Attached is a short prayer rule arranged by the Church to battle against bodily temptations, particularly those of sexual lust. It is one of many weapons that can be used by a Christian to battle sin and deliberately combines the spiritual concentration needed in the struggle with the physical act of prostrations to subdue also the body.
PURITY RULE
+ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth. Who art everywhere present and fillest all things; treasury of blessings and Giver of Life: come and abide in us, cleanse us from all impurity, and of Thy goodness save our souls.
+ Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal. Have mercy on us (Thrice)
+ Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O Most-holy Trinity: Have mercy on us. Lord: Cleanse us from our sins. Master: Pardon our transgressions. Holy One: visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
Lord, have mercy (Thrice)
+ Glory… Now and ever… Amen.
Our Father (+) who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory: of the (+) Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages: Amen.
Lord have mercy (twelve times)
+ Glory… Now and ever… Amen.
O Come, let us worship God our King; Bow
O Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ our King and God; Bow
O Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and God. Bow
Psalm 50 (51)
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judge. For behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; and in sins did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice or else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: let the walls of Jerusalem be rebuilt.
Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and oblations: then shall they offer young bulls upon thine altar.
Then these troparia:
O Kind Shepherd, Who laid down His life for us, Thou who knowest all hidden deeds that I have done, O Only Good One, guide me, who have lost my mind, and save me from the wolf, O Lamb of God, and have mercy on me.
It is I who am that unfruitful tree, O Lord, bearing no fruit of compunction at all; I fear being cut down at my very roots, and I recoil at that fire that is never quenched. Wherefore I beseech Thee: Before that fearful moment give me repentance and save me.
In that valley of tears, in that place which Thou hast ordained, when Thou sittest, O Merciful One, to make that just judgment, do not make public all my hidden deeds, nor shame me before the Angels: but spare me, O God, and have mercy on me.
As he who fell among the thieves and was sorely wounded, I too have fallen because of mine own sins, and my soul is gravely wounded. Unto Whom shall I flee for refuge, I who have brought this upon myself, except unto Thee, the compassionate healer of souls. Pour out upon me, O God, Thy great mercy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
I have come unto Thee, O Compassionate One, as did the Prodigal Son. Receive me, as I fall down before Thee, as one of Thy hired servants, O God, and have mercy on me.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou art the good hope of the world, O Virgin Mother of God; Thy fearsome protection only do I seek. Have compassion on me, a sinner, and entreat the merciful God to save my soul from every threat, thou only blessed One.
Lord, have mercy. (forty times)
And 50 prostrations, saying at each one:
+ O God be gracious to me, and forgive me, the prodigal, for Thy Name's sake.
A Prayer of St Basil:
Again have I the wretched one been tripped up in my mind by serving my evil and sinful habits.
Again I am dragged as a captive by the prince of darkness and the father of passionate pleasure; and as a slave, humiliated by his will, he forces me to serve the desires of the flesh.
And what am I to do, O My Lord, redeemer and defender of all who hope in Thee; but to turn again to Thee, and sigh, and beg forgiveness for the things which I have done.
But I fear and tremble that perhaps even though I confess daily and try to avoid harmful things, yet still I cease not to sin every hour, and fail to render my prayer to Thee, my God, I might yet incite Thy patience unto wrath.
And who can bear Thine anger, O Lord? Wherefore, knowing the multitude of Thy compassions and abyss of Thy love for mankind, again I throw myself upon Thy mercy, and I cry unto Thee saying: I have sinned, O Lord; have mercy upon me, the fallen one.
Grant unto me Thy hand in help, who am sunk in the pit of pleasures; and do not abandon me, O Lord, Thy servant, to be destroyed by mine iniquities and my sins. Rather, in Thy usual goodness deliver me from the pollution and the stain of my flesh and from my passionate thoughts which in every day defile my miserable soul.
Behold, O Lord my God, there is not even one place in it that is clean, but it is altogether leprous; my body is itself one great wound. Let Thou Thyself, therefore, as the healer of souls and the wellspring of life, cleanse my soul with tears which Thou shalt pour out upon me abundantly.
Grant me healing and cleansing, and turn not Thy face from me, lest the darkness of despair consume me as fire. But as Thou Thyself, the all-true God, hast said that there is joy in heaven at the return of a sinner, let this be unto me, a sinner.
Close not the ears of Thy compassion against the prayer of my repentance; but open them unto me and direct my prayer before Thee as incense.
Thou, the Creator, knowest the weakness of our nature, how easily we slip in our youth; yet Thou dost overlook the sins and Thou dost accept the repentance of those who confess to Thee in truth. For Thou alone art sinless, and unto Thee we send up glory, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
Another Prayer of St Basil:
O all-merciful, incorrupt, pure, undefiled, only sinless Lord, cleanse me, Thy useless servant from all defilements of body and soul, and from this impurity which hath happened to me because of my carelessness and indifference, together with all mine other iniquities.
Purify me of every stain by the grace of Thy Christ; sanctify me by sending down Thy Holy Spirit; so that, rising up from the fog of mine impurities and the fantasies of the devil, and from every diabolical defilement, I might be made worthy in pure conscience to open my foul and polluted mouth to praise Thine all-holy Name of The Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
Hymn to the Mother of God: More honourable than the Cherubim, and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without corruption didst bring forth God the Word, and art indeed Mother of God, thee do we magnify.
+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy (thrice).
O Lord, bless.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, and all the saints, save me a sinner. Amen.
Is this prayer supposed to be performed before or after defiling oneself?