Prayers of Penitents

After the penitent has left the place of confession, he should immediately give thanks to God for His great gifts to him through this Holy Mystery. He may then say one or more of the following prayers. After these, other prayers are included which may be used by penitents as needed.

Prayers after Confession

O Almighty and Merciful God, I truly thank Thee for the forgiveness of my sins; bless me, O Lord, and help me always, that I may ever do that which is pleasing to Thee, and sin no more. Amen.

O Lord God of my salvation, the Savior and Benefactor of my soul, I am truly sorry for my every transgression, and I firmly resolve never again to offend Thee by my sins, and I sincerely promise to amend my way of life. Implant in me the fear of Thy blessed commandments, that I may trample down all carnal appetites and may lead a godly life, both thinking and doing always such things as are pleasing unto Thee. I pray Thee, grant unto me the grace of the Holy Spirit, that thus strengthened, I may shun all evil deeds and works, and words and thoughts, and may avoid all snares of the evil one. Shine in my heart with the true Sun of Thy righteousness; enlighten my mind and guard all my senses, that walking uprightly in the way of Thy statutes, I may attain unto life eternal. Amen.

O Sovereign Master, Who lovest man, lead me in Thy way, that I may walk in Thy truth. Make glad my heart, that I may fear Thy holy name. O Lord, mighty in mercy, gracious in strength, aid and comfort and save me, as I put my trust in Thy holy name. Rebuke me not, O Lord, in Thy displeasure, neither chasten me in Thy wrath, but show unto me Thy great mercy and compassion, O Physician and Healer of my soul. O merciful Savior, blot out all my transgressions, for I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. Grant me Thy grace that I may avoid my previous evil ways. Strengthen me, O Mighty One, to withstand those temptations before which I am weak, that I may avoid all future sin. Keep me under Thy protection and in the shadow of Thy wings, that I may serve Thee, praise Thee and glorify Thee all the days of my life. Amen.

An Act of Repentance

From the rule of Father Kirik, Elder of Mount Athos, from 1936

When you have done something wrong, turn your heart immediately to God and say with sincere repentance:

O Lord, forgive me for doing this and help me to do better next time, for the glory of Thy holy name and for the salvation of my soul.

Prayer to be Said by One Who Is Assailed by Temptation

O Lord God of righteousness, my Strength and Help, my Refuge in evil days, Thou Who savest in time of sorrows: Save me, as my soul hath entered into the waters and I have sunk into a boggy abyss and there is no constancy, for I am being violated on account of the countenance of the enemy. My soul is driven, my life on earth is trampled, and all the night long conquerors assail me. Condescend, O Lord, to deliver me from the hands of transgressors and those who do wrong, that I not sin against Thee. For the fear of death hath fallen upon me and darkness covereth me. How long shall I cry to the Lord and He not hear? Affronted, I cry to Thee, and wilt Thou not save me? Look down from heaven, O Lord, and see me from Thy holy abode, where is Thy glory and a multitude of Thy compassions, according to Thy great mercy, which Thou hast borne for us. O Lord, judge me who have affronted Thee; do not be as a man asleep and as a man not able to save. For Thou art a merciful God and the Lover of mankind, and to Thee do we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer for One Who Is Put to the Test in Sleep

O Lord, greatly-praised, uncorrupt, chaste and alone sinless: Cleanse me, Thy servant, from all filth of flesh and spirit. Show me pure by the grace of Thy Christ, and sanctify me with the infusion of Thy Spirit, that jumping up from the mist of dreaming of unclean spirits and all temptation, I may be granted in a time appropriate for good deeds, to draw near and taste Thy dread and awesome Mysteries. For Thou art He Who blesseth and sanctifieth all things, O our God, and to Thee do we send up glory, together with Thine Only-begotten Son, and Thine All-holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer for One Who Has Shameful Thoughts

O Master, Lord my God, in Whose hands is my destiny: Help me according to Thy mercy, and leave me not to perish in my transgressions nor will me to follow those who place desires of the flesh over those of the spirit. I am Thy creation; do not disdain the works of Thy hands. Do not turn away from me; be compassionate and do not humiliate me nor scorn me. O Lord, as I am helpless, I have fled to Thee, O God my Protector. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee; save me for the sake of Thy mercy, for I have cleaved to Thee from my youth, that I, who have sought to respect Thee, be not shamed by unclean actions, unseemly thoughts and unprofitable remembrances, and drive away from me all filth and excess of evil. For Thou alone art holy, alone mighty and alone immortal, in all things having unexcelled ability, which, through Thee, are given to all who strive against the devil and the might of his armies. For to Thee belong all glory, honor, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Daily Confession of Sins

From the Evening Prayers

I confess to Thee, my Lord God and Creator, in one Holy Trinity glorified and worshipped, to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all my sins which I have committed in all the days of my life, and at every hour, at the present time, and in the past, day and night, by deed, word, thought, gluttony, drunkenness, secret eating, idle talking, despondency, indolence, contradiction, disobedience, slandering, condemning, negligence, self-love, acquisitiveness, extortion, lying, dishonesty, mercenariness, jealousy, envy, anger, remembrance of wrongs, hatred, bribery; and by all my senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch; and by the rest of my sins, of the soul together with the bodily, through which I have angered Thee, my God and Creator, and dealt unjustly with my neighbor. Sorrowing for these, I stand guilty before Thee, my God, but I have the will to repent. Only help me, O Lord my God, with tears I humbly entreat Thee. Forgive my past sins through Thy compassion, and absolve from all these which I have said in Thy presence, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind.