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Writer's pictureSilouan & All Saints GBI

Canon to Our Lord Jesus Christ

Updated: Feb 19, 2021

This is an often used prayer found in most Slavic-style personal prayer books. It uses the repetition of "Jesus" throughout to invoke our Lord's name in the same way as the Jesus Prayer. It can be prayed at any time and is usually included as part of a prayer rule to be said the evening before taking Holy Communion.




CANON

To our Lord Jesus Christ


The Seven Bow Beginning:

O God, be merciful to me, a sinner. Bow

O God, cleanse me, a sinner, and have mercy on me. Bow

Thou hast created me, O Lord, have mercy on me. Bow

I have sinned immeasurably, O Lord, forgive me. Bow

My most holy Lady Theotokos, save me, a sinner. Bow

O Angel, my holy Guardian, protect me from all evil. Bow

Holy Father Theophan, pray to God for me. Bow


Then: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Amen.


Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.


O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth. Who art everywhere present and fillest all things; treasury of blessings and Giver of Life: come and abide in us, cleanse us from all impurity, and of Thy goodness save our souls.


+ Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal. Have mercy on us (Thrice)


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


O Most-holy Trinity: Have mercy on us. Lord: Cleanse us from our sins. Master: Pardon our transgressions. Holy One: visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.

Lord, have mercy (Thrice)


+ Glory… Now and ever… Amen.


Our Father (+) who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory: of the (+) Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages: Amen.


Lord have mercy (twelve times)


+ Glory… Now and ever… Amen.


O Come, let us worship God our King; Bow

O Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ our King and God; Bow

O Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and God. Bow


Psalm 50 (51)

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judge. For behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; and in sins did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice or else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.


The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: let the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and oblations: then shall they offer young bulls upon thine altar.


The Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible.


And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. He was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures. He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end.


And in the Holy Spirit, (+) the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the prophets.


And in one (+) Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Then the Canon:


CANON

To our Lord Jesus Christ


Song 1. Tone 2.


Eirmos: In the deep of old the infinite Power overwhelmed Pharaoh’s whole army. But the Incarnate Word annihilated pernicious sin. Exceedingly glorious is the Lord, for gloriously has He been glorified.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


Troparia: Sweetest Jesus Christ, longsuffering Jesus, heal the wounds of my soul, Jesus, and make sweet my heart, O Most Merciful One, I ask Thee, Jesus my Savior, that being saved by Thee, I may glorify Thee.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


Sweetest Jesus Christ, Jesus, open to me the door of repentance, O Jesus, Lover of men, and accept me as I throw myself at Thy feet, Jesus, my Savior, and fervently implore the forgiveness of my sins.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


Sweetest Jesus Christ, Jesus, snatch me from the hand of deceitful Satan, O Jesus, and make me stand on the Right of Thy glory, O Jesus my Savior; from the Left deliver me.


Most Holy Mother of God save us.


Theotokion: O Lady who bore Jesus our God, pray for us worthless slaves, that by thy prayers, O immaculate one, we who are defiled may be delivered from torment, O spotless one, and enjoy everlasting glory.



Song 3.


Eirmos: By establishing me on the rock of faith, Thou hast given me power over my enemies, and my spirit rejoices when I sing: There is none holy as our God and none righteous but Thee, O Lord.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


Troparia: O my Jesus, Lover of men, hear Thy slave calling with compunction; and deliver me, Jesus, from condemnation and punishment, O only Patient One, sweetest and most merciful Jesus.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


Receive Thy slave, O my Jesus, who prostrates himself with tears, my Jesus, and deliver me, O Lord, from hell, sweetest and most merciful Jesus.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


O my Jesus, the time Thou gavest me I have squandered in passions, O my Jesus. Reject me not, O my Jesus, but call me, I pray, O Lord, O Sweetest Jesus, and save me!


Most Holy Mother of God save us.


Theotokion: O Virgin who gavest birth to my Jesus, implore Him to save me from hell. Thou art the only patroness of the afflicted, O thou who art full of divine grace. And make me worthy of the life that is free from old age, O all-innocent one.


Lord, have mercy (thrice).


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


Sedalion (Sitting hymn): O Jesus my Savior, Thou didst save the prodigal. Jesus my Savior, Thou didst accept the harlot. And now have mercy on me, most merciful Jesus; have compassion and save me, O Jesus my Benefactor, as Thou hadst compassion on Manasseh, my Jesus, only Lover of men.


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


Theotokion: Having thy intercession, O most pure one, aid delivered by thy prayers, and protected by the Cross of thy Son, we duly devoutly magnify thee.



Song 4.


Eirmos: From a virgin didst Thou come, not as an ambassador, nor as an Angel, but the very Lord Himself incarnate, and didst save me, the whole man. Therefore I cry to Thee: Glory to Thy Power, O Lord.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


Troparia: O my Jesus, heal the wounds of my soul, my Jesus, I pray, and snatch me from the hand of soul-corrupting Satan, my gracious Jesus, and save me.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


O my sweetest Jesus, I have sinned. My compassionate Jesus, save me who run to Thy protection, and make me worthy of Thy Kingdom, O most patient Jesus.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


No one has sinned as I have sinned, O my Jesus, wretched as I am; but now I bow down and pray: Save me, O my Jesus, and bequeath me, my Jesus, life.


Most Holy Mother of God save us.


Theotokion: O all-hymned Virgin who bore the Lord Jesus, implore Him to deliver from torment all who sing to thee and call thee supremely Mother of God.



Song 5.


Eirmos: O Thou Who art the Light of those lying in darkness, and the salvation of the hopeless, O Christ my Savior, I rise early to pray to Thee, O King of Peace. Enlighten me with Thy radiance, for I know no other God than Thee.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


Troparia: O my Jesus, Thou art the light of my mind and the salvation of my despairing soul, my Jesus, my Savior! Deliver me who cry to Thee, from torment and hell. Save me, O Christ, my Jesus, wretched as I am.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


Completely cast down to shameful passions, my Jesus, I now cry: Stretch down to me, my Jesus, a helping hand, and pluck me out as I cry: save me, O Christ, my Jesus, wretched as I am.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


Carrying about a mind defiled, I call to Thee, O Jesus: cleanse me from the dirt of sin, and redeem me who slipped down to the depths of vice through ignorance, and save me, O Savior, my Jesus, I pray.


Most Holy Mother of God save us.


Theotokion: O Maiden Mother of God who bore Jesus, implore Him to save all Orthodox monks and people, and to deliver from hell those who cry: We know no stronger intercession than thine.



Song 6.


Eirmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, I appeal to the unfathomable abyss of Thy compassion: Raise me up from corruption, O God.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


Troparia: O most merciful Christ, my Jesus, accept me who confess my sins, O Lord, and save me, O Jesus, and snatch me, O Jesus, from corruption.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


O my Jesus, no one else has been so dissolute as I, wretched as I am, O Jesus Lover of men, but save me, O Jesus.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


O my Jesus, I have surpassed with my passions the harlot and the prodigal, Manasseh and the publican, O my Jesus, and the robber and the Ninevites, O Jesus.


Most Holy Mother of God save us.


Theotokion: O thou who didst conceive my Jesus Christ, O only undefiled and immaculate Virgin, cleanse me defiled as I am, even now by hyssop of thy prayers.


Lord have mercy (thrice).


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


Kontakion: Sweetest Jesus, Light of the world, enlighten the eyes of my soul, O Son of God, with the divine vision of Thy splendor, that I may praise Thee, the unwaning Light.



Song 7.


Eirmos: When the golden idol was worshipped in the plain of Dura, Thy three children despised the godless order. Thrown into the fire, they were bedewed and sang: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


Troparia: O Christ Jesus, no one on earth has ever sinned as I have sinned, 0 my Jesus, wretched and dissolute as I am. But I cry to Thee, my Jesus, have compassion on me as I sing: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


O Christ Jesus, nail me down with the fear of Thee, I pray, O my Jesus, and guide me to Thy calm haven, O my compassionate Jesus, that saved by Thee I may sing to Thee: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


O Christ Jesus, ten thousand times I promised Thee repentance, my Jesus, but wretch that I am, I deceived Thee. Therefore I cry to Thee, my Jesus: Enlighten my still unfeeling soul, O Christ, who art the God of our fathers.


Most Holy Mother of God save us.


Theotokion: O thou who gavest birth to Jesus Christ wondrously and above nature, O all - innocent one, implore Him, O Maiden, to forgive me all the sins that I have committed against my nature, that saved I may cry: Blessed art thou who didst conceive God in the flesh.



Song 8.


Eirmos: Sing of the acts of God Who descended into the fiery furnace with the Hebrew children and changed the flame into dew, and exalt Him as Lord throughout all ages.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


Troparia: I implore Thee, O my Jesus: as Thou didst redeem the harlot from many sins, likewise redeem me, O Christ my Jesus, and cleanse my foul soul, O my Jesus.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


O Jesus, having yielded to dumb and irrational pleasures, I have become dumb and irrational, O my Jesus, and wretch that I am, I have truly become pitifully like the animals, O Savior. Therefore, O Jesus, deliver me from dumbness and animality.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


O Jesus, I fell into the hands of soul-corrupting thieves who have now stripped me of my divinely woven garment, O my Jesus, and I am lying all bruised and wounded. O my Christ, pour on me oil and wine.


Most Holy Mother of God save us.


Theotokion: O Mary, Mother of God, who ineffably bore the Christ, my Jesus and God, implore Him always to save from dangers thy servants and thy singers, O chaste Virgin!


Song 9.

Eirmos: God the Word, God of God, Who by ineffable wisdom came to create Adam anew after his grievous fall to corruption through eating and Who took flesh beyond all telling from the Holy Virgin for our sake - Him we faithful with one accord magnify in song.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


Troparia: I have surpassed, O my Jesus, Manasseh and the publican, the harlot and the prodigal, O compassionate Jesus, and the robber, O my Jesus, through all my shameful and perverse deeds, O Jesus, but outwit me, my Jesus, and save me!


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


My Jesus, I have outdone by my pitiful passions, wretched as I am, all Who have sinned from Adam, O Jesus, before the Law and in the Law, my Jesus, and after the Law and Grace; but save me by Thy judgments, my Jesus.


Sweetest Jesus, save us.


Let me not be divorced from Thy ineffable glory, my Jesus, and let me not be assigned to the Left Hand, sweetest Jesus; but set me on the Right Hand with Thy sheep and give me rest, O Christ my Jesus, in Thy divine compassion.


Most Holy Mother of God save us.


Theotokion: O Mother of God who bore Jesus, only Immaculate Virgin Mary, invoke Him, O pure one, as thy Son and Creator, to deliver all who resort to thee from temptations, dangers and future fire.


Exapostelarion: O Jesus, Giver of Wisdom and Understanding, Feeder of beggars, Protector of Orphans, Healer of the sick, heal and illumine my heart, O Jesus, covered with the wounds of sin and corruption of passions, and save me. O Jesus!


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


Theotokion: Enlighten my mind and transfigure my heart, O Virgin, with the radiance of the Light which shone through thee, dispelling the darkness of sin and dissolving the gloom of my indolence.



Hymn to the Mother of God: It is truly meet to bless thee, who didst bring forth God; ever-blessed and most pure and the Mother of our God: More honourable than the Cherubim, and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without corruption didst bring forth God the Word, and art indeed Mother of God, thee do we magnify.


Prayer to Jesus Christ.

O Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, my God, through Thy ineffable love for men Thou wast wrapped in flesh, at the end of the ages, from the Ever Virgin Mary. We glorify Thy saving providence and care for us, Thy servants, O Lord. We praise Thee through Whom we have learned to know the Father. We bless Thee through Whom the Holy Spirit came into the world. We bow to Thy most Holy Mother who served for the dread mystery of Thy Incarnation. We praise the Angelic Choir as the servants and singers of Thy Majesty. We beatify Saint John the Forerunner who baptized Thee, O Lord. We honor also the Prophets who announced Thee. We glorify Thy Holy Apostles. We celebrate the Martyrs. We praise Thy Priests. We venerate Thy Saints and sing to all the Just. We, Thy servants, offer to Thee, our all-generous God, this countless and unutterable Divine Choir as intercessors, and pray: Grant us the forgiveness of our sins for the sake of all Thy Saints, but especially for the sake of Thy holy generosity, for Thou art blessed for ever. Amen.


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