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"O thou who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants as may be most expedient for them, granting us in this world the knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come, life everlasting." - From the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
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The Akathist
Hymn to the Theotokos
The Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos is chanted together with the Small Compline and the Canon to the Theotokos. Below is the Akathist Hymn itself.
Kontakion
Unto you, O Theotokos, invincible Champion, your
City, in thanksgiving ascribes the victory for the deliverance from
sufferings. And having your might unassailable, free us from all
dangers, so that we may cry unto you:
Rejoice, O
Bride Ever-Virgin. 1
The Archangel was sent from Heaven to cry 'Rejoice!'
to the Theotokos. And beholding You, O Lord, taking bodily form, he
stood in awe, and with his bodiless voice he cried aloud to her such
things as these:
Rejoice, you through whom joy
shall shine forth. Rejoice, you whom the curse will vanish.
Rejoice, O
Bride Ever-Virgin. 2
Beholding herself in purity, the holy one
courageously said to Gabriel: Your strange voice seems almost
unbelievable to my soul; for how do you speak of birth-giving
without seed? crying aloud:
Alleluia.
3
Seeking to know the incomprehensible knowledge, the
Virgin cried to him who ministered to her: How many a Son be born
from a virginal womb? Tell me! To her he answered in fear, yet
crying thus:
Rejoice, O seer of the ineffable
Will. Rejoice, O surety of those praying in silence.
Rejoice, O
Bride Ever-Virgin 4
The power of the Most High then overshadowed the
Virgin, that she might conceive; and her fruitful womb He made a
fertile meadow for all those desiring to reap salvation, as they
chant:
Alleluia.
5
Carrying God in her womb, the Virgin hastened to
Elizabeth, whose unborn babe forthwith recognizing Mary's salutation
rejoiced, and with leaps as it were with songs, he cried out to the
Theotokos:
Rejoice, O branch of the
unwithering Vine. Rejoice, O Land yielding the untainted Fruit.
Rejoice, O
Bride Ever-Virgin. 6
Having doubtful thoughts, the righteous Joseph was
troubled; for he suspected a secret union as he beheld you unwed, O
blameless one; but when he learned of your conception through the
Holy Spirit, he cried:
Alleluia.
7
On hearing the Angels praising the incarnate presence
of Christ, the shepherds hastened as to a Shepherd, and beholding
Him as a spotless Lamb, pastured in Mary's womb, her they hymned,
and said:
Rejoice, Mother of the Lamb and
Shepherd. Rejoice, Fold of the rational sheep.
Rejoice, O
Bride Ever-Virgin. 8
Beholding the Godward-pointing Star, the Magi
followed it radiance; and holding it as a lantern, they sought
through it the mighty King. And having approached the Unreachable,
they rejoiced and cried to Him:
Alleluia.
9
The sons of the Chaldees saw in the hands of the
Virgin Him Who by His hand fashioned man; and sensing Him as Lord,
even though He had taken the form of a servant, they hastened with
gifts to do homage, and they cried out to her who is blessed:
Rejoice, Mother of the
never-setting Star. Rejoice, Dawn of the mystic Day.
Rejoice, O
Bride Ever-Virgin. 10
Having become God-bearing heralds, the Magi returned
to Babylon. Fulfilling Your prophecy, and having preached You as the
Christ to all, they left Herod as a trifler, who knew not how to
chant:
Alleluia.
11
Having shed the light of truth in Egypt, You expelled
the darkness of falsehood; and unable to bear Your strength, O
Saviour, her idols fell; and they that were set free from them cried
to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, Uplifting of men.
Rejoice, Downfall of demons.
Rejoice, O
Bride Ever-Virgin. 12
When Symeon was prepared to leave from this age of
deception, You were presented to him as a newborn Babe, but he
recognized You as perfect God. Wherefore, he marvelled at Your
ineffable wisdom, chanting:
Alleluia.
13
New was the Creation which the Creator showed to us
His creatures, when He sprang forth from the seedless womb; and He
preserved it incorrupt, even as it was, that we, seeing this
Miracle, may praise her saying:
Rejoice, Flower of incorruption.
Rejoice, Crown of self-restraint.
Rejoice, O
Bride Ever-Virgin. 14
Seeing a strange childbirth, let us estrange
ourselves from the world by transporting our minds to Heaven; to
this end the Most High God appeared on earth a lowly man, that He
might draw to the heights those who cry out to Him:
Alleluia.
15
The Infinite Word was wholly present with those on
earth, yet never absent from those in Heaven; for this was a divine
condescension and not a mere change of place; and His birth was from
a Virgin chosen of God, who heard such words as these:
Rejoice, Land of the Uncontained
God. Rejoice, Gate of the sacred mystery.
Rejoice, O
Bride Ever-Virgin 16
All angel-kind was amazed by the great deed of Your
Incarnation; for they saw the inaccessible God as Man accessible to
all, dwelling among is and hearing from all:
Alleluia.
17
Orators most eloquent do we behold mute as fish
before you, O Theotokos; for they are at loss to explain how you
could remain a virgin and yet give birth. But as for us, marvelling
at this mystery, we cry with faith:
Rejoice, Vessel of the Wisdom of
God. Rejoice, Treasury of His providence.
Rejoice, O
Bride Ever-Virgin. 18
Wishing to save the world, to this end did the Ruler
of all come of His own will; and, though as God He is the Shepherd,
for us He appeared as a Man like us; for by this likeness He called
those of like kind, yet as God He hears:
Alleluia
19
You are a fortress protecting all virgins, O
Theotokos and Virgin; for the Master of heaven and earth prepared
you, O Immaculate One, and dwelt in your womb, and taught all to cry
out to you:
Rejoice, Pillar of virginity.
Rejoice, Gate of salvation.
Rejoice, O
Bride Ever-Virgin. 20
Defeated is every hymn that strives to pay homage to
the multitude of Your many compassions; for even should we offer
You, O holy King, odes of praise numberless as the sands, we should
still have done nothing worthy of what You have given to us who cry
to You:
Alleluia.
21
As a brilliant beacon-light shining to those in
darkness do we behold the holy Virgin; for she kindles the celestial
Light and leads all to divine knowledge; she illuminates our minds
with radiance and is honoured by these our cries:
Rejoice, Ray of the spiritual Sun.
Rejoice, Beam of the innermost Splendour.
Rejoice, O
Bride Ever-Virgin 22
Wishing to bestow His grace, He that forgives the
ancient debts of all mankind came of His own will to dwell among
those who departed from His favour; and tearing up writ of
indebtedness, He hears from all:
Alleluia.
23
Whilst praising your Offspring, we all praise you, O
Theotokos, as a living temple; for the Lord, Who holds all things in
His hand, dwelt in your womb, and He sanctified and glorified you,
and taught all to cry to you:
Rejoice, Tabernacle of God the
Word. Rejoice, Holy one, holier than the Hollies.
Rejoice, O
Bride Ever-Virgin. 24
O all-hymned Mother, worthy of all praise, who
brought forth the Word, the Holiest of all Saints [3 times], as you
receive this our offering, rescue us all from every calamity, and
deliver from future torment those who cry with one voice: Who is
more
Alleluia.
Kontakion
Unto you, O Theotokos, invincible Champion, your
City, in thanksgiving ascribes the victory for the deliverance from
sufferings. And having your might unassailable, free us from all
dangers, so that we may cry unto you:
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