This is a prayer of St. Nersess Shnorhali (The Gracious) (1100 - 1173)
which is commonly said during Lent.
1. I confess with faith and adore You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
uncreated and immortal essence, creator of angels, of humans, and of
all that exists. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great
sinner.
2. I confess with faith and adore You, O Light indivisible,
simultaneous 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 You
according to Your will, and receive from You the fulfillment of my
supplications. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great
sinner.
3. Heavenly Father, true God, who sent Your beloved Son to seek the
wandering sheep, I have sinned against heaven and before You; receive
me like the Prodigal Son, and clothe me with the garment of innocence,
of which I was deprived by sin. Have mercy upon Your 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 You; remember me like
the robber, when You come in Your kingdom. Have mercy upon Your
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 You; cleanse me Your divine fire
as You purified the holy Apostles with fiery tongues. Have mercy upon
Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.
6. Uncreated Essence, I have sinned against You in mind, soul and body; do not remember my former sins for the sake of Your Holy name.
Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.
7. Beholder of all, I have sinned against You, in thought, word and
deed; erase the record of my offences, and write my name in the Book
of Life. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.
8. Searcher of secrets, I have sinned against You willing 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 You, by my senses, and by all the members of my
body. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.
9. All provident Lord, place Your 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 Your commandments. Have
mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.
10. Christ, who are the Living Fire, inflame my soul with the fire of
Your love, which You did 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 Your knowledge. Have mercy
upon Your 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 Your sight; save me from
evil thoughts, words and deeds. Have mercy upon Your 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 Your good will. Have mercy upon Your
Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.
13. Heavenly King, grant me Your kingdom, which You have promised to
Your beloved; strengthen my heart to hate sin, and to love You alone,
and to do Your will. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a
great sinner.
14. Protector of Your creatures, by the sign of Your 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 Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.
15. Christ, the guardian of all, let Your 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 Your Creatures
and upon me, a great sinner.
16. my God, who opens Your hand and fills all things living with Your
bounty, to You I commit my soul; do care for me and provide for the
needs of my body and soul forever. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and
upon me, a great sinner.
17. You who 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 Your Kingdom that I may repent
of my sins and do righteousness. Have mercy upon Your 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 Your
Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.
19. Bestower of mercy, grant that I may come to You with true faith,
with good works and by the communion of Your Holy Body and Blood. Have
mercy upon Your 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 Your Creatures and upon me,
a great sinner.
21. Christ, True Light, make my soul worthy to behold with joy the
light of Your glory, in that day when You call me and to rest in the
hope of good things in the mansions of the just until the day of Your
glorious coming. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great
sinner.
22. Righteous Judge, when You come in the glory of the Father to judge
the living and the dead, enter not into judgement with Your servant,
but deliver me from the eternal fire, and make me worthy to hear the
blissful call of the just to Your heavenly kingdom. Have mercy upon
Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.
23. All-merciful Lord, have mercy upon all Your 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 Your mercy. Have mercy upon
Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.
24. Glorified Lord, accept the supplications of Your 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 Your saints in Heaven
and on Earth. And unto You, O indivisible Holy Trinity, be glory and
worship forever and ever. Amen.
