Akathist Hymn
The hymn of praise to the Theotokos (and others).
Kontakion 1
Queen of the Heavenly Host, Defender of our souls, we thy servants offer to thee songs of victory and thanksgiving, for thou, O Mother of God, hast delivered us from dangers. But as thou hast invincible power, free us from conflicts of all kinds that we may cry to thee: Rejoice, unwedded Bride!
Oikos 1
An Archangel was sent from Heaven to say to the Mother of God: Rejoice! And seeing 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 flash forth!
Rejoice, thou through whom the curse will cease!
Rejoice, revival of fallen Adam!
Rejoice, redemption of the tears of Eve!
Rejoice, height hard to climb for human thoughts!
Rejoice, depth hard to contemplate even for the eyes of Angels!
Rejoice, thou who art the King's throne!
Rejoice, thou who bearest Him Who bears all!
Rejoice, star that causest the Sun to appear!
Rejoice, womb of the divine incarnation!
Rejoice, thou through whom creation becomes new!
Rejoice, thou through whom the Creator becomes a babe!
Rejoice, unwedded Bride!
Kontakion 4
Sustaining from within a storm of doubtful thoughts, the chaste Joseph was troubled. For knowing thee to have no husband, he suspected a secret union, O Immaculate One. But when he learned that thy conception was of the Holy Spirit, he exclaimed:
Alleluia!
Oikos 4
The shepherds heard Angels carolling Christ's incarnate Presence, and running like sheep to their shepherd, they beheld him as an innocent Lamb fed at Mary's breast, and they sang to her and said:
Rejoice, mother of the Lamb and the Shepherd!
Rejoice, fold of spiritual sheep!
Rejoice, defence against invisible enemies!
Rejoice, key to 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 voice of the Apostles!
Rejoice, invincible courage of the martyrs!
Rejoice, firm support of faith!
Rejoice, radiant blaze of grace!
Rejoice, thou through whom hell was stripped bare!
Rejoice, thou through whom we are clothed with glory!
Rejoice, unwedded Bride!
Kontakion 7
When Simeon was about to depart this life of delusion, Thou wast brought as a Babe to him. But he recognized Thee as also perfect God, and marvelling at Thy ineffable wisdom, he cried:
Alleluia!
Oikos 7
The Creator showed us a new creation when He appeared to us who came from Him. For He sprang from an unsown womb and kept it chaste as it was, that seeing the miracle we might sing to her and say:
Rejoice, flower of incorruption!
Rejoice, crown of continence!
Rejoice, flashing symbol of the resurrection!
Rejoice, mirror of the life of the Angels!
Rejoice, tree of glorious fruit by which the faithful are nourished!
Rejoice, bush of shady leaves by which many are sheltered!
Rejoice, thou who bearest the Guide of those astray!
Rejoice, thou who givest birth to the Redeemer of captives!
Rejoice, pleader before the Just Judge!
Rejoice, forgiveness of many sinners.
Rejoice, robe of freedom for the naked!
Rejoice, love that vanquishes all desire!
Rejoice, unwedded Bride!
Kontakion 10
Wishing to save the world, the Ruler of all came to it spontaneously. And though as God He is our Shepherd, for us He appeared to us as a Man; and having called mankind to salvation by His own Perfect Manhood, as God He hears:
Alleluia!
Oikos 10
Thou art a wall to virgins and to all who run to thee, O Virgin Mother of God. For the Maker of heaven and earth prepared thee, O Immaculate One, and dwelt in thy womb, and taught all to call to thee:
Rejoice, pillar of virginity!
Rejoice, gate of salvation!
Rejoice, founder of spiritual reformation!
Rejoice, leader of divine goodness!
Rejoice, for thou didst regenerate those conceived in shame!
Rejoice, for thou gavest understanding to those robbed of their senses!
Rejoice, thou who didst foil the corrupter of minds!
Rejoice, thou who gavest birth to the Sower of chastity!
Rejoice, bridechamber of a virgin marriage!
Rejoice, thou who dost wed the faithful to the Lord!
Rejoice, fair mother and nurse of virgins!
Rejoice, betrother of holy souls!
Rejoice, unwedded Bride!
Kontakion 11
Every hymn falls short that aspires to embrace the multitude of Thy many mercies. For if we should offer to Thee, O Holy King, songs numberless as the sand, we should still have done nothing worthy of what Thou hast given to us who shout to Thee:
Alleluia!
Oikos 11
We see the Holy Virgin as a flaming torch appearing to those in darkness. For having kindled the Immaterial Light, she leads all to divine knowledge; she illumines our minds with radiance and is honoured by our shouting these praises:
Rejoice, ray of the spiritual Sun!
Rejoice, flash of unfading splendour!
Rejoice, lightning that lights up our souls!
Rejoice, thunder that stuns 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, living image of the font!
Rejoice, remover of the stain of sin!
Rejoice, laver that washes the conscience clean!
Rejoice, bowl for mixing the wine of joy!
Rejoice, aroma of the fragrance of Christ!
Rejoice, life of mystical festivity!
Rejoice, unwedded Bride!
Kontakion 12
When He Who forgives all men their past debts wished to restore us to favour, of His own will He came to dwell among those who had fallen from His grace; and having torn up the record of their sins, He hears from all:
Alleluia!
Oikos 12
While singing to thy Child, we all praise thee as a living temple, O Mother of God. For the Lord Who holds 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 made golden by the Spirit!
Rejoice, inexhaustible treasury of Life!
Rejoice, precious diadem of pious kings!
Rejoice, adorable boast of devoted priests!
Rejoice, unshaken tower of the Church!
Rejoice, impregnable wall of the Kingdom!
Rejoice, thou through whom we obtain our victories!
Rejoice, thou before whom our foes fall prostrate!
Rejoice, healing of my body!
Rejoice, salvation of my soul!
Rejoice, unwedded Bride!
Closing Prayer to the Theotokos
O all-praised Mother who didst bear the Word holiest of all the Saints, accept this our offering, and deliver us from all offense, and redeem from future torment those who cry in unison to thee:
Alleluia. (Thrice)
And again Oikos 1 and Kontakion 1 are read.
Prayer to our Most Holy Lady
MOTHER of GOD
My most gracious Queen, my hope, Mother of God, shelter of orphans, and intercessor of travellers, strangers and pilgrims, joy of those in sorrow, protectress of the wronged, see my distress, see my affliction! Help me, for I am helpless. Feed me, for I am a stranger and pilgrim. Thou knowest my offence; forgive and resolve it as thou wilt. For I know no other help but thee, no other intercessor, no gracious consoler but thee, O Mother of God, to guard and protect me throughout the ages. Amen.
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