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For the Second Coming of Christ and the Last Judgment
Kontakion 1
Eternal King of the ages, Lord Jesus Christ, righteous and impartial Judge, thinking of the many sins I have committed, I am terrified and weep for the fearful Day of Judgment, but hoping in the mercy of Your unspeakable goodness, like David I pray to You: through Your great mercy, forgive me, the unworthy one, and do not judge me according to my deeds, so that, being cleansed and with a clear conscience, I may always bring You the angelic song: Holy, Holy, Holy are You, Lord God Almighty, Who is and Who is to come, have mercy on me!
Ikos 1
The sound of the Archangel’s trumpet is heard at the Terrible and Last Judgment of the Lord, calling the living and the dead from all over the earth. My soul, my soul, wake up, why are you sleeping? The end is near! Get up, for there is still a little time for repentance; watch, pray, be awake, and do good deeds, crying out unceasingly to your Lord:
Holy are You, Lord our God and Most Holy, and may Your name be hallowed in this sinful, evil, and deceitful world, more than any other name;
Holy are You, Lord our God, may Your glorious Kingdom come;.
Holy are You, Lord our God, may Your holy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;
Holy are You, Lord our God, who gives us our daily bread on earth, and give us heavenly bread;
Holy are You, Lord our God, forgive me my sins as I forgive my neighbor his transgressions;
Holy are You, Lord our God, lead me not into temptation but deliver me from the temptations of evil, from the ruler of the darkness of this world, for I am truly in danger and my days are lost in uncleanness;
Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O Lord God Almighty, Who art and Who art to come, have mercy on me!
Kontakion 2
Lord, Lord! All the signs of the end of this age are already being fulfilled: The Holy Faith of people has become impoverished, iniquities have multiplied, and love has grown cold; nation rises against nation, kingdom against kingdom, father against son and son against father, famine, earthquakes, and tribulations have broken out, deceivers and traitors have appeared, and the persecution of Your faithful has begun, as the Gospel proclaims. All this is happening as a testimony to all nations, and great sorrow among the faithful is spreading throughout the universe, and I, realizing that the end of this age is near, cry out to You with fear: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Desiring to reveal to the faithful the time of Your terrible and perfect Coming, Almighty Lord, You gave us an example about the fig tree, saying, “When its branch becomes tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. Likewise, when you see all these things, know that the Son of Man is near, even at the doors.” Therefore, I who live at the end of the ages cry out to You with tenderness:
Holy are You, Lord, our God, leading me in secret through parables into Your Kingdom, for whoever has spiritual ears, let them hear; give me understanding of the preaching of Your Gospel, that I may trample on bodily desires, live a spiritual life, and prepare myself for the harvest of fruit;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, Who teaches me through the parable of the millstones that of two who work and live together, on that day one will be taken, and the other will be left behind—then do not leave me with the sinners who do evil, but cleanse me and receive me into Your glorious Kingdom;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, who says, “Pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath,” prophesying about the end of the world: help me to prepare for the great flight, to meet You and remain with You forever;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, who said, “As I find you, so I will judge you”; bring me to repentance so that You may not find me unprepared at Your Coming;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, Righteous and Merciful, do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no one among the living is righteous before You, but from Your presence my fate will be known;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, who said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father,” teach me to do Your will;
Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O Lord God Almighty, Who art and Who art to come, have mercy on me!
Kontakion 3
By the power of Your divinity, Lord, You raised Lazarus from the tomb, who had been dead for four days, and You raised the bodies of those who had fallen asleep at the hour of Your death and suffering on the Cross; then, on the third day, You Yourself rose from the dead with the same divine power. I believe that the hour will come again when the dead will rise at the sound of Your voice and rise from their graves, and those who have done good will pass into eternal life, and those who have done evil will descend into the graves. Then do not judge them, Lord, according to their deeds, but have mercy on all who have fallen asleep in faith and hope of eternal life, and accept their song: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
You said to your faithful servant John, Lord: “I am the first and the last, the living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys of death and Hades.” And You commanded him to write the Apocalypse, what must soon come to pass. Thinking of the terrible and approaching end of this world, not with vain curiosity but with fear and trembling, I cry out to You:
Holy are You, Lord, our God, the Firstborn from the dead and Lord of the dead and of the kings of the earth, loving us and washing us from our sins with Your Blood and giving men the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, strengthen me in Your faith, that I may never forsake You, and if necessary, receive torment for Your Holy Name;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, who comes on the clouds of heaven and will be seen by every eye, and those who pierced You; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn before You, grant me repentance for my sins before that terrible day;
Holy are You, Lord our God, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last—reveal to me the hour of my death and tell me the number of my days;
Holy are You, Lord our God, who gave the Revelation to John the Great so that we too might understand that it must be soon. Through his prayers, save me on the great day of Your wrath, when neither mountains, nor waters, nor stones can hide the sinners who flee from You;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, who teaches through Your Apostle Paul: “Even if I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, even if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” Give me sincere love, and I will bear my brother’s burden as my own, and I will lay down my life for my friends;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, unspeakable Love, grant me to love You as I once loved sin, and after I have borne the fruits of repentance, make me worthy to work for You as I once worked to flatter Satan, and from the depths of my soul I will sing:
Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, Lord God Almighty, Who art and Who art to come, have mercy on me!
Kontakion 4
When the Lord appeared to Elijah on Horeb and to Moses on Sinai, there was an earthquake and darkness, thunder and lightning; but this is only a small glimpse of what the end of the world will be like, of which the Lord spoke to His disciples on the Mount of Olives and to John on Patmos, for then the whole universe will be shaken: and fire and water and all its parts will be disturbed; and light, darkness, blood, smoke, and angelic trumpets will appear, announcing the resurrection of the dead, and the cries of the people will unite, announcing the Second Coming and the Last Judgment of the Lord, in the hour of truth. Oh, what a terrible sight and trial! It is impossible for me to imagine this: woe to the sinners and glory to the righteous then. Merciful Lord, save me then, I pray and sing to You: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
I have heard you, Lord, through Peter’s mouth, saying: “And the heavens and the earth that now exist are being preserved by the same Word and they are kept for the fire of the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly,” I tremble and hope for Your unspeakable mercy, I await a new heaven and a new earth according to Your true promise, in which only truth will live. Make me, therefore, an inhabitant of this new earth, Savior, and I praise You:
Holy are You, Lord, our God, inscrutable and unchanging yesterday and today, and forever You are the same, and Your years are endless; You who can strip heaven and earth like an old garment, clothe me in a new and imperishable garment;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, You stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears Your voice and opens the door, You will enter his house and dine with him, and he with You. Enter the house of my humble and sinful soul and dine with me, as with Luke and Cleopas, for the day of my life is already over;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, the Way, the Truth, and my Life, guide me in Your way and I will live in Your truth;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, who said in ancient times: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary” – allow me to care not only for earthly things, but also to think about heavenly things;
Holy are You, Lord our God, who said to the rich man: “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you. And what you have prepared, whose will it be?” Help me to gather not earthly treasure, but heavenly treasure, which neither moth nor rust destroys, nor thieves break in and steal;
Holy are You, Lord our God, sanctify me in all Your fullness, may my spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless until Your coming;
Holy, Holy, Holy are You, Lord God Almighty, Who is and Who is to come, have mercy on me!
Kontakion 5
Lord, my God, who came to seek and save the sinner, look upon the sorrow of my soul, for my fleeting life is ending and Judgment awaits me, threatening me with the torment of fire, with the unquenchable flame. Hear my prayer and do not reject my tears as vain: for who will come to You weeping and not be comforted immediately? Put my faith in place of deeds, Lord, and do not ask for deeds to justify me, for although I try to do them, I fail; but let my faith prevail, let it respond, let it justify me and show me a partaker of Your eternal glory on the endless day of Your Kingdom, singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
The prophet Daniel, Your chosen one, prophesied in ancient times Your divine Second Coming, Lord God, saying: “I was watching these things until some thrones were set up. And the Ancient of Days sat down. His robe was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool; His throne was like flames of fire, and its wheels like burning fire. A river of fire flowed and came out from before Him. Thousands upon thousands of servants served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The judgment was held, and the books were opened.” Have mercy on me, Savior, that I, Your creature, may cry out to You with tears:
Holy are You, Lord, our God, who sits on the Throne of Your Glory, to whom power and honor and the Kingdom have been given, and all people work for You; Your dominion is eternal and unchanging, and Your kingdom will endure forever;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, the Great and Awesome One, for when the holy prophet Daniel saw You, he trembled in spirit and was troubled—how can I, a sinner, dare to look at You and answer You?
Holy are You, Lord, our God, God of mercy, generosity, and love for mankind. Through the prayers of Your Prophet, deliver me from the terrible river of fire that wants to swallow me up for my sins.
Holy are You, Lord, our God, loving the righteous and merciful to sinners, setting the mountains as a measure of reason, counting the faces of the stars and placing drops of dew in the breath of the wind, hear the groans of my soul and let the cry of my heart come to You;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, Knower of hearts, Who knows not only words, but also feelings and thoughts, with all that has been done and not done—for Your goodness, do not judge me for every word spoken in vain and the evil thoughts I have spoken and thought in my life;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, bring my life to repentance and do not condemn me to be cut down with the barren fig tree;
Holy, Holy, Holy are You, Lord God Almighty, Who Are and Who Will Come, have mercy on me!
Kontakion 6
Your preacher, Lord, Saint John the Theologian, the bearer of the spirit, saw in revelation the glorious Throne of Heaven and beneath the Throne the souls of those who were killed for the word of God, who came in great sorrow and cried out with a loud voice: “Why do you not judge and avenge those who live on earth for our blood?” And white robes were given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little longer, until their companions, who like them will be killed, die, and thus the predetermined number will be completed. O, great and long is Your patience, Lord, for until now You delay vengeance on the wicked. But woe to the world when the Judge comes suddenly and every deed is revealed, then the sinners will perish in the presence of God and the righteous will rejoice before Him, singing to Him forever: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
You shone on Tabor, Christ our God, and Your disciples saw Your glory; they were frightened, trembled, and fell on their faces. With the same glory You will come on the clouds on that day to judge the living and the dead, and You will reveal a great sign—Your Holy Cross, which will extend to all the ends of the earth and to the ends of the sky; seeing this, all the nations of the earth will mourn, for the fear of seeing Your Face is far more terrible than any destruction or change. How shall I meet You then, my God, what tears and what answer shall I give You, I who am unhappy, unable to comprehend even a fraction of Your glory? But hoping in Your unspeakable mercy, which surpasses any sin of the truly repentant, I dare to cry out to You before the end:
Holy are You, Lord, our God, who dwells in unapproachable light—I, too, a sinner, fall before the light of Your Face; do not burn me with the fire of Your Divinity when You come in Your Holy Glory;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, who gives signs in heaven and on earth, sending fire, sorrow, and famine upon men for their many transgressions—save me from the pains to come and from the cup of Your wrath and the curse that will be in the last days of this world;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, the Word incomprehensible to the mind, give me a good answer at Your Terrible Judgment;
Holy are You, Lord our God, who said, “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be My son,” help me to be victorious over sin;
Holy are You, Lord our God, who said, “But as for the fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, that is, the second death” – save me and deliver me from this fate;
Holy, Holy, Holy are You, Lord God Almighty, Who is and Who is to come, have mercy on me!
Kontakion 7
You desired, Blessed Lord Jesus Christ our God, that on Judgment Day, at the Second Coming, You would reveal Yourself to the world on the clouds as Judge and Avenger—oh, what a Last Judgment there will be then, with thousands of angels, apostles, with terrified people judged according to their deeds and thoughts? What judgment will there be for me, conceived in sin? Who will extinguish the flame that burns me? Who will light my darkness? Who will defend me then, if not You Yourself – infinite Love and Mercy! Through the prayers of Your Most Holy Mother and my Guardian Angel, save me then, crying out: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
You have allowed the temptations of the flattering Satan to be revealed, my Lord, when before the end of this age a man of lawlessness, a son of perdition, of misfortune, will reveal himself as the Antichrist, whose coming will be accompanied by false signs and wonders; and having the number of a beast, he will lead many people astray from the right path and put his terrible mark on them, raise up a great persecution of the faithful, and place the abomination of desolation in the holy places. He will reign for three and a half years, but you will kill him with the Spirit of your mouth, Lord Jesus Christ! Woe is me, a sinner, on that day! How will I find salvation and how will I resist the father of lies, when some of Your chosen ones will be deceived and the righteous will barely be saved? O Merciful One! I cannot bear the burden and heat of the day, but count me among the workers of the eleventh hour, Lord, and save me:
Holy are You, Lord, our God, for by Your Will You have allowed a proud and evil son to reign in the last days, so that the faithful may be glorified that You have conquered for them;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, when Elijah and Enoch will be sent from heaven, so that the chosen ones may be strengthened and resist the accursed Antichrist and confess Your truth with their death;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, who has told us all these things that must come to pass, so that we may know and not be afraid, and You, for the sake of the elect, will shorten these days;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, who commanded our souls to be patient and promised salvation to the end, send me a spirit of gentleness and patience with the hope of enduring those troubles;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, then deliver me from the snares of the evil one and save me from the mark of the Antichrist;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, keep me in Your little flock, to whom You are pleased to give Your Kingdom;
Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, Lord God Almighty, Who art and Who art to come, have mercy on me!
Kontakion 8
Thinking of Thy amazing and terrible Second Coming, Lord, I fear, I fear Thy rejection and Thy wrath. I think of the day when You will come to judge the sinners and save the righteous, and I weep and weep and pray to You, my Savior: save me! Let me not be found then in the place of sorrow, let me not see the place of darkness, Christ my Savior! Let me not be bound hand and foot, cast from Your throne, my robe defiled and unable to speak as I speak today: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
My desire and delight, sweet Lord Jesus, Hope of all the ends of the earth! You now teach us about the day of Your glorious Coming, saying: “Watch and pray, for you do not know the day or hour when the Son of Man will come. Know this, if the master of the house knew at what watch of the night the thief would come, he would watch and not let his house be broken into.” Hearing these words of Yours, I cry out to You with gratitude:
Holy are You, Lord our God, who commanded the faithful to be ever watchful and await the day of Your Great Coming;
Holy are You, Lord our God, who revealed the day and hour to no one, neither to the righteous nor to Your angels. But as lightning comes from the east and is seen in the west, so shall Your Coming be, which will be sudden;
Holy are You, Lord our God, who drowned the sinful world in the days of Noah, now desiring to burn with fire the ungodly earth with its unbelieving people;
Holy are You, Lord our God, Your ways are righteous and Your words are Truth and unchanging, for heaven and earth will change;
Holy are You, Lord our God, do not let me burden my heart with greed, drunkenness, the sins of life, or other improprieties, lest that day come upon me suddenly;
Holy are You, Lord our God, who said, “Whoever speaks against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” Deliver me from blaspheming with my words and thoughts against Your Holy Name.
Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O Lord God Almighty, Who art and Who art to come, have mercy on me!
Kontakion 9
All earthly beings and those of the underworld will tremble with great fear, and the Powers of Heaven will be shaken at that hour when the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky; the heavens will change with noise above the earth, burning with flame, and people will cry out to their Lord, to the Awesome God, crying out with fear: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
The speakers of the world have become wild, saying as in the days of King David: “There is no God because we do not see Him.” Woe to the blind! Why do you not believe that through the unbelief of your hardened hearts you are preparing yourselves for eternal fire, and through apostasy and other iniquities you are bringing the end of the world closer? Have you not heard in the Scriptures, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”? But, Lord, have mercy on my mind, heart, and soul from such delusion and unbelief, for with faith, hope, and love I always think of the image of Your Coming and cry out to You:
Holy are You, Lord, our God, Who by Your righteous judgment have commanded us all to return to the earth from which we were taken, and only on the day of the general Resurrection to rise again;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, Who prophesied that the sun, moon, and stars would be extinguished, and the earth and everything on it would be transformed by fire, and in their place a new heaven and a new earth would appear, where truth lives;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, who has hidden the day when all languages and peoples will be judged and each will receive according to his deeds;
Holy are You, Lord our God, the Good Shepherd and the Righteous Judge, Who will sit on the Throne of Judgment on the Day of Your Judgment, to divide men among themselves as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and placing the sheep on Your right and the goats on Your left, You will proclaim to the righteous a sweet word: “Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”;
Holy are You, Lord our God, from Whom the unrepentant sinners will then hear with fear: “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels”;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, who promised to keep Your Church unshaken until the end of the world and to be unstoppable at the gates of hell;
Holy, Holy, Holy are You, Lord God Almighty, Who is and Who is to come, have mercy on me!
Kontakion 10
Wanting to save righteous Lot from being burned with the wicked Sodomites, Lord God, you took him out of the city and said to your servant Abraham: “If this city had even ten righteous people, it would not have been destroyed,” but because of the abominations committed by the sinners, You gave it up to the flames. Then You told Your disciples in the parable of the weeds among the wheat: “When you pull up the weeds, you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, ‘First gather the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned, and then gather the wheat into my barn. So that, in gathering the weeds, you may not uproot the wheat with them, let them grow together until the harvest.” For the sake of Your saints who live in the world, You give me, a sinner, time to repent, and therefore, inscrutable God, I cry out to You with gratitude: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
King of Kings, Lord Savior, Lamb without blemish seated on the Throne of Glory like a lion, of the tribe of Judah and the root of David, who shone forth and conquered the world! You alone are worthy to open the great Book of Life and break its seals! You, as the slain Lamb, are worthy to have the power, wealth, wisdom, honor, glory, and goodwill enjoyed by the Angels and spirits of the righteous in heaven. Allow me, the unworthy, to glorify You together with them on the great day, and now I cry out:
Holy are You, Lord, our God, our Maker, shining with the light of the sun and illuminating with it the good and the bad; punishing and merciful, making the unseen visible; descending into hell and ascending back into Heaven;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, who has made the righteous shine like the sun in Your Kingdom—do not destroy me for the sake of Your saints, but write me in the Book of Life and seal Your name in my flesh;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, grant me to live every day of my life in holiness, in peace and without sin;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, send me an angel who will never leave me, a faithful guide and guardian of my soul and body;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, who has poured out Your grace abundantly upon us, forgive my sins and give me all that is good and useful for my soul;
Holy art Thou, O Lord our God, bless me to live the rest of my life in peace and repentance, awaiting the glory of Thy Coming;
Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O Lord God Almighty, Who art and Who art to come, have mercy on me!
Kontakion 11
I tenderly beg You, Lord, my Savior, when You come to judge the whole world, do not revile me who have committed shameful deeds, and do not destroy me as You destroyed great Babylon, but for the sake of my faith and love for You, make me an inhabitant of the Zion of Heaven, where everywhere the great song of the saved is heard, like the sound of the waves of the sea and thunder, singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
My light has gone out, and I have no oil of good deeds to light it; and where will I, the unfortunate one, burdened by sinful sleep, find myself when the hour of my death suddenly strikes at midnight, or when God’s judgment suddenly comes upon all who live on earth? But let me not hear, like the foolish virgins, the voice of the Bridegroom saying, “I do not know you.” Help me, Lord, to fill the vessels of my soul with the oil of good deeds, especially mercy and humility, and I cry out to You:
Holy are You, Lord, our God, let me serve Your lesser brothers as I would serve You: to feed the hungry and thirsty, to shelter strangers, to clothe the naked, to visit the sick and those who suffer in prison, and to be rewarded with the fate of those who stand on the right at Your Judgment:
Holy are You, Lord our God, take from me the spirit of pride, laziness, and demonic despair, and give me the spirit of humility, self-control, gentleness, and spiritual joy;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, put into my mind the wisdom of Jesus, son of Sirach: “Remember the hour of your death, so that you may not sin.”
Holy are You, Lord, our God, Bridegroom, most beautiful of all men, coming at midnight to the wise virgins, take me to Heaven;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, accept our prayer and the intercession of all Your saints, for the Most Holy Virgin, Who gave birth to You, always stretches out her hands to You for us;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, protect us with Your holy angels and drive away from us the spirits of evil;
Holy, Holy, Holy are You, Lord God Almighty, Who is and Who is to come, have mercy on me!
Kontakion 12
Send Your merciful grace to sinners, Lord our God, for though we are unworthy, we always hope in the Resurrection and eternal life, and we always ask for a Christian end to our lives, without pain, courageously, in peace, sharing in Your divine Mysteries, and give us a good answer at Your Last Judgment, singing tenderly: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
We praise Your care for people and for the world You have created, Almighty Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, our Lord, I glorify You, Your creature and servant, and as a child of the Orthodox Church, I eagerly await the Resurrection of the Lord, the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come; in this present age, I pray to You, O Good One: deliver me from temptations, from all worldly, bodily, and devilish attacks, and strengthen me in faith and unwavering love for You; that I may live the remaining days of my life with piety, purity, and holiness, and be worthy to stand at Your right hand on the Day of Judgment, crying out to You:
Holy are You, Lord, our God, Righteous Judge, judging from Your great Throne, from Whose Face heaven and earth are judged;
Holy are You, Lord our God, Who has commanded us all to appear before Your Judgment, You who reward each one according to his deeds, whether good or evil; if You decree that I should die before that day, let me pass through the Toll Houses without trouble and be justified at Your first particular judgment;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, who through the Archangel Michael cast Satan and his demons, the beast and the false prophet, into the lake of fire where there is eternal torment; deliver me from the terrible torment, from darkness, from pitch, from hell and from fire, where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, for the sake of all Your saints, for the sake of Your Blood shed for us, make me an inhabitant of Heavenly Jerusalem, where there is no death, no sorrow, no sickness, no decay, but eternal life and Your glory extends forever;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, help me to follow the words of the Gospel, to do Your will, and to listen diligently to the prophecy of John’s Apocalypse, for the time is drawing near;
Holy are You, Lord, our God, who said at the end to John the Theologian: “Let the one who is unjust continue to be unjust; let the one who is defiled continue to be defiled; let the one who is blameless continue to live blamelessly. And let the holy continue to be holy! Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to his deeds.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus, Your Church prays to You, crying out:
Holy, Holy, Holy are You, Lord God Almighty, Who is and Who is to come, have mercy on me!
Kontakion 13
O Great and Incomprehensible God! Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end of all things, who art the same yesterday, today, and forever, who sufferest no change. Accept this little akathist prayer in remembrance of Your coming and terrible Judgment, and, according to the multitude of Your goodness, cleanse my transgressions, write my name in the Book of Life, and do not condemn me in the valley of weeping when You sit down to judge; do not separate me from Your shining face. When the days of this age come to an end, and the heavens and the earth are changed, and the stars melt like wax, then, O Most Merciful Lord, let me see the walls of Heavenly Jerusalem and, together with Your righteous ones, enter this holy city, where I may be filled with Your glory and sing Your praise forever and ever: Alleluia.
(This Kontakion is said three times).
Ikos 1
The sound of the Archangel’s trumpet is heard at the Terrible and Last Judgment of the Lord, calling the living and the dead from all over the earth. My soul, my soul, wake up, why are you sleeping? The end is near! Get up, for there is still a little time for repentance; watch, pray, be awake, and do good deeds, crying out unceasingly to your Lord:
Holy are You, Lord our God and Most Holy, and may Your name be hallowed in this sinful, evil, and deceitful world, more than any other name;
Holy are You, Lord our God, may Your glorious Kingdom come;.
Holy are You, Lord our God, may Your holy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;
Holy are You, Lord our God, who gives us our daily bread on earth, and give us heavenly bread;
Holy are You, Lord our God, forgive me my sins as I forgive my neighbor his transgressions;
Holy are You, Lord our God, lead me not into temptation but deliver me from the temptations of evil, from the ruler of the darkness of this world, for I am truly in danger and my days are lost in uncleanness;
Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O Lord God Almighty, Who art and Who art to come, have mercy on me!
Kontakion 1
Eternal King of the ages, Lord Jesus Christ, righteous and impartial Judge, thinking of the many sins I have committed, I am terrified and weep for the fearful Day of Judgment, but hoping in the mercy of Your unspeakable goodness, like David I pray to You: through Your great mercy, forgive me, the unworthy one, and do not judge me according to my deeds, so that, being cleansed and with a clear conscience, I may always bring You the angelic song: Holy, Holy, Holy are You, Lord God Almighty, Who is and Who is to come, have mercy on me!
Prayer to all the Saints for intercession at the Last Judgment:
Who will not weep for me, who for a trifling pleasure despised the Kingdom of Heaven, disregarding the endless fire? Giving myself over to passions, I lost the worthiness of my soul and became like dumb beasts.
I once rested, enriched with divine gifts, and now I have come to love the poverty of passions. I have estranged myself from virtues, departing to the distant land of passions. I am more dead than alive, and the fragment of life remaining in me is small.
Having willingly made myself this way, I can no longer lift my eyes to the Merciful Lord. Weep, O pious and righteous ones, for me, who am overcome by passions and sins. Weep, O ascetics, for me, who am greedy with my belly and lover of pleasures.
Weep, you who are merciful and forgiving, for me, who am unmerciful and bitter.
Weep, you who are pleasing to God, for me, who have pleased men.
Weep, you who have attained gentleness, for me, the angry one.
Weep, you who are humble in thought, for me, the proud and haughty one.
Weep, you who have attained apostolic poverty, for me, the lover of material things and burdened with greed for wealth.
Weep, you who loved weeping and hated laughter, for me, who loved laughter and hated weeping.
Weep, you who keep in mind the Judgment after death, for me, who say that I remember the Judgment, but whose deeds show something completely different.
Pray, saints of God, for my soul, which is troubled by all kinds of passions: help me, saints of God, with whatever you can!
I know that if you ask the Lover of mankind, God, out of His great goodness, He will give you everything—and as He is a lover of mankind, so you, whom I, a sinner, ask, do not overlook my prayer, for I alone do not have the courage, because of the multitude of my sins.
Your work, saints, is to intercede for sinners; God’s work is to have mercy on the desperate. Pray, therefore, Holy Ones of God, to the King for His servant; pray to the Shepherd for His sheep; pray to Life for the dead, that He may send a helping hand and strengthen my humble soul in its weakness. Amen.
Prayer for Salvation:
My God, I believe in You and pray to You, strengthen my faith! I love You, but increase my love! I repent, but make my repentance overflow! I glorify You as my first Beginning! I desire You as my highest desire! I thank You as my eternal Benefactor! I call upon You as my mighty Defender. My God, be gracious and guide me with Your wisdom, lead me with Your righteousness, comfort me with Your mercy, defend me with Your power. I offer up to You, O God, my thoughts, my deeds, my sufferings, that in the future I may think of You, speak of You, work according to Your will, and suffer for You. Lord, I desire what You desire, because You desire that I submit to Your will, and I promise to do everything You desire. I humbly ask You to enlighten my mind, strengthen my will, cleanse my body, and sanctify my soul! Most Good God, help me to cleanse myself of past sins, to overcome future temptations, and to practice the proper virtues. Fill my heart with love for Your goodness, hatred for my sins, zeal for the good of my neighbor, and contempt for the vanities of the world.
Make me obedient to my superiors and loving toward those who are younger than me, faithful to my friends, and forgiving toward my enemies. Come, Almighty One, to my aid, that I may overcome the seven deadly sins, which are the cause of all sins. That is, may I overcome: pride, through Christian humility; love of money, through charity; envy, through love and joy for the good of my neighbor; lust, through self-restraint and purity; greed, through moderation; anger, through patience; sloth, through Christian manliness. Likewise, may I overcome all other sins and passions that spring from these. And give me Christian virtues: faith, hope, and love. My God, make me wise in my works, courageous in dangers, patient in misfortunes, and humble in prosperity.
Never let me forget to be mindful of my prayers and in church, moderate at the table, quick to fulfill my duties, and steadfast in my decisions. Lord, instill in me the care to always have a righteous conscience, a proper appearance, useful speech, and good behavior. Grant me Your grace, that I may learn to always control my passions, be worthy of Your gifts, keep Your law, and attain salvation. My God, make me know how small earthly goods are and how great heavenly goods are, how short this life is and how boundless eternity is. Help me to always be ready for death and to tremble at Your judgment, to escape eternal torment and attain heaven through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
