When it is said
They are the seventh of the prayers before sleep in the Russian prayer book, said at home at the end of the day.
Their heading says there are 24, one for each hour of the day and night. St Tikhon’s English prayer book splits them into 12 for the day and 12 for the night.
Where it comes from
Author by tradition
Who wrote them?
Russian prayer books print them under the name of St John Chrysostom, the great preacher and archbishop of Constantinople, who died in AD 407. That is a tradition, not a proven fact, and the date of the prayers is not known.
Twelve for the night, in 1625
In 1625 a Psalter printed in Moscow gave the prayers to say before sleep. Among them were 12 of these short prayers, one for each hour of the night, starting “Lord, accept me in repentance”. Today’s prayer books print all 24. So found Hieromonk Dalmat (Yudin), in a study of the Russian bedtime prayers.
Hieromonk Dalmat (Yudin), Prayers before sleep in the Russian Church (2024), on Azbyka.ru
What the words mean
Meekness is not weakness
A Russian Orthodox prayer book explains “meekness” with words it credits to St John Chrysostom. The meek man can bear the insults done to himself. But he defends those who are wronged, and stands up strongly against the people who wrong them.
“Courage” is a wide word
The Slavonic word translated “courage” means greatness of soul. The notes in a Russian prayer book explain it as fearlessness and a firm spirit, joined with mercy. In the prayer it stands between patience and meekness.
The Scripture in it
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Church Slavonic
Господи, не лиши мене небесных Твоих благ.
Господи, избави мя вечных мук.
Господи, умом ли или помышлением, словом или делом согреших, прости мя.
Господи, избави мя всякаго неведения и забвения, и малодушия, и окамененнаго нечувствия.
Господи, избави мя от всякаго искушения.
Господи, просвети мое сердце, еже помрачи лукавое похотение.
Господи, аз яко человек согреших, Ты же яко Бог щедр, помилуй мя, видя немощь души моея.
Господи, посли благодать Твою в помощь мне, да прославлю имя Твое святое.
Господи Иисусе Христе, напиши мя раба Твоего в книзе животней и даруй ми конец благий.
Господи, Боже мой, аще и ничтоже благо сотворих пред Тобою, но даждь ми по благодати Твоей положити начало благое.
Господи, окропи в сердце моем росу благодати Твоея.
Господи небесе и земли, помяни мя грешнаго раба Твоего, студнаго и нечистаго, во Царствии Твоем. Аминь.
Господи, в покаянии приими мя.
Господи, не остави мене.
Господи, не введи мене в напасть.
Господи, даждь ми мысль благу.
Господи, даждь ми слезы и память смертную, и умиление.
Господи, даждь ми помысл исповедания грехов моих.
Господи, даждь ми смирение, целомудрие и послушание.
Господи, даждь ми терпение, великодушие и кротость.
Господи, всели в мя корень благих, страх Твой в сердце мое.
Господи, сподоби мя любити Тя от всея души моея и помышления и творити во всем волю Твою.
Господи, покрый мя от человек некоторых, и бесов, и страстей, и от всякия иныя неподобныя вещи.
Господи, веси, яко твориши, якоже Ты волиши, да будет воля Твоя и во мне грешнем, яко благословен еси во веки. Аминь.