Prayer to Our Lord Jesus Christ, by Saint Isaac the Syrian

Lord Jesus Christ, my God, You who search the depths of Your creation, to whom my passions, the weakness of our human nature, and the strength of our adversary are revealed—You Yourself shield me from his wickedness, for his power is great, while our nature is passionate and our strength is feeble. You, therefore, O Good One, Who know our weakness, Who also bear the burden of our weakness, protect me from the turmoil of my thoughts and the flood of passions, and make me worthy of this holy service of Yours, lest, in my defiled desires, I may lose its sweetness and stand before You without shame and without fear. But, O Lord, my most sweet Jesus, have mercy on me and save me.

Then the kondakia and ikosia are recited.

Kontakion 1:

Greatest Defender and Lord, Conqueror of hell, we—Your servants and Your creation—who have been delivered from eternal death, offer praise to You. But as the One who has countless mercies, deliver us from all our needs, as we sing to You: Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on us!

Ikos 1:

Creator of the angels and Lord of the powers, open my mind and tongue, O unworthy one, to the praise of Your most holy name, just as You opened the ears and tongue of the deaf and mute man of old, so that I too may say these things:
O most wonderful Jesus, wonder of the angels;
O almighty Jesus, deliverance of our forefathers;
O most sweet Jesus, glory of the patriarchs;
O most glorified Jesus, strength of rulers;
O most beloved Jesus, fulfillment of the prophets;
O most wonderful Jesus, the strength of the martyrs;
O most pure Jesus, the joy of the monks;
O most merciful Jesus, the sweetness of the priests;
O most compassionate Jesus, the self-control of the hermits;
Jesus, Most Sweet, the joy of the most pious;
Jesus, Most Pure, the sound mind of those pure in virginity;
Jesus, Who was before all ages, the salvation of sinners;
Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

Second Kontakion:

Seeing, O Lord, the widow weeping bitterly, and just as You had mercy then and raised her son—whom she was carrying to bury—so too raise my soul, slain by sins, O Lover of mankind, and have mercy on me, who sing to You: Alleluia!

Second Ikos:

Seeking to understand the incomprehensible mystery, Philip said: “Lord, show us the Father.” And You said to him: “Have you been with Me all this time, and yet you have not known that the Father is in Me and I am in the Father?” Therefore, to You, Who are incomprehensible, we say with awe:
Jesus, God from before all ages;
Jesus, mighty King;
Jesus, long-suffering Lord;
Jesus, most merciful Savior;
Jesus, my most gracious protector;
Jesus, cleanse my sins;
Jesus, take away my transgressions;
Jesus, forgive my wrongs;
Jesus, my hope, do not forsake me;
Jesus, my help, do not reject me;
Jesus, my Creator, do not forget me;
Jesus, my Shepherd, do not lose me;
Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

Third Kontakion:

Jesus, Who clothed Your apostles, who were sitting in Jerusalem, with power from on high, clothe me too—who am devoid of all good deeds—with the warmth of Your Holy Spirit, and grant that I may sing to You with love: Alleluia!

3rd Ikos:

Jesus, You who are rich in mercy, Who called tax collectors, sinners, and unbelievers, do not now overlook me, who am like them; but, as precious myrrh, accept this song:
Jesus, the invincible power;
Jesus, the endless mercy;
Jesus, the radiant beauty;
Jesus, unconquerable love;
Jesus, Son of the living God;
Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner;
Jesus, hear me, one conceived in iniquity;
Jesus, cleanse me, one born in sin;
Jesus, teach me, the unworthy one;
Jesus, enlighten me, the one in darkness;
Jesus, cleanse me, the defiled one;
Jesus, deliver me, the immoral one;
Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

The 4th Kontakion:

With a storm of doubtful thoughts raging within him, Peter was sinking; but when he saw You, Jesus, in the flesh and walking on the water, he recognized You as the true God, and, taking hold of Your saving hand, he said: Alleluia!

The 4th Ikos:

The blind man heard, O Lord, that You were passing by and cried out: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me”; and calling him, You opened his eyes. Enlighten with Your mercy the contemplative eyes of my heart, I who say:
Jesus, Creator of the heavens;
Jesus, Redeemer of those below;
Jesus, Destroyer of the underworld;
Jesus, Beautifier of all creation;
Jesus, Comfort of my soul;
Jesus, Light of my mind;
Jesus, Joy of my heart;
Jesus, Health of my body;
Jesus, my Savior, save me;
Jesus, my light, enlighten me;
Jesus, deliver me from all torment;
Jesus, save me, the unworthy one;
Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

5th Kontakion:

Seeing the Jewish children in human form the One who created man with His own hands, and knowing Him to be the Lord, they strove with all their might to please Him, crying out: “Hosanna!” And we offer You songs of praise, saying:
Jesus, the true God;
Jesus, Son of David;
Jesus, the most glorious King;
Jesus, the innocent Lamb;
Jesus, the most enlightened Shepherd;
Jesus, the guardian of my childhood;
Jesus, the guide of my youth;
Jesus, the praise of my old age;
Jesus, the hope of my death;
Jesus, my life after death;
Jesus, my peace at Your judgment;
Jesus, my longing—do not put me to shame then;
Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

6th Kontakion:

Fulfilling the proclamation and the words of the preachers who bore God, Jesus, You appeared on earth and lived among men, You who are without sin, and You lifted our sorrows; and by healing us with Your wounds, we have learned to sing: Alleluia!

The 6th Ikos:

The light of Your truth has dawned upon the world, and the devil’s deception has been cast out, our Savior; for the idols, unable to withstand Your power, have fallen, and we, having attained salvation, offer You thanksgiving, singing thus:
Jesus, the Truth who drives out deception;
Jesus, the Light above all lights;
Jesus, King, the Strengthener of all powers;
Jesus, God, the One who abides in mercy;
Jesus, the Bread of Life, satisfy me, the hungry one;
Jesus, the Fountain of Wisdom, quench my thirst, the thirsty one;
Jesus, the Garment of Joy, clothe me, the defiled one;
Jesus, the shelter of joy, cover me, the unworthy one;
Jesus, the Giver to those who ask, grant me to weep for my sins;
Jesus, You who find those who seek You, find my soul as well;
Jesus, You who open the door to those who knock, open my wicked heart;
Jesus, Redeemer of sinners, cleanse my transgressions;
Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

7th Kontakion:

Wishing to reveal the mystery hidden from ages past, You brought Yourself, O Jesus, as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep without a voice before those who shear it; and as God, You rose from the dead and ascended in glory to heaven, and You have lifted us up, who sing to You: Alleluia!

The 7th Ikos:

The Creator revealed a wondrous work, appearing to us; for He was incarnated by the Virgin, contrary to nature, and rose from the tomb without breaking the seals, and entered with His body through the locked doors to the apostles. Therefore, marveling, we say these things with faith:
Jesus, the unfathomable Word;
Jesus, the unseen Word;
Jesus, the power beyond measure;
Jesus, the wisdom beyond comprehension;
Jesus, the Divinity that cannot be contained in writing;
Jesus, the reign that knows no end;
Jesus, the unconquerable kingdom;
Jesus, the dominion without end;
Jesus, the most exalted strength;
Jesus, the eternal power;
Jesus, my Creator, have mercy on me;
Jesus, my Savior, save me;
Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

8th Kontakion:

Beholding the incarnation of God as something foreign, let us turn away from this vain world and lift our minds toward the divine, for this is why God descended to earth—to lift us, who sing to Him, up to heaven: Alleluia!

The 8th Ikos:

He was wholly among those below, yet in no way did the Ineffable One separate Himself from those above, when He willingly suffered for us, and by His death put our death to death, and by His resurrection granted life to those who sing to Him:
Jesus, the joy of the heart;
Jesus, the strength of the body;
Jesus, the light of the soul;
Jesus, the swiftness of the mind;
Jesus, the joy of knowledge;
Jesus, the chosen hope;
Jesus, the everlasting remembrance;
Jesus, the praise above the heavens;
Jesus, my highest glory;
Jesus, my desire, do not cast me away;
Jesus, my Shepherd, seek me out;
Jesus, my Savior, save me;
Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

The 9th Kontakion:

All the angelic host, O Jesus, ceaselessly glorifies Your most holy Name in heaven, crying out: Holy, Holy, Holy; and we sinners on earth, with lips of clay, sing: Alleluia!

9th Ikos:

We see the eloquent orators falling silent like voiceless fish when speaking of You, Jesus, my Savior; for they cannot explain how You, the unchanging God, dwell as a fully human being. And we, marveling at such a mystery, speak these words with faith:
Jesus, the eternal God;
Jesus, King of kings;
Jesus, Lord of lords;
Jesus, Judge of the living and the dead;
Jesus, hope of the hopeless;
Jesus, comfort of those who mourn;
Jesus, the glory of the poor;
Jesus, do not judge me by my deeds;
Jesus, cleanse me by Your great mercy!
Jesus, drive away my sloth;
Jesus, enlighten the secret thoughts of my heart;
Jesus, grant me remembrance of death;
Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

10th Kontakion:

Desiring to save the world, O Dawn of dawns, as You came toward the west, to our dark nature, You humbled Yourself even unto death; therefore Your name has been exalted above every other name, and from all heavenly and earthly creatures You hear: Alleluia!

The 10th Ikos:

Everlasting King, True Comforter, Christ, cleanse us of all defilement, just as You cleansed the ten lepers, and heal us, just as You healed the money-loving soul of Zacchaeus the tax collector, so that we may humbly sing these words to You:
Jesus, the imperishable treasurer;
Jesus, the inexhaustible wealth;
Jesus, the sustenance that sustains;
Jesus, the drink that never runs dry;
Jesus, the clothing of the poor;
Jesus, the helper of widows;
Jesus, the defender of the needy;
Jesus, helper of the weary;
Jesus, guide of strangers;
Jesus, helmsman of those who sail the sea;
Jesus, peace of those in distress;
Jesus, O God, lift me up, who have fallen;
Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

The 11th Kontakion:

I, the unworthy one, offer You a song of utter humility, and I cry out to You as the Canaanite woman did: Jesus, have mercy on me, for I have no daughter, but a body that is terribly ruled by the devil and inflamed with passions and torment, and grant healing to me who sing to You: Alleluia!

The 11th Ikos:

Paul, the Light-bearer who brings light to those in the darkness of ignorance—he who once persecuted You, recognizing the power of the voice of the God who gives wisdom—cleared away the evil inclinations of his soul. So too, enlighten the darkened lights of my soul, I who speak to You:
Jesus, my most holy King;
Jesus, my almighty God;
Jesus, my immortal Lord;
Jesus, my most glorious Creator;
Jesus, my most gracious Guide;
Jesus, my most merciful Shepherd;
Jesus, my most merciful Master;
Jesus, my most compassionate Savior;
Jesus, enlighten my mind, darkened by passions;
Jesus, heal my body, wounded by sins;
Jesus, cleanse my mind of vain thoughts;
Jesus, guard my heart from deceitful desires;
Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

The 12th Kontakion:

Grant me grace, O Jesus, the One who forgives all sins; and receive me, who repent, just as You received Peter, who denied You, and call me, the slothful one, just as You once called Paul, who persecuted You, and hear me, who sing to You: Alleluia!

The 12th Ikos:

Glorifying Your Resurrection, we all praise You and believe with Thomas that You are Lord and God, the One who sits at the right hand of the Father and will judge the living and the dead. Therefore, make me worthy to sit at Your right hand, I who say:
Jesus, King from all eternity, save me;
Jesus, the sweet-smelling flower, perfume me with Your fragrance;
Jesus, the beloved warmth, warm me;
Jesus, the shelter from of old, shelter me;
Jesus, the radiant garment, adorn me;
Jesus, the precious pearl; enlighten me;
Jesus, the precious stone, shine upon me;
Jesus, the sun of righteousness, enlighten me;
Jesus, the holy light, shine upon me;
Jesus, deliver me from spiritual and bodily sorrows;
Jesus, deliver me from the hand of the adversary;
Jesus, deliver me from the unquenchable fire and other eternal torments;
Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

The 13th Kontakion:

O most sweet and all-merciful Jesus Christ, Son of God, accept now this humble prayer of ours, just as You accepted the widow’s two coins, and protect Your inheritance from visible and invisible enemies, from the invasion of other nations upon us, from weakness and famine, from all afflictions and deadly wounds, and deliver us all from the torments to come, as we sing to You: Alleluia! – This Kontakion is recited three times. –

After this, the first Ikos is recited again: “Creator of the angels and Lord of the powers…” and the first Kontakion: “Greatest Defender and Lord…”

Then this prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ, by Saint Isaac the Syrian, is read

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Who wept for Lazarus and shed tears of sorrow and mercy for him, accept my tears. With Your sufferings, heal my sufferings. With Your wounds, heal my wounds. With Your blood, cleanse my blood, and infuse my body with the fragrance of Your life-giving Body. May the gall with which Your enemies made You drink sweeten the bitterness with which the adversary has made me drink. May Your Body, stretched out on the Cross, lift my mind—which has been dragged down by the demons—toward You. May Your Head, which You bowed on the Cross, raise my head—which has been struck by my adversaries. May Your most holy hands, nailed to the Cross by the lawless, draw me to You from the abyss of perdition, just as Your most holy mouth has promised. May Your face, which was mocked with slaps and spittle, fill my face—defiled by sin—with radiance. May Your Spirit, whom You entrusted to the Father while You were on the Cross, guide me to You through Your grace. I do not have a heart full of sorrow to seek You. I have neither repentance nor humility, which bring sons back to their inheritance. I have no comforting tears, O Lord. My mind has been darkened by worldly things and cannot seek You with sorrow. My heart has grown cold from so many temptations and cannot be stirred by the tears of love for You. But You, Lord Jesus Christ, God, the Treasure of all goodness, grant me unbroken repentance and a contrite heart, that I may set out with all my soul in search of You; for without You I will be estranged from all that is good. Grant me, therefore, O Good One, Your grace. May the Father, Who begot You from His bosom without beginning and before all ages, renew within me the image of Your icon. I have forsaken You, O Lord; do not forsake me. I have strayed from You; go out in search of me. Lead me to Your spiritual pasture. Count me among the sheep of Your chosen flock. Nourish me along with them from the greenery of Your divine Mysteries. For their pure hearts are Your dwelling place, and in them the radiance of Your revelations is seen. Your radiance is the comfort and rest of those who have labored for You in tribulations and all manner of torments. Make me, the unworthy one, worthy of this radiance as well, through the grace and love for humanity of our Savior Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen.