A prayer of repentance and mercy

  Open to me the gates of repentance, O Giver of Life,

  For my spirit rises early to pray towards Thy holy temple,

  Bearing the temple of my body all defiled;

  But in Thy compassion, purify me by the loving kindness of Thy mercy.

  Lead me on the paths of salvation, O Mother of God,

  For I have profaned my soul with shameful sins,

  and have wasted my life in laziness.

  But by your intercessions, deliver me from all impurity.

  When I think of the many evil things I have done, wretch that I am,

  I tremble at the fearful day of judgement.

  But trusting in Thy loving kindness, like David I cry to Thee:

  Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy.

Source: From the "troparia" (Eastern Orthodox liturgy) quoted by Schmemann, Alexander. 1969. Great Lent. New York: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press.

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Luke 18:9–14 (ESV)

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

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