Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian

The prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian is read throughout the Lent, except on Saturdays and Sundays. On Sunday evening, the recitation of the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian is resumed. The last time the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian is read is on Holy Wednesday.

The prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian is a prayer of repentance. It lists the most important sins that prevent us from repenting, and the most important virtues that help in this.

After each request of the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, an earthly bow is made. For what? Man fell away from God with his soul and body; and soul and body must be restored to return to God. Salvation and repentance are not the contempt of the body, as is sometimes claimed, but its restoration. After all, we will rise in the body, only the new. Christian asceticism is a struggle not against the body, but for it. Therefore, the whole person - with soul and body - repents. The body participates in the prayer of the soul in the same way as the soul does not pray outside, but in his body.

Prayer of St. Ephraim:

O Lord and Master of my life, a spirit of idleness, despondency, ambition, and idle talking gie me not. (Prostration)

But rather a spirit of chastity, humble-mindednes, patience, and love bestow upon me Thy servant. (Prostration)

Yea, O Lord King, grant me to see my failings and not condemn my brother; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen (Prostration)

(Then twelve bows from the waist, saying at each bow:)

O God, cleanse me a sinner.

And again, without division, the Prayer entirely to the end, and one prostration.