Akathist
Canon
Ode 1: I shall open my mouth, and the Spirit will
inspire it, and I shall utter the words of my song to the Queen and Mother: I
shall be seen radiantly keeping feast and joyfully praising her wonders.
Refrain: Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Beholding thee, the living book of Christ, sealed by the Spirit, the great
archangel exclaimed to thee, O pure one: Rejoice, vessel of joy, through which
the curse of the first mother is annulled.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, Virgin bride of God, restoration of Adam and death of hell.
Rejoice, all-immaculate one, palace of the King of all. Rejoice, fiery
throne of the Almighty.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, O thou who alone hast blossomed forth the unfading Rose. Rejoice, for thou hast borne the fragrant
Apple. Rejoice, Maiden unwedded, the pure fragrance of the only King, and
preservation of the world.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Rejoice, treasure-house of purity, by which we have risen from our fall.
Rejoice, sweet-smelling lily which perfumeth the faithful, fragrant incense and
most precious myrrh.
Ode 3: O Mother of God, thou living and plentiful fount, give
strength to those united in spiritual fellowship, who sing hymns of praise to
thee: and in thy divine glory vouchsafe unto them crowns of glory.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
From thee, the untilled field, hath grown the divine Ear of grain.
Rejoice, living table that hath held the Bread of Life. Rejoice, O Lady,
never-failing spring of the Living Water.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
O Heifer that barest the unblemished Calf for the faithful, rejoice, Ewe that
hast brought forth the lamb of God Who taketh away the sins of all the
world. Rejoice, ardent mercy-seat.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice brightest dawn, who alone barest Christ the Sun. Rejoice,
dwelling-place of Light, who hast dispersed darkness and utterly driven away
the gloomy demons.
Both now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Rejoice, only door through which the Word alone hath passed. By thy
birthgiving, O Lady, thou hast broken the bars and gates of hell.
Rejoice, Bride of God, divine entry of the saved.
Ode 4: He who sitteth in glory upon the throne of the Godhead, Jesus
the true God, is come in a swift cloud and with His sinless hands he hath saved
those who cry: Glory to Thy power, O Christ.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
With voices of song in faith we cry aloud to thee, who art worthy of all
praise: Rejoice, butter mountain, mountain curdled by the Spirit.
Rejoice, candlestick and vessel of manna, which sweeteneth the senses of all
the pious.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, mercy-seat of the world, most pure Lady. Rejoice, ladder raising all men from the earth by grace.
Rejoice, bridge that in very truth hast led from death to life all those that
hymn thee.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, most pure one, higher than the heavens, who didst painlessly carry
within thy womb the Fountain of the earth. Rejoice, sea-shell that with
thy blood didst dye a divine purple robe for the King of Hosts.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, Lady who in truth didst give birth to the lawgiver, Who freely washed
clean the iniquities of all. O Maiden who hast not known wedlock,
unfathomable depth, unutterable height, by whom we have been deified.
Both now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Praising thee who hast woven for the world a Crown not made by hand of man, we
cry to thee: Rejoice, O Virgin, the guardian of all men, fortress and
stronghold and sacred refuge.
Ode 5: The whole world was amazed at thy divine glory: for thou, O
Virgin who hast not known wedlock, hast held in thy womb the God of all and
hast given birth to an eternal Son, who rewards with salvation all who sing thy
praises.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, most immaculate one, who gavest birth to the Way of life, and who
savedst the world from the flood of sin. Rejoice, Bride of God, tidings
fearful to tell and hear. Rejoice, dwelling-place of the Master of all
creation.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, most pure one, the strength and fortress of men, sanctuary of glory,
the death of hell, all-radiant bridal chamber. Rejoice, joy of
angels. Rejoice, helper of them that
pray to thee with faith.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, O Lady, fiery chariot of the Word, living paradise, having in thy
midst the Tree of Life, the Lord of Life, Whose sweetness vivifieth all who
partake of Him with faith, though they have been subject to corruption.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Strengthened by thy might, we raise our cry to thee with faith: Rejoice, city
of the King of all, of which things glorious and worthy to be heard were
clearly spoken. Rejoice, unhewn mountain, unfathomed depth.
Both now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Rejoice, most pure one, spacious tabernacle of the Word, shell which produced
the divine Pearl. Rejoice, all-wondrous Theotokos, who dost reconcile
with God all who ever call thee blessed.
Ode 6: As we celebrate this sacred and solemn feast of the Mother of
God, let us come, clapping our hands, O people of the Lord, and give glory to
God who was born of her.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
O undefiled bridal chamber of the Word, cause of deification for all, rejoice,
all honorable preaching of the prophet; rejoice, adornment of the apostles.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
From thee hath come the Dew that quenched the flame of idolatry; therefore, we
cry to thee: Rejoice, living fleece wet with dew, which Gideon saw of old, O
Virgin.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Behold, to thee, O Virgin, we cry: Rejoice! Be thou the port and a haven
for all that sail upon the troubled waters of affliction, amidst all the snares
of the enemy.
Both now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou cause of joy, endue our thoughts with grace, that we may cry to thee:
Rejoice, unconsumed bush, cloud of light that unceasingly overshadowest the
faithful.
Ode 7: The holy children bravely trampled upon the threatening fire,
refusing to worship created things in place of the Creator, and they sang in
joy: 'Blessed art Thou and praised above all, O Lord God of our Fathers.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
We sing of thee, saying aloud: Rejoice, chariot of the noetic Sun; true
vine, that hast produced ripe grapes, from which floweth a wine making glad the
souls of them that in faith glorify thee.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, Bride of God, who gavest birth to the Healer of all; mystical staff,
that didst blossom with the unfading Flower. Rejoice, O Lady, through
whom we are filled with joy and inherit life.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
No tongue, however eloquent, hath power to sing thy praises, O Lady; for above
the seraphim art thou exalted, who gavest birth to Christ the King, Whom do
thou beseech to deliver from all harm those that venerate thee in faith.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The ends of the earth praise thee and call thee blessed, and they cry to thee
with love: Rejoice, pure scroll, upon which the Word was written by the finger
of the Father. Do thou beseech Him to inscribe thy servants in the book
of life, O Theotokos.
Both now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We thy servants pray to thee and bend the knees of our hearts: Incline thine
ear, O pure one; save thy servants who are always sinking, and preserve thy
city from every enemy captivity, O Theotokos.
Ode 8: The Offspring of the Theotokos saved the holy children in the
furnace. He who was then prefigured hath since been born on earth, and he
gathers all the creation to sing: O all ye works of the Lord, praise ye the
Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Within thy womb thou hast received the Word; thou hast carried Him who carrieth
all; O pure one, thou hast fed with milk Him Who by His beck feedeth the whole
world. To Him we sing: Sing to the Lord, all ye His works, and supremely
exalt Him unto the ages.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Moses perceived in the burning bush the great mystery of thy childbearing,
while the youths clearly prefigured it as they stood in the midst of the fire
and were not burnt, O Virgin pure and inviolate. Therefore do we hymn thee and supremely exalt thee unto the ages.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
We who once through falsehood were stripped naked, have by thy childbearing
been clothed in the robe of incorruption; and we who once sat in the darkness
of sin have seen the light, O Maiden, dwelling-place of Light. Therefore
do we hymn thee and supremely exalt thee unto the ages.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Through thee the dead are brought to life, for thou hast borne the Hypostatic
Life. They who once were mute are now made to speak well; lepers are
cleansed, diseases are driven out, the hosts of the spirits of the air are
conquered, O Virgin, the salvation of men.
Both now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou didst bear the salvation of the world, O pure one, and through thee we
were lifted from earth to heaven. Rejoice, all-blessed, protection and
strength, rampart and fortress of those who sing: O all ye works of the Lord, praise ye the Lord and supremely exalt
Him unto the ages.
Ode 9: Let every mortal born on earth, radiant with light, in spirit
leap for joy; and let the host of the angelic powers celebrate and honor the
holy feast of the Mother of God, and let them cry: Rejoice! Pure and blessed
Ever-Virgin, who gavest birth to God.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Let us, the faithful, call to thee: Rejoice! Through thee, O Maiden, we
have become partakers of everlasting joy. Save us from temptations, from
barbarian captivity, and from every other injury that befalleth sinful men
because of the multitude of their transgressions.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Thou hast appeared as our enlightenment and confirmation; wherefore, we cry to
thee: Rejoice, never-setting star that bringest into the world the great
Sun. Rejoice, pure Virgin that didst open the closed Eden. Rejoice,
pillar of fire, leading mankind to a higher life.
Most holy Theotokos, save us.
Let us stand with reverence in the house of our God, and let us cry aloud:
Rejoice, Mistress of the world.
Rejoice, Mary, Lady of us all. Rejoice, thou who alone art
immaculate and fair among women. Rejoice, vessel that receivedst the
inexhaustible myrrh poured out on thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit.
Thou dove that hast borne the Merciful One, rejoice, ever-virgin!
Rejoice, glory of all the saints.
Rejoice, crown of martyrs. Rejoice, divine adornment of all the
righteous and salvation of us the faithful.
Both now, and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Spare Thine inheritance, O God, and pass over all our sins now, for as
intercessor in Thy sight, O Christ, Thou hast her that on earth gave birth to
Thee without seed, when in Thy great mercy Thou didst will to take the form of
man.
Then the Choir chants the Kontakion:
(Tone 8)
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, Thou Bride
Unwedded!
After this, is sung the stasis which corresponds to the
week of Great Lent.