грешная, того ли восхотела еси?

Помилуй мя, Боже, помилуй мя.

Трепещут ми уди, всеми бо сотворих вину: очима взираяй, ушима слышай, языком злая глаголяй, всего себе геенне предаяй; душе моя грешная, сего ли восхотела еси?

Слава Отцу, и Сыну, и Святому Духу.

Блудника и разбойника кающася приял еси, Спасе, аз же един леностию греховною отягчихся и злым делом поработихся, душе моя грешная, сего ли восхотела еси?

И ныне, и присно, и во веки веков, аминь.

Дивная и скорая помощнице всем человеком, Мати Божия, помози мне недостойному, душе бо моя грешная того восхоте.

Песнь 6

Ирмос: Житейское море, воздвизаемое зря напастей бурею, к тихому пристанищу Твоему притек, вопию Ти: возведи от тли живот мой, Многомилостиве.

Помилуй мя, Боже, помилуй мя.

Житие на земли блудно пожих и душу во тьму предах, ныне убо молю Тя, Милостивый Владыко: свободи мя от работы сея вражия, и даждь ми разум творити волю Твою.

Помилуй мя, Боже, помилуй мя.

Кто творит таковая, якоже аз? Якоже бо свиния лежит в калу, тако и аз греху служу. Но Ты, Господи, исторгни мя от гнуса сего и даждь ми сердце творити заповеди Твоя.

Слава Отцу, и Сыну, и Святому Духу.

Воспряни, окаянный человече, к Богу, воспомянув своя согрешения, припадая ко Творцу, слезя и стеня; Той же, яко милосерд, даст ти ум знати волю Свою.

И ныне, и присно, и во веки веков, аминь.

Богородице Дево, от видимаго и невидимаго зла сохрани мя, Пречистая, и приими молитвы моя, и донеси я Сыну Твоему, да даст ми ум творити волю Его.

Кондак

Душе моя, почто грехами богатееши, почто волю диаволю твориши, в чесом надежду полагаеши? Престани от сих и обратися к Богу с плачем, зовущи: милосерде Господи, помилуй мя грешнаго.

Икос

Помысли, душе моя, горький час смерти и страшный суд Творца твоего и Бога: Ангели бо грознии поймут тя, душе, и в вечный огнь введут: убо прежде смерти покайся, вопиющи: Господи, помилуй мя грешнаго.

Песнь 7

Ирмос: Росодательну убо пещь содела Ангел преподобным отроком, халдеи же опаляющее веление Божие, мучителя увеща вопити: благословен еси, Боже отец наших.

Помилуй мя, Боже, помилуй мя.

Не надейся, душе моя, на тленное богатство и на неправедное собрание, вся бо сия не веси кому оставиши, но возопий: помилуй мя, Христе Боже, недостойнаго.

Помилуй мя, Боже, помилуй мя.

Не уповай, душе моя, на телесное здравие и на скоромимоходящую красоту, видиши бо, яко сильнии и младии умирают; но возопий: помилуй мя, Христе Боже, недостойнаго.

Слава Отцу, и Сыну, и Святому Духу.

Воспомяни, душе моя, вечное житие, Царство Небесное, уготованное святым, и тьму кромешную и гнев Божий злым, и возопий: помилуй мя, Христе Боже, недостойнаго.

И ныне, и присно, и во веки веков, аминь.

Припади, душе моя, к Божией Матери и помолися Той, есть бо скорая помощница кающимся, умолит Сына Христа Бога, и помилует мя недостойнаго.

Песнь 8

Ирмос: Из пламене преподобным росу источил еси и праведнаго жертву водою попалил еси: вся бо твориши, Христе, токмо еже хотети. Тя превозносим во вся веки.

Помилуй мя, Боже, помилуй мя.

Како не имам плакатися, егда помышляю смерть, видех бо во гробе лежаща брата моего, безславна и безобразна? Что убо чаю, и на что надеюся? Токмо даждь ми, Господи, прежде конца покаяние. (Два́жды)

Слава Отцу, и Сыну, и Святому Духу.

Верую, яко приидеши судити живых и мертвых, и вси во своем чину станут, старии и младии, владыки и князи, девы и священницы; где обрящуся аз? Сего ради вопию: даждь ми, Господи, прежде конца покаяние.

И ныне, и присно, и во веки веков, аминь.

Пречистая Богородице, приими недостойную молитву мою и сохрани мя от наглыя смерти, и даруй ми прежде конца покаяние.

Песнь 9

Ирмос: Бога человеком невозможно видети, на Негоже не смеют чини Ангельстии взирати; Тобою же, Всечистая, явися человеком Слово Воплощенно, Егоже величающе, с небесными вои Тя ублажаем.

Помилуй мя, Боже, помилуй мя.

Ныне к вам прибегаю, Ангели, Архангели и вся небесныя силы, у Престола Божия стоящии, молитеся ко Творцу своему, да избавит душу мою от муки вечныя.

Помилуй мя, Боже, помилуй мя.

Ныне плачуся к вам, святии патриарси, царие и пророцы, апостоли и святителие и вси избраннии Христовы: помозите ми на суде, да спасет душу мою от силы вражия.

Слава Отцу, и Сыну, и Святому Духу.

Ныне к вам воздежу руце, святии мученицы, пустынницы, девственницы, праведницы и вси святии, молящиися ко Господу за весь мир, да помилует мя в час смерти моея.

И ныне, и присно, и во веки веков, аминь.

Мати Божия, помози ми, на Тя сильне надеющемуся, умоли Сына Своего, да поставит мя недостойнаго одесную Себе, егда сядет судяй живых и мертвых, аминь.

Молитва

Владыко Христе Боже, Иже страстьми Своими страсти моя исцеливый и язвами Своими язвы моя уврачевавый, даруй мне, много Тебе прегрешившему, слезы умиления; сраствори моему телу от обоняния Животворящаго Тела Твоего, и наслади душу мою Твоею Честною Кровию от горести, еюже мя сопротивник напои; возвыси мой ум к Тебе, долу поникший, и возведи от пропасти погибели: яко не имам покаяния, не имам умиления, не имам слезы утешительныя, возводящия чада ко своему наследию. Омрачихся умом в житейских страстех, не могу воззрети к Тебе в болезни, не могу согретися слезами, яже к Тебе любве.
Но, Владыко Господи Иисусе Христе, сокровище благих, даруй мне покаяние всецелое и сердце люботрудное во взыскание Твое, даруй мне благодать Твою и обнови во мне зраки Твоего образа. Оставих Тя, не остави мене; изыди на взыскание мое, возведи к пажити Твоей и сопричти мя овцам избраннаго Твоего стада, воспитай мя с ними от злака Божественных Твоих Таинств, молитвами Пречистыя Твоея Матере и всех святых Твоих. Аминь.


Ode I

Irmos: When Israel walked on foot in the sea as on dry land, on seeing their pursuer Pharaoh drowned, they cried: Let us sing to God a song of victory.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Troparia: Now I, a burdened sinner, have approached Thee, my Lord and God. But I dare not raise my eyes to Heaven. I only pray, saying: Give me, O Lord, understanding, that I may weep bitterly over my deeds.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

O woe is me, a sinner! Wretched am I above all men. There is no repentance in me. Give me, O Lord, tears, that I may weep bitterly over my deeds.

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

Foolish, wretched man, thou art wasting thy time in idleness! Think of thy life and turn to the Lord God, and weep bitterly over thy deeds.

Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: O most pure Mother of God, look upon me, a sinner, and deliver me from the snares of the devil, and guide me to the way of repentance, that I may weep bitterly over my deeds.

Ode III

Irmos: There is none holy as Thou, O Lord my God, Who hast exalted the horn of Thy faithful, O Good One, and hast strengthened us on the rock of Thy confession.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Troparia: When the thrones are set at the dread judgment, then the deeds of all men shall be laid bare. There will be woe for sinners being sent to torment! And knowing that, my soul, repent of thine evil deeds.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

The righteous will rejoice, but the sinners will weep. Then no one will be able to help us, but our deeds will condemn us. Wherefore, before the end, repent of thine evil deeds.

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

Woe is me, a great sinner, who have defiled myself by my deeds and thoughts. Not a teardrop do I have, because of my hard-heartedness. But now rise from the earth, my soul, and repent of thine evil deeds.

Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: Behold, thy Son calleth, O Lady, and directeth us what is good. Yet I, a sinner, I always flee from the good. But do thou, O merciful one, have mercy on me, that I may repent of my evil deeds.

Sedalen

I think of the terrible day and weep over my evil deeds. How shall I answer the Immortal King? With what boldness shall I, a prodigal, look at the Judge? O compassionate Father, O Only-Begotten Son, and Holy Spirit, have mercy on me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: Bound now with many fetters of sins, and inhibited by cruel passions, I flee unto thee, my salvation, and cry aloud: Help me, O Virgin, Mother of God.

Ode IV

Irmos: Christ is my power, my God and my Lord, doth the holy august Church divinely sing in godly fashion and she doth cry out with a pure mind, keeping festival in the Lord.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Troparia: Broad is the way here and convenient for indulging in pleasures, but how bitter it will be on the last day when the soul is separated from the body! Beware of these things, O man, for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Why dost thou wrong the poor man? Why dost thou withhold the wage of the hired servant? Why dost thou not love thy brother? Why dost thou pursue lust and pride? Therefore, abandon these things, my soul, and repent for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

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

O mindless man! How long wilt thou busy thyself like a bee, collecting thy wealth? For it will soon perish like dust and ashes. But seek rather the Kingdom of God.
Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: O Lady Theotokos, have mercy on me, a sinner and strengthen and keep me in virtue, lest sudden death snatch me away unprepared. And bring me, O Virgin, to the Kingdom of God.

Ode V

Irmos: With Thy divine light, O Good One, illumine the souls of them that rise early to pray to Thee with love, I pray, that they may know Thee, O Word of God, as the true God, Who recalleth us from the darkness of sin.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Troparia: Remember, wretched man, how thou art enslaved to lies, calumnies, theft, infirmities, wild beasts, on account of sins. O my sinful soul, is that what thou hast desired?

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

My members tremble, for with all of them I have done wrong: with my eyes in looking, with my ears in hearing, with my tongue in speaking evil, and by surrendering the whole of myself to Gehenna. O my sinful soul, is that what thou hast desired?

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

Thou didst receive the prodigal and the thief who repented, O Saviour, and I alone have succumbed to sinful sloth and have become enslaved to evil deeds. O my sinful soul, is this what thou hast desired?

Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: Wonderful and speedy helper of all men, help me. Mother of God, unworthy as I am, for my sinful soul hath desired that.

Ode VI

Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging with the tempest of temptations, I run to Thy calm haven, and cry unto Thee: Raise up my life from corruption, O Greatly-merciful One.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Troparia: I have lived my life wantonly on earth and have delivered my soul to darkness. But now I implore Thee, O merciful Lord, free me from this work of the enemy and give me the knowledge to do Thy will.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy m me.

Who doeth such things as I do? For just like a swine lying in the mud, so do I serve sin. But do Thou, O Lord, pull me out of this vileness and give me the heart to do Thy commandments.

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

Rise, wretched man, to God and, remembering thy sins, fall down before your Creator, weeping and groaning, for He is merciful and will grant you to know His will.
Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: O Virgin Mother of God, protect me from evil visible and invisible, O immaculate one, and accept my prayers and convey them to thy Son, that He may grant me the mind to do His will.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Kontakion

O my soul, why dost thou become rich in sins? Why dost thou do the will of the devil? On what dost thou set thy hope? Cease from these things and turn to God with weeping, and cry out: O Kind-hearted Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Ikos

Think, my soul, of the bitter hour of death and the judgment day of thy God and Creator. For terrible angels will seize thee, my soul, and will lead thee into the eternal fire. And so, before thy death, repent and cry: O Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Ode VII

Irmos: An Angel made the furnace sprinkle dew on the righteous youths. But the command of God consumed the Chaldeans and prevailed upon the tyrant to cry: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Troparia: Put not thy hope, my soul, in corruptible wealth, and for what is unjustly collected. For thou dost not know to whom thou wilt leave it all. But cry aloud: O Christ our God, have mercy on me, who am unworthy.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Trust not, my soul, in health of body and quickly-passing beauty. For thou seest that the strong and the young die. But say: O Christ our God, have mercy on me, who am unworthy.

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

Remember, my soul, eternal life and the Heavenly Kingdom prepared for the saints, and the outer darkness and the wrath of God for the evil, and cry: O Christ our God, have mercy on me, who am unworthy.

Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: Fall down, my soul, before the Mother of God, and pray to her; for she is the quick helper of those that repent. She entreateth the Son, Christ God, and hath mercy on me the unworthy.

Ode VIII

Irmos: From the flame Thou didst sprinkle dew upon the Saints, and didst burn the sacrifice of a righteous man which was sprinkled with water. For Thou alone, O Christ, dost do all as Thou willest. Thee we exalt unto all ages.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Troparia: How shall I not weep when I think of death? For I have seen my brother in his coffin, without glory or comeliness. What, then, am I to expect? And what do I hope for? Only grant me, O Lord, repentance before the end.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

How shall I not weep when I think of death? For I have seen my brother in his coffin, without glory or comeliness. What, then, am I to expect? And what do I hope for? Only grant me, O Lord, repentance before the end.

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

I believe that Thou wilt come to judge the living and the dead, and that all will stand in order, old and young, lords and princes, priests and virgins. Where shall I find myself? Therefore I cry: grant me, O Lord, repentance before the end.

Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: O most pure Theotokos, accept mine unworthy prayer and preserve me from sudden death; and grant me repentance before the end.

Ode IX

Irmos: It is not possible for men to see God, on Whom the ranks of Angels dare not gaze; but through thee, O all-pure one, appeared the Word Incarnate to men, Whom magnifying with the heavenly hosts we call thee blessed.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Troparia: Now I flee unto to you, ye Angels, Archangels, and all the heavenly hosts who stand at the throne of God: pray to your Creator that He may deliver my soul from eternal torment.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Now I turn to you with tears, holy patriarchs, kings and prophets, apostles and holy hierarchs, and all the elect of Christ: Help me at the judgment, that He may save my soul from the power of the enemy.

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

Now I lift my hands to you, holy martyrs, hermits, virgins, righteous ones 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.

Both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion: O Mother of God, help me who have strong hope in thee; implore thy Son that He may place me on His right hand, unworthy as I am, when He sitteth to judge the living and the dead. Amen.

Prayer after the Canon

O Master Christ God, Who hast healed my passions through Thy Passion, and hast cured my wounds through Thy wounds, grant me, who have sinned greatly against Thee, tears of compunction. Transform my body with the fragrance of Thy life-giving Body, and sweeten my soul with Thy precious Blood from the bitterness with which the foe has fed me. Lift up my down-cast mind to Thee, and take it out of the pit of perdition, for I have no repentance, I have no compunction, I have no consoling tears, which uplift children to their heritage. My mind has been darkened through earthly passions, I cannot look up to Thee in pain. I cannot warm myself with tears of love for Thee. But, O Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ, Treasury of good things, give me thorough repentance and a diligent heart to seek Thee; grant me Thy grace, and renew in me the likeness of Thine image. I have forsaken Thee – do then not forsake me! Come out to seek me; lead me up to Thy pasturage and number me among the lambs of Thy chosen flock. Nourish me with them on the grass of Thy Holy Mysteries, through the intercessions of Thy most pure Mother and all Thy saints. Amen.

On May 1, the Centre is closed. Happy spring holiday!

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