Prayer against Evil Thoughts, a Supplication to the Most Holy Theotokos, on Wednesday Morning
O most holy Lady Theotokos, drive away the evil and unclean thoughts from my wretched and troubled heart, and have mercy on me a sinner, for I am weak and helpless; and deliver me from evil desires and imaginings. Thou knowest that I am unclean, foul, defiled and unworthy; for my iniquities are gone over my head, multiplied beyond the number of the sand; the wounds of my soul have grown foul and festered through the multitude of my evils. But I flee to thee in repentance, and fall down before thee confessing all my grievous sins: I have ever angered thee, O Mother of our God, defiled as I am by my impurities. Have mercy on me, O thou who art merciful to all and lovest mankind, and forgive me; abhor me not, O Lady, nor turn away thy face from me, lest I too turn away from thee — woe is me, woe is me, darkened as I am! Do not, O Lady, do not gladden mine enemies by this — woe is me, woe is me! Raise up my thought to repentance, and lead me by the hand to the way of salvation, that, having found it and walking in it, I may gain thee also as my companion on the way, and by thy guidance be saved. Yea, O holy Lady, Mother of God who loveth mankind, break my heart and humble it, fill mine eyes with spiritual tears, and enlighten them with the light of thine intercession, lest I sleep unto death! Sprinkle me with the hyssop of thy mercies, and I shall be clean; wash me with thy grace through my tears, and I shall be whiter than snow. Yea, O Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, accept this my fervent confession and supplication, and help my weakness, and keep the rest of my life in repentance without stumbling; and at the hour of the departure of my lowly soul from the body, when I must speak with mine enemies in the gate — woe is me, woe is me! — then appear to me, O Lady, with thy merciful eye, and free me from those bitter exactors and grievous tax-gatherers of the prince of this world, and be my advocate, and blot out all the handwritings of my sins! Then present me unashamed and saved before the throne of thy Son and God, to the glory of thee and of thine only-begotten Son, and of His unoriginate Father, and of His all-holy and life-giving Spirit, the one Source of light and consubstantial Trinity, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
As I go up upon my bed, O Jesus Christ my God, grant me sweet sleep for the rest of my body, that even while sleeping I may praise Thee, for my heart, my mind and my thoughts are turned to Thee! Sanctify my bed; send Thine angel to guard me until I rise, that I may keep my body undefiled. O Lord my God, drive away from me the devil who terrifies, troubles and horrifies by night, and let not the evil Satan come upon me, who ever hateth Thy holiness and loveth the spirit of vanity; that when I awake I may stretch out my hands in the form of Thy Cross, O Lord, and confess my faults to Thee, the Crucified, and, thus strengthened, cry to Thee: O Lord, guard my king and my city — the king, which is my soul, and the city, my body, which Thou didst build from the earth as a temple for the dwelling of Thy holiness, O Christ my King and my God. By Thy power I lie down, and I seal all my members with Thy Cross, and I fall asleep trusting in Thy protection. O Father, keep me; O Son, shelter me; and O Holy Spirit, have mercy on me! O most merciful God, incorrupt, immaculate, undefiled, alone unchangeable, cleanse me, Thine unworthy servant, from all defilement of flesh and spirit, and show me blameless by the grace of Thy Christ, and sanctify me by the implanting of Thy Holy Spirit, that, roused from the haze of the evil fantasies of the enemy and from every temptation, I may be counted worthy with a pure mind to come to and receive Thy dread Mysteries; for Thou art He who blessest and sanctifiest all, O Christ our God, and to Thee we offer glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
