Lenten prayer of Nersess the Gracious

 

  1. I confess with faith and adore , Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
uncreated and immortal essence, creator of angels, of humans, and of all
that exists.  Have mercy upon Thy Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

 

  2. I confess with faith and adore Thee, O Light indivisible,
consubstantial Holy Trinity and one Godhead, creator of light and
dispeller of darkness. Dispel from my soul the darkness of sin and
ignorance, and at this hour enlighten my mind, that I may pray to Thee
according to Thy will, and receive from Thee the fulfillment of my
supplications.  Have mercy upon Thy Creatures and upon me, a great
sinner.

 

  3. Heavenly Father, true God, who sent Thy beloved Son to seek the
wandering sheep, I have sinned against heaven and before Thee; receive
me like the Prodigal Son, and clothe me with the garment of innocence,
of which I was deprived by sin.  Have mercy upon Thy Creatures and upon
me, a great sinner.

 

  4. Son of God, true God, who descended from the bosom of the Father,
and took flesh of the Holy Virgin Mary for our salvation, who was
crucified and buried, and rose from the dead, and ascended to the
Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before Thee; remember me like
the robber, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.  Have mercy upon Thy
Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

 

  5. Spirit of God, true God, who descended into the Jordan and into the
upper chamber, and who enlightened me by baptism in the holy font, I
have sinned against Heaven and before Thee; cleanse me with Thy divine
fire as Thou didst purify the holy Apostles with fiery tongues.  Have
mercy upon Thy Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

 

  6. Uncreated Essence, I have sinned against Thee in mind, soul and
body; do not remember my former sins for the sake of Thy Holy name. 
Have mercy upon Thy Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

 

  7. Beholder of all, I have sinned against Thee, in thought, word and
deed; erase the record of my offences, and write my name in the Book of
Life.  Have mercy upon Thy Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

 

  8. Searcher of secrets, I have sinned against Thee willingly and
unwillingly, knowingly and unknowingly, grant me ?a great sinner?
forgiveness, for since I was born of the holy font until this day I have
sinned before Thee, by my senses, and by all the members of my body. 
Have mercy upon Thy Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

 

  9. All provident Lord, place Thy holy fear as a guard before my eyes
so they may not look lustfully; before my ears so that they may not
delight in hearing evil words; before my mouth so that it may not speak
any falsehoods; before my heart so that it may not think evil; before my
hands so that they may not do injustice; before my feet, that they may
not walk in the paths of injustice; but so direct them, that they may
always be according to all Thy commandments.  Have mercy upon Thy
Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

 

  10. Christ, who are the Living Fire, inflame my soul with the fire of
Thy love, which Thou didst send forth upon the earth, that it may burn
the stains of my soul, sanctify my conscience, purge the sins of my
body, and kindle in my heart the light of Thy knowledge.  Have mercy
upon Thy Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

 

  11. Jesus, wisdom of the Father, grant me wisdom, that I may always
think, speak, and do that which is good in Thy sight; save me from evil
thoughts, words and deeds.  Have mercy upon Thy Creatures and upon me, a
great sinner.

 

  12. Lord, who wills that which is good, and are the director of the
will, let me not follow the inclinations of my heart, but lead me to
live always according to Thy good will.  Have mercy upon Thy Creatures
and upon me, a great sinner.

 

  13. Heavenly King, grant me Thy kingdom, which Thou hast promised to
Thy beloved; strengthen my heart to hate sin, and to love Thee alone,
and to do Thy will.  Have mercy upon Thy Creatures and upon me, a great
sinner.

 

  14. Protector of Thy creatures, by the sign of Thy cross keep my soul
and body from the allurements of sin, from the temptations of the devil
and unjust people, and from all perils of soul and body.  Have mercy
upon Thy Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

 

  15. Christ, the guardian of all, let Thy Right Hand guard and shelter
me by day and by night, while at home and while away, while sleeping and
while awake, that I may never fall.  Have mercy upon Thy Creatures and
upon me, a great sinner.

 

  16. my God, who opens Thy hand and fills all things living with Thy
bounty, to Thee I commit my soul; do care for me and provide for the
needs of my body and soul forever.  Have mercy upon Thy Creatures and
upon me, a great sinner.

 

  17. Thou who didst bring back the wanderers, turn me from my evil ways
to good ones and imprint upon my soul the recollection of the dreadful
day of death, the fear of hell and the love of Thy Kingdom that I may
repent of my sins and do righteousness.  Have mercy upon Thy Creatures
and upon me, a great sinner.

 

  18. Fountain of immortality, make the tears of repentance flow from my
heart, like those of the adulteress, that I may wash away the sins of my
soul before I depart from this world.  Have mercy upon Thy Creatures and
upon me, a great sinner.

 

  19. Bestower of mercy, grant that I may come to Thee with true faith,
with good works and by the communion of Thy Holy Body and Blood.  Have
mercy upon Thy Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

 

  20. Beneficent Lord, commit me to a good angel, that I may deliver up
my spirit in peace; convey it undisturbed by the malice of evil spirits
that are under the heavens.  Have mercy upon Thy Creatures and upon me,
a great sinner.

 

  21. Christ, True Light, make my soul worthy to behold with joy the
light of Thy glory, in that day when Thou callest me and to rest in the
hope of good things in the mansions of the just until the day of Thy
glorious coming.  Have mercy upon Thy Creatures and upon me, a great
sinner.

 

  22. Righteous Judge, when Thou comest in the glory of the Father to
judge the living and the dead, enter not into judgement with Thy
servant, but deliver me from the eternal fire, and make me worthy to
hear the blissful call of the just to Thy heavenly kingdom.  Have mercy
upon Thy Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

 

  23. All-merciful Lord, have mercy upon all Thy faithful, on those who
are mine and on those who are strangers; on those whom I know and on
those whom I know not; on the living and on the dead; and forgive all my
enemies, and those who hate me, the trespasses that they have committed
against me; turn them from the malice which they bear towards me, that
they may be worthy of Thy mercy.  Have mercy upon Thy Creatures and upon
me, a great sinner.

 

  24. Glorified Lord, accept the supplications of Thy servant, and
graciously fulfill my petitions, through the intercession of the Holy
Mother of God, John the Baptist, the first martyr St. Stephen, St.
Gregory our Illuminator, the Holy Apostles, Prophets, Divines, Martyrs,
Patriarchs, Hermits, Virgins and all Thy saints in Heaven and on Earth.
And unto Thee, O indivisible Holy Trinity, be glory and worship forever
and ever. Amen.

 

  Nersess the Gracious (1100-1173) is revered by the Armenian Orthodox
Church as a saint. 

 

  This prayer was taken from a post on a monachos.net discussion list:
01-03-2007, 07:46 PM 

  (   ). It may also be found at
http://www.1stholistic.com/Spl_prayers/A2004/prayer_lenten-prayers-nurse
ss.htm

 

  This is an extremely edifying and richly dogmatic prayer, suitable for
all Orthodox Christians. The publication of this prayer on this website
does not constitute any acknowledgment or denial of the sanctity of
¦gNersess the Gracious¦h. 

 

    of-nersess-the-gracious-a-lenten-prayer.rtf  , at
http://www.orthodox.net/trebnic