Saints Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church
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The Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian

O Lord and Master of my life!
Take from me the spirit of sloth, meddling, lust of power and idle talk.
But give, rather, the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant.
Yea, O Lord and King!
Grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother;
For Thou art blessed unto ages of ages.  Amen.

Of all the Lenten hymns and prayers, one short prayer can be termed the Lenten prayer.  Tradition ascribes it to one of the great teachers of spiritual life -- St. Ephrem the Syrian.

This prayer is read twice at the end of each lenten service Monday through Friday (not on Saturdays and Sundays for, as we shall see later, the services of these days do not follow the lenten pattern).  At the first reading, a prostration follows each petition.  Then we all bow twelve times saying:   "O God, cleanse me a sinner."  The entire prayer is repeated with one final prostration at the end.

Why does this short and simple prayer occupy such an important position in the entire lenten worship?  Because it enumerates in a unique way all the negative and positive elements of repentance and constitutes, so to speak, a "check list" for our individual lenten effort.  This effort is aimed first at our liberation from some fundamental spiritual diseases which shape our life and make it virtually impossible for us even to start turning ourselves to God.

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Saints Peter and Paul ​Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church

​​2516 SW Huntoon Street,  Topeka, KS  66604
785-217-5457            E-Mail Fr. Nikolai


​His Eminence Met. JOSEPH, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America
His Grace Bishop BASIL, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America
Reverend Father Nikolai Meyers, Pastor    |    Deacon Michael DeHaven

​A Parish of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America
​Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
  • Home
  • Orthodox Life & Resources
  • Schedule
  • Photos
    • 10th Anniversary Celebration
    • 25th Anniversary Celebration
    • Bishop's Visits
    • Fall Family Nights-Oct. 31st
    • Food Festivals
    • Heartland Orthodox Museum Blessing
    • Ordinations
    • Hosting a Parish Life Conference
    • Pysanky Egg Class
    • Woodcutting at Mother Cassiana's
  • About Us
    • Interested In Visiting? FAQs
    • Map to the Church
    • E-Mail Newsletter Signup
    • Lives of SS Peter and Paul
    • History of SS Peter and Paul
  • Contact Us
  • Donations