Confessional Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos

by Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonika

 

O Virgin Lady Theotokos, thou who didst bear in the flesh God the Word, I know that it is not seemly, neither is it meet, for me, the all-sinful one, having yet defiled eyes and unclean lips, to behold the image of thee the Pure, the Ever-Virgin, who dost possess both body and soul pure and undefiled, to venerate it and to supplicate thee. It is more fitting for me, the prodigal, to be abhorred and reproached by thine own purity; howbeit, forasmuch as the God whom thou didst bear became man to call us sinners unto repentance, I also take courage and draw nigh unto thee, and with tears I entreat thee.

Receive thou the confession of my many and grievous sins, and bear thou my repentance unto thine Only-Begotten Son and God, entreating Him to have mercy upon my wretched and miserable soul. For by reason of the multitude of mine iniquities I am hindered from daring to look up unto Him and to seek forgiveness. Wherefore I set thee forth as my mediator and intercessor; for though I have partaken of many and great gifts from the God who fashioned me, I, the wretched and ungrateful one, have forgotten them all, having become like unto the senseless beasts. I have waxed poor in virtues and am become rich in passions; I am full of shame and bereft of divine boldness; I stand condemned before God, and therefore the Angels lament for me, and the demons rejoice.

I am abhorred of men, convicted by mine own conscience, filled with shame for my wicked deeds, dead before my death, self-condemned before the Judgment, and before the unending torment of Gehenna self-punished by despair. Wherefore I flee unto thee alone for help, O Lady Theotokos, I who am debtor of ten thousand talents, I who have wasted the paternal substance with harlots, who have shown myself worse than the harlot, who have transgressed more than Manasseh, who have been more merciless than the rich man, the gluttonous servant, the vessel of evil thoughts, the keeper of shameful and filthy words, filled with all uncleanness, and a stranger to every good work.

Have mercy upon mine abasement, and take pity on mine infirmity. Thou alone hast such boldness before Him that was born of thee, and none other beside thee. All things art thou able to do, as the Mother of God. For all things thou hast strength, as one who surpasseth all created things. Nothing is impossible unto thee, if only thou wilt. Despise not my tears, abhor not my groaning, turn not away from the sorrow of my heart, put not to shame mine expectation which is in thee; but by thy motherly intercessions draw down upon me the compassion of thy good Son and God, and vouchsafe unto me, thy miserable and unworthy servant, to recover the former beauty of my soul before the fall, to cast off the foulness of the passions, to be loosed from the bonds of sin, and to become a servant of righteousness; to put off the defilement of carnal pleasure, and to put on the sanctification of spiritual purity; to be dead unto the world and to live in virtue.

Walk thou with me, and sail with me; strengthen me in vigils, comfort me in sorrows, intercede for me in faintheartedness, grant me healing of infirmities, deliver me from injustices, acquit me of slanders, and in deadly peril make haste to mine aid. Make me daily mighty against mine invisible enemies, that all the demons who wrongfully afflict me may know whose servant I am.

Yea, my most holy Lady Theotokos, hearken unto my pitiable supplication, and put not to shame mine expectation, thou who (after God) art the hope of all the ends of the earth. Quench thou the burning of my flesh, calm the most savage tumult of my soul, assuage mine embittered wrath, blot out from my mind the pride and arrogance of vain conceit. Diminish the nocturnal fantasies of the wicked spirits, and the daily assaults of unclean thoughts from my heart. Chasten my tongue to speak that which is profitable. Teach mine eyes to rightly behold the way of virtue. Strengthen my feet to walk in the blessed path of the commandments of God. Hallow my hands, that I may lift them up worthily unto the Most High. Purify my mouth, that I may call upon the all-holy and dread God as Father with boldness. Open mine ears, that I may hear, understand, and fulfill the words of the Holy Scriptures, which are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb, being strengthened by thee.

Grant me a season of repentance, and a mind turned unto conversion. Preserve me from sudden death. Deliver me from the condemnation of conscience. And at the end, stand thou by me at the departure of my soul from this wretched body, that thou mayest lighten that unbearable violence, relieve the unutterable pain, and comfort mine inconsolable distress. Deliver me from the dark form of the demons, putting to flight the prince of darkness, and rending asunder the handwriting of my many sins. Bring me into fellowship with God, and vouchsafe me to be found at His right hand in the hour of the dread judgment, and make me an heir of the eternal and incorruptible good things.

This confession I offer unto thee, O Lady Theotokos, the light of mine eyes that are darkened, the consolation of my soul, mine hope and protection after God. This my confession do thou receive graciously, and cleanse me from every defilement of flesh and spirit. Vouchsafe me, whilst I yet live, to partake without condemnation of the most holy and most pure Body and Blood of thy Son and God; and in the life to come, to be made partaker of the most sweet heavenly nourishment of Paradise, where abideth the dwelling of all them that rejoice.

Hoping to obtain these good things, I also, the unworthy one, do glorify unto the ages of ages the most honourable and majestic Name of thy Son and God, who receiveth all that repent sincerely, through thee who art the mediatrix and surety of all sinners. For through thee, O all-hymned and all-good Lady, the whole nature of man is saved, giving praise and blessing to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, the all-holy and consubstantial Trinity, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

 

Greek source: https://orthopraxia1.blogspot.com/2025/03/blog-post_27.html