Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos
Akathist to Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos
Kontakion 1, Eighth Tone: To Thee, the Champion Leader, we Thy
servants dedicate a feast of victory and of thanksgiving as ones rescued out of
sufferings, O Theotokos: but as Thou art one with might which is invincible,
from all dangers that can be do Thou deliver us, that we may cry to Thee:
Rejoice, O Unwedded Bride! (Thrice)
Ekos 1: An archangel was sent from heaven to say to the Theotokos:
Rejoice! And beholding Thee, O Lord, taking bodily form, he was amazed and with
his bodiless voice he stood crying to her such things as these:
Rejoice, Thou through whom joy will
shine forth:
Rejoice, Thou through whom the
curse will cease!
Rejoice, recall of fallen Adam:
Rejoice, redemption of the tears of
Eve!
Rejoice, height inaccessible to
human thoughts:
Rejoice, depth undiscernible even
for the eyes of angels!
Rejoice, for Thou art the throne of
the King:
Rejoice, for Thou bearest Him Who
beareth all!
Rejoice, star that causest the Sun
to appear:
Rejoice, womb of the Divine
Incarnation!
Rejoice, Thou through whom creation
is renewed:
Rejoice, Thou through whom we
worship the Creator!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 2: Seeing herself to be chaste, the holy one said boldly
to Gabriel: The marvel of thy speech is difficult for my soul to accept. How
canst thou speak of a birth from a seedless conception? And She cried:
Alleluia!
Ekos 2: Seeking to know knowledge that cannot be known, the Virgin
cried to the ministering one: Tell me, how can a son be born from a chaste
womb? Then he spake to Her in fear, only crying aloud thus:
Rejoice, initiate of God's
ineffable will:
Rejoice, assurance of those who
pray in silence!
Rejoice, beginning of Christ's
miracles:
Rejoice, crown of His dogmas!
Rejoice, heavenly ladder by which
God came down:
Rejoice, bridge that conveyest us
from earth to Heaven!
Rejoice, wonder of angels sounded
abroad:
Rejoice, wound of demons bewailed
afar!
Rejoice, Thou Who ineffably gavest
birth to the Light:
Rejoice, Thou Who didst reveal Thy
secret to none!
Rejoice, Thou Who surpassest the
knowledge of the wise:
Rejoice, Thou Who givest light to
the minds of the faithful!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 3: The power of the Most High then overshadowed the
Virgin for conception, and showed Her fruitful womb as a sweet meadow to all
who wish to reap salvation, as they sing: Alleluia!
Ekos 3: Having received God into Her womb, the Virgin hastened to
Elizabeth whose unborn babe at once recognized Her embrace, rejoiced, and with
leaps of joy as songs, cried to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, branch of an Unfading
Sprout:
Rejoice, acquisition of Immortal
Fruit!
Rejoice, labourer that labourest
for the Lover of mankind:
Rejoice, Thou Who givest birth to
the Planter of our life!
Rejoice, cornland yielding a rich
crop of mercies:
Rejoice, table bearing a wealth of
forgiveness!
Rejoice, Thou Who makest to bloom
the garden of delight:
Rejoice, Thou Who preparest a haven
for souls!
Rejoice, acceptable incense of
intercession:
Rejoice, propitiation of all the
world!
Rejoice, good will of God to
mortals:
Rejoice, boldness of mortals before
God!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 4: Having within a tempest of doubting thoughts, the
chaste Joseph was troubled. For knowing Thee to have no husband, he suspected a
secret union, O blameless one. But having learned that Thy conception was of
the Holy Spirit, he said: Alleluia!
Ekos 4: While the angels were chanting, the shepherds heard of
Christ's coming in the flesh, and having run to the Shepherd, they beheld Him
as a blameless Lamb that had been pastured in Mary's womb, and singing to Her,
they cried:
Rejoice, Mother of the Lamb and the
Shepherd:
Rejoice, fold of rational sheep!
Rejoice, torment of invisible
enemies:
Rejoice, opening of the gates of
Paradise!
Rejoice, for the things of Heaven rejoice
with the earth:
Rejoice, for the things of earth
join chorus with the heavens!
Rejoice, never-silent mouth of the
Apostles:
Rejoice, invincible courage of the
passion-bearers!
Rejoice, firm support of faith:
Rejoice, radiant token of Grace!
Rejoice, Thou through whom hades
was stripped bare:
Rejoice, Thou through whom we are
clothed with glory!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 5: Having sighted the divinely-moving star, the Magi
followed its radiance; and holding it as a lamp, by it they sought a powerful
King; and having reached the Unreachable One, they rejoiced, shouting to Him:
Alleluia!
Ekos 5: The sons of the Chaldees saw in the hands of the Virgin Him
Who with His hand made man. And knowing Him to be the Master, even though He
had taken the form of a servant, they hastened to serve Him with gifts, and to
cry to Her Who is blessed:
Rejoice, Mother of the Unsetting
Star:
Rejoice, dawn of the mystic day!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst extinguish
the furnace of error:
Rejoice, Thou Who didst enlighten
the initiates of the Trinity!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst banish from
power the inhuman tyrant:
Rejoice, Thou Who didst show us
Christ the Lord, the Lover of mankind!
Rejoice, Thou Who redeemest from
pagan worship:
Rejoice, Thou Who dost drag us from
the works of mire!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst quench the
worship of fire:
Rejoice, Thou Who rescues from the
flame of the passions!
Rejoice, guide of the faithful to
chastity:
Rejoice, gladness of all
generations!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 6: Having become God-bearing heralds, the Magi returned
to Babylon, having fulfilled Thy prophecy; and having preached Thee to all as
the Christ, they left Herod as a babbler who knew not how to sing: Alleluia!
Ekos 6: By shining in Egypt the light of truth, Thou didst dispel
the darkness of falsehood; for its idols fell, O Saviour, unable to endure Thy
strength; and those who were delivered from them cried to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, uplifting of men:
Rejoice, downfall of demons!
Rejoice, Thou who didst trample down
the dominion of delusion:
Rejoice, Thou who didst unmask the
fraud of idols!
Rejoice, sea that didst drown the
Pharaoh of the mind:
Rejoice, rock that doth refresh
those thirsting for life!
Rejoice, pillar of fire that
guideth those in darkness:
Rejoice, shelter of the world
broader than a cloud!
Rejoice, sustenance replacing
manna:
Rejoice, minister of holy delight!
Rejoice, land of promise:
Rejoice, Thou from whom floweth
milk and honey!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 7: When Symeon was about to depart this age of delusion,
Thou wast brought as a Babe to him, but Thou was recognized by him as perfect
God also; wherefore, marveling at Thine ineffable wisdom, he cried: Alleluia!
Ekos 7: The Creator showed us a new creation when He appeared to us
who came from Him. For He sprang from a seedless womb, and kept it incorrupt as
it was, that seeing the miracle we might sing to Her, crying out:
Rejoice, flower of
incorruptibility:
Rejoice, crown of continence!
Rejoice, Thou from whom shineth the
Archetype of the Resurrection:
Rejoice, Thou Who revealest the
life of the angels!
Rejoice, tree of shining fruit,
whereby the faithful are nourished:
Rejoice, tree of goodly shade by
which many are sheltered!
Rejoice, Thou that has carried in
Thy womb the Redeemer of captives:
Rejoice, Thou that gavest birth to
the Guide of those astray!
Rejoice, supplication before the
Righteous Judge:
Rejoice, forgiveness of many sins!
Rejoice, robe of boldness for the
naked:
Rejoice, love that doth vanquish
all desire!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 8: Having beheld a strange nativity, let us estrange
ourselves from the world and transport our minds to Heaven; for the Most High
God appeared on earth as a lowly man, because He wished to draw to the heights them
that cry to Him: Alleluia!
Ekos 8: Wholly present was the Inexpressible Word among those here
below, yet in no way absent from those on high; for this was a divine
condescension and not a change of place, and His birth was from a God-receiving
Virgin Who heard these things:
Rejoice, container of the
Uncontainable God:
Rejoice, door of solemn mystery!
Rejoice, report doubtful to
unbelievers:
Rejoice, undoubted boast of the
faithful!
Rejoice, all-holy chariot of Him
Who sitteth upon the Cherubim:
Rejoice, all-glorious temple of Him
Who is above the Seraphim!
Rejoice, Thou Who hast united
opposites:
Rejoice, Thou Who hast joined
virginity and motherhood!
Rejoice, Thou through whom
transgression hath been absolved:
Rejoice, Thou through whom Paradise
is opened!
Rejoice, key to the kingdom of
Christ:
Rejoice, hope of eternal good
things!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 9: All the angels were amazed at the great act of Thine
incarnation; for they saw the Unapproachable God as a man approachable to all,
abiding with us, and hearing from all: Alleluia!
Ekos 9: We see most eloquent orators mute as fish before Thee, O
Theotokos; for they are at a loss to tell how Thou remainest a Virgin and could
bear a child. But we, marveling at this mystery, cry out faithfully:
Rejoice, receptacle of the Wisdom
of God:
Rejoice, treasury of His
Providence!
Rejoice, Thou Who showest
philosophers to be fools:
Rejoice, Thou Who exposest the
learned as irrational!
Rejoice, for the clever critics
have become foolish:
Rejoice, for the writers of myths
have faded away!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst rend the
webs of the Athenians:
Rejoice, Thou Who didst fill the
nets of the fishermen!
Rejoice, Thou Who drawest us from
the depths of ignorance:
Rejoice, Thou Who enlightenest many
with knowledge!
Rejoice, ship for those who wish to
be saved:
Rejoice, harbor for sailors on the
sea of life!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 10: Desiring to save the world, He that is the Creator of
all came to it according to His Own promise, and He that, as God, is the
Shepherd, for our sake appeared unto us as a man; for like calling unto like,
as God He heareth: Alleluia!
Ekos 10: A bulwark art Thou to virgins, and to all that flee unto
Thee, O Virgin Theotokos; for the Maker of Heaven and earth prepared Thee, O
Most-pure one, dwelt in Thy womb, and taught all to call to Thee:
Rejoice, pillar of virginity:
Rejoice, gate of salvation!
Rejoice, leader of mental
formation:
Rejoice, bestower of divine good!
Rejoice, for Thou didst renew those
conceived in shame:
Rejoice, for Thou gavest wisdom to
those robbed of their minds!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst foil the
corrupter of minds:
Rejoice, Thou Who gavest birth to
the Sower of purity!
Rejoice, bridechamber of a seedless
marriage:
Rejoice, Thou Who dost wed the
faithful to the Lord!
Rejoice, good nourisher of virgins:
Rejoice, adorner of holy souls as
for marriage!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 11: Every hymn is defeated that trieth to encompass the
multitude of Thy many compassions; for if we offer to Thee, O Holy King, songs
equal in number to the sand, nothing have we done worthy of that which Thou
hast given us who shout to Thee: Alleluia!
Ekos 11: We behold the holy Virgin, a shining lamp appearing to
those in darkness; for, kindling the Immaterial Light, She guideth all to
divine knowledge, She illumineth minds with radiance, and is honoured by our
shouting these things:
Rejoice, ray of the noetic Sun:
Rejoice, radiance of the Unsetting
Light!
Rejoice, lightning that
enlightenest our souls:
Rejoice, thunder that terrifiest
our enemies!
Rejoice, for Thou didst cause the
refulgent Light to dawn:
Rejoice, for Thou didst cause the
river of many streams to gush forth!
Rejoice, Thou Who paintest the
image of the font:
Rejoice, Thou Who blottest out the
stain of sin!
Rejoice, laver that washest the
conscience clean:
Rejoice, cup that drawest up joy!
Rejoice, aroma of the sweet
fragrance of Christ:
Rejoice, life of mystical gladness!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 12: When the Absolver of all mankind desired to blot out
ancient debts, of His Own will He came to dwell among those who had fallen from
His Grace; and having torn up the handwriting of their sins, He heareth this
from all: Alleluia!
Ekos 12: While singing to Thine Offspring, we all praise Thee as a
living temple, O Theotokos; for the Lord Who holdeth all things in His hand
dwelt in Thy womb, and He sanctified and glorified Thee, and taught all to cry
to Thee:
Rejoice, tabernacle of God the
Word:
Rejoice, saint greater than the
saints!
Rejoice, ark gilded by the Spirit:
Rejoice, inexhaustible treasury of
life!
Rejoice, precious diadem of pious
kings:
Rejoice, venerable boast of
reverent priests!
Rejoice, unshakable fortress of the
Church:
Rejoice, inviolable wall of the
kingdom!
Rejoice, Thou through whom
victories are obtained:
Rejoice, Thou through whom foes
fall prostrate!
Rejoice, healing of my flesh:
Rejoice, salvation of my soul!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 13: O all-praised Mother Who didst bear the Word, holiest
of all the saints, accept now our offering, and deliver us from all misfortune,
and rescue from the torment to come those that cry to Thee: Alleluia!
This
Kontakion is sung thrice. And again:
Ekos 1: An archangel was sent from heaven to say to the Theotokos:
Rejoice! And beholding Thee, O Lord, taking bodily form, he was amazed and with
his bodiless voice he stood crying to her such things as these:
Rejoice, Thou through whom joy will
shine forth:
Rejoice, Thou through whom the
curse will cease!
Rejoice, recall of fallen Adam:
Rejoice, redemption of the tears of
Eve!
Rejoice, height inaccessible to
human thoughts:
Rejoice, depth undiscernible even
for the eyes of angels!
Rejoice, for Thou art the throne of
the King:
Rejoice, for Thou bearest Him Who
beareth all!
Rejoice, star that causest the Sun
to appear:
Rejoice, womb of the Divine
Incarnation!
Rejoice, Thou through whom creation
is renewed:
Rejoice, Thou through whom we
worship the Creator!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 1, Eighth Tone: To Thee, the Champion Leader, we Thy
servants dedicate a feast of victory and of thanksgiving as ones rescued out of
sufferings, O Theotokos: but as Thou art one with might which is invincible,
from all dangers that can be do Thou deliver us, that we may cry to Thee:
Rejoice, O Unwedded Bride!
Prayer to the Most Holy Lady Theotokos
O most holy Sovereign Lady Theotokos! Higher art thou than
all the angels and archangels, and more honourable than all creation, a helper
of the wronged art thou, the hope of the hopeless, an intercessor for the poor,
the consolation of the sorrowful, a nourisher of the hungry, a robe for the
naked, healing for the sick, the salvation of sinners, the help and protection
of all Christians. O all-merciful Sovereign Lady Virgin Theotokos! Through thy
mercy save and have mercy on the most holy Orthodox patriarchs, the most holy
metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, and all the priestly and monastic
orders, the military leaders, civic leaders, and Christ-loving armed forces,
and well-wishers, and all Orthodox Christians do thou defend by thy precious
omophorion, and entreat, O Lady, Christ our God Who was incarnate of thee
without seed, that He gird us with His power from on high against our enemies,
visible and invisible, O all-merciful Sovereign Lady Theotokos! Raise us up out
of the depths of sin, and deliver us from famine, destruction, from earthquake
and flood, from fire and the sword, from invasion of aliens and civil war, and
from sudden death, and from noxious winds, and from death-bearing plagues, and
from all evil. Grant, O Lady, peace and health to thy servants, all Orthodox
Christians, and enlighten their minds, and the eyes of their hearts unto
salvation; and vouchsafe unto us, thy sinful servants, the kingdom of thy Son,
Christ our God; for blessed and most-glorified is His dominion, together with
His unoriginate Father, and His Most-Holy and good and life-creating Spirit,
now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
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