The Prayer of Saint Ephrem the Syrian
The folowing order is used for the Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian throughout the Great Lent.
Collect your thoughts and in humility go in front of the icon of Our Savior Jesus Christ and bowing your head, as in front of the Almighty Judge, say this:
Lord and Master of my life,
From the spirit of laziness and meddling,
The lust for power and gossip,
Deliver me
(full prostration)
Rather, the spirit of wisdom,
Humility, patience, and love,
grant to me Your servant.
(full prostration)
Yes, Lord and King,
Grant that I may see my own faults
And not judge my brother;
For You are blessed to the ages of ages.
Amen.
(full prostration)
Then the verses:
God have mercy on me the sinner! (prostration)
God, cleanse me the sinner! (prostration)
You have fashioned me, O God, have mercy on me! (prostration)
Countless times I have done wrong, God forgive me! (prostration)
The verses are repeated 3 times with 12 prostrations, and then we say again the prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian with prostrations at the first two stanzas and a full prostration at the last one.
This order we are called to keep in all the days of the Great Lent, except for Saturdays and Sundays by adding it our Morning and Evening prayers. The more pious can recite it quietely at other times during the day gaining as such more humility of the mind and spiritual comfort.
Note: Standard translation used in the Metropolis of Denver
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