O Lord and Master of my life,
take from me the spirit of sloth,
despondency, lust for power, and idle talk.
But grant to me, thy servant,
a spirit of chastity, humility,
patience, and love.
Yea, O Lord and King,
grant me to see mine own transgressions
and not to judge my brother;
for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
ORTHODOX 4TH CENTURY AD
The Prayer of Ephrem the Syrian
Also known as O Lord and Master of My Life ยท Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem
About this prayer
The Prayer of Ephrem the Syrian is the principal Lenten prayer of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is attributed to Ephrem of Nisibis (c. 306-373 AD), a Syrian deacon, poet, and theologian regarded as the greatest poet of the patristic age. The prayer asks God to take away from the petitioner four spiritual vices: laziness, despondency, lust for power, and idle talk. It then asks for four virtues: chastity, humility, patience, and love. In Orthodox Lenten practice, the prayer is said with prostrations: three full prostrations at the end of each of the first two sections, and twelve small bows at the conclusion. The prayer has been called a summary of the entire Lenten journey: the first half identifies the enemies of spiritual growth and the second half names the virtues that replace them.
When it's said
The Prayer of Ephrem is said at every weekday Lenten service in the Orthodox Church, from the beginning of Great Lent through Holy Week. It is said twice at Vespers and Matins, and at the Hours. The prayer is accompanied by prostrations: a full prostration is made at the end of each of the first two sections; twelve small bows are made while saying 'O God, cleanse me a sinner' twelve times; then the full prayer is said once more with a final prostration. The prostrations cease on weekends and on feast days.
Notes on the text
The four vices named in the prayer are understood in Orthodox spirituality as the chief obstacles to prayer and repentance. Laziness prevents the effort repentance requires; despondency removes hope; lust for power subordinates the spiritual life to the ego; idle talk dissipates the inner stillness needed for prayer. The corresponding virtues replace each vice. The final petition, asking not to judge one's brother, reflects the Lenten emphasis on mercy alongside repentance.
Common questions
Who was Ephrem the Syrian?
Saint Ephrem the Syrian (c. 306-373 AD) was a Christian theologian, hymnographer, and deacon who lived in Edessa and Nisibis, in what is now southeastern Turkey. He is one of the most important figures in the Syriac Christian tradition and wrote hundreds of hymns, biblical commentaries, and spiritual treatises in Syriac. The Eastern Orthodox Church honors him as a Father of the Church and one of the great teachers of the early Christian East.
When is the Prayer of Ephrem said?
The Prayer of Ephrem is said throughout Great Lent in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, from the Monday after Cheesefare Sunday until the Wednesday of Holy Week. It is recited at every weekday service during this period and forms the central prayer of Orthodox Lenten devotion. Many Orthodox Christians also include it in their personal Lenten prayer rule, said morning and evening throughout the fast.
Why is the Prayer of Ephrem accompanied by prostrations?
Each line of the prayer is traditionally accompanied by a full prostration: the worshipper bows to the ground, touching the forehead to the floor, then stands again. The physical movement reinforces the prayer's themes of repentance and humility. A typical recitation includes one prostration after each of the first three petitions, twelve smaller bows, then the full prayer said once more with a final prostration.
Source
Attributed to Ephrem of Nisibis, 4th century AD. English text from the Service Book of the Holy Orthodox Church, compiled by Isabel F. Hapgood, 1906. Public domain.
Last reviewed: May 2026 against primary source.