"I have lost my first made beauty and dignity,
And now I lie naked and covered with shame..."
And to each one of these troparia the congregation answers: "Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me."
The Great Canon is sung and read twice during Lent: in four parts at Great Compline on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the first week; and again completely at Matins on Thursday of the fifth week. It is a real introduction to Lent, it sets its tone and spirit, it gives us—from the very beginning—the true dimension of repentance.
2. The Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian
On weekdays of Lent this prayer is read twice at the end of each service: first, with a prostration after each of its petitions, then with one final prostration. Here is the text:
"O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk."
Prostration.
"But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant."