Third Hour on Thursday
Qolo
Lord our Lord, where shall I go from you spirit or where shall I hide from the presence of your majesty? If I ascend up
on high, you are there eternally; and if I descend to Sheol, your power is there. In your mercy have compassion on me and
make me stand at your right hand, because no man living can be justified in your sight.
Glory be to the Father...
Woe to me, because I was a diligent slave to evil, and like a criminal was unmindful of death; I trampled on the law
and rose up against the commandment and my own evil will was a law to me, and now I am deprived of the garment of virtue
and naked of the robe of glory. Have compassion on me, Lord, by your passion and your death and your burial and deliver me
from Gehenna by your grace.
B'outho of Mar Jacob
Moriyo rahem melain oo aa darein. We call upon you, Lord our Lord, come to our help, hear our petition and have mercy
upon our souls.
I long for your pardon, Lord, that it may come to me; give me tears to beg for mercy while there is yet time; I am
thirsty for your mercy and without it I cannot stand; Sea of mercy, pour upon me streams of your grace.
My time has come to an end, while I labor at vanities; at the end of my time of life, grant that I may be yours. The
king of error has rained his arrows to cause my death; you are the lord of power, anoint me with your medicine and I shall
be cured.
Answer, Lord, answer, Lord, and have mercy upon us, and turn the hearts of the sons of men to repentance.
The above selected prayers are taken from the Book of Common of the Syrian Church, otherwise known as
the Shimo Namaskaram as translated by Bede Griffiths from Syriac to English. A full copy of the rich
prayers of our tradition can be purchased directly from the publishers at Gorgias Press.