The Great Canon

The Beginning

(Before beginning the Canon, one says the Introductory Prayers:)

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
Glory to You, our God, glory to You.
O Heavenly King... Holy God... (The Trisagion Prayers through the Lord's Prayer are said.)

Ode 1

(The Irmos is sung:)

He is my Helper and Protector, and He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will glorify Him; the God of my father, and I will exalt Him, for He has triumphed gloriously.

(The refrain is repeated after each verse with a prostration:)

People: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

Verse: Where shall I begin to weep for the actions of my wretched life? What first-fruits shall I offer, O Christ, for this my present lamentation? But in Thy compassion grant me remission of transgressions.

People: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

Verse: Come, wretched soul, with thy flesh, confess to the Creator of all. In future, refrain from thy former lack of reason, and offer to God tears in repentance.

Ode 2

Verse: I have rivaled in transgression the first-fashioned Adam, and I have found myself stripped naked of God, and of the everlasting kingdom and its joy, because of my sins.

People: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me!

Verse: I have sullied the garment of my flesh, O Savior, and defiled that which was fashioned in Thine image and likeness.

Verse: I have darkened the beauty of my soul with the pleasures of the passions, and turned my whole mind into dross.

Ode 9

Verse: My mind is wounded, my body is feeble, my spirit is sick, my word has lost its power, my life is dead, the end is at the doors. What shalt thou do, then, wretched soul, when the Judge comes to search out thy deeds?

Verse: I have brought before Thee, O Christ, the words of the Publican: Be merciful to me as Thou wast to him. For no one among the sons of Adam has ever sinned as I have sinned against Thee!

The Conclusion

(The Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian with three prostrations:)

Priest: O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk. (Prostration)
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Your servant. (Prostration)
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own errors and not to judge my brother, for You are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen. (Prostration)

(The final intercession:)

People: Through the intercessions of Thy Mother and of all the Saints, O Savior, save us!

(The Dismissal:)

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.