Jimmy Krotoff's library

Lenten Prayer of St Ephrem

O Lord and Master of my life,

A spirit of idleness, despondency, ambition, 

and idle talking give me not.

Prostration.

But rather a spirit of chastity, humble-mindedness,

Patience, and love bestow upon me Thy servant.

Prostration.

Yea, O Lord King, grant me to see my own failings

And not condemn my brother;

for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages.

Prostration.

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

O God, cleanse me a sinner.

And again, without division, the same prayer entirely to the end,

And one prostration.

This ancient prayer is prescribed for the Canonical Hours of the weekdays of Great Lent. It is attributed to St Ephraim the Syrian (AD 306-373) and is an excellent summary of how we should strive to purify ourselves during Great Lent not just through fasting and abstinence but also through a genuine change of heart. 

The translation below is from the All-Night Vigil Sluzhebnik, printed with the Blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Laurus of Syracuse and Holy Trinity 1990.