I thank You, Lord my God, for everything that has happened to me! I thank You for all the sorrows and temptations that You sent me to heal my soul and body, ulcerated by the sins! Have mercy and save those instruments that You used for my healing, those people who did what they did for me, assign them abundant rewards from Your eternal treasures. What did I bring to You - only sins, only violations of Your Divine commandments.
Forgive me, a sinner, forgive me who is guilty before You and before people. Forgive the unrequited.
Grant me to be convinced and sincerely admit that I am a sinner. Grant me to reject evil excuses, grant me repentance, grant me contrition of heart, grant me meekness and humility, grant me patience in all my sorrows. Die me to the world. Take away my sinful will from me and plant Your holy will in my heart. May I create it alone with my deeds, words, thoughts, and feelings.
Glory is due to You for everything, Glory belongs to You alone, my only asset is the shame of my face and the silence of my lips.
Standing before Thy terrible judgment in my wretched prayer, I do not find in myself a single good deed, not a single dignity, and I stand only enveloped from everywhere by the countless multitude of my sins, as if by a thick cloud and mist, with only one consolation in my soul, with hope in Thy unlimited mercy and goodness. Amen.
Have mercy, Lord, on those who hate me and envy me! Have mercy, Lord, on those who slander me and cause me offense! Do not do anything evil to them for Your unworthy servant; but according to Their ineffable mercy and according to Their immeasurable goodness, neither in this life nor in the next century, may they not tolerate evil for me, a sinner! Sanctify them with Your mercy and cover them with Your grace, O All-Merciful One, because before all, blessed are You forever and ever. Amen.
* Archimandrite John (Peasant). Cell book.