O Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy! _(3 times)_ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim: without defilement you gave birth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify you! _When a priest is serving, the Reader concludes:_ Bless, father, in the name of the Lord! _The priest exclaims:_ O God, be gracious to us and bless us! Shine Thy countenance upon us, and have mercy on us! _In the absence of a priest, a layman says:_ "Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Amen". _In either case, the Reader, after saying_ "Amen", _continues with the following:_ _NOTE: During Great Lent the Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim is said at this point of most services during the week (not on Saturday or Sunday). It is also appropriate for Morning Prayers and the Prayers Before Sleep on the same days._ Prayer of St. Ephraim 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 Thy servant. _(Prostration)_ Yea, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages. _(Prostration)_ O God, cleanse me a sinner. _(12 times)_ _(Then the entire Prayer of St. Ephraim is read and a single prostration is made at the end.)_ Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos by the Monk Paul