Akathist Hymn to Our Holy and Blessed Father Gregory of Khandzta
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and of all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things with Thy grace, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, deliver us and release us from our sins; O Master, pardon our iniquities; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O come, let us worship God our King. (Thrice)
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me. For, behold, thou lovest truth: thou hast manifested to me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice. Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. Cast me not away from thy presence; and remove not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation: establish me with thy directing Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and ungodly men shall turn to thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall joyfully declare thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my lips; and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For if thou desiredst sacrifice, I would have given it: thou wilt not take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings. Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, to Sion in thy good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole-burnt-sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon thine altar.
With praises we sing of the boast of priests and the glory of Khandzta, and we make thee our intercessor before God, that He may drive every evil away from us and deliver us from every affliction and delusion, that we may escape the wrath stirred up by God and call thee blessed according to our strength: Rejoice, all-radiant lamp and shepherd of the Georgian people, wonderworking father Gregory of Khandzta!
Thou didst bow thy neck to the good yoke of Christ, and, directing thy steps to the service of God, thou becamest a shepherd of rational sheep and didst feed them by divine word and deed; so now also look upon us and deliver us from a faith that is lifeless and lukewarm, that we may not bow to lawlessness at the will of the godless and may zealously praise thy deeds, worthy of praise:
Rejoice, man who art the soul’s desire; rejoice, chosen vessel and dwelling of holiness; rejoice, inexhaustible fountain of divine wisdom; rejoice, true servant of Christ the Saviour, who didst shine forth in comeliness; rejoice, thou who wast sent from on high for the sanctification of our beloved people and the strengthening of the holy kingdom; rejoice, organ that didst radiantly adorn the Church with the harp of hymns; rejoice, good labourer in the struggle of piety; rejoice, good ruler and ascetic, who didst make the desert a city; rejoice, great archimandrite of the monasteries of Klarjeti and teacher of all Georgia; rejoice, strengthener of the faith brought to growth by the virgin Nino; rejoice, true image of the piety of our forebears; rejoice, glory and strength of our fatherland; Rejoice, all-radiant lamp and shepherd of the Georgian people, wonderworking father Gregory of Khandzta!
The Creator knew thee in thy mother’s womb and made thee His own from thy birth; from youth thou didst outstrip those of thine age in learning and in love for God, and, reaching the summit of perfections, as a youth yet like an aged and wise man, thou didst put on the monastic habit and the priestly garment of righteousness and grace, and day by day didst labour for the glory of God; now ask of Him for us forgiveness of our sins and iniquities, that we may be made worthy of His glory: Alleluia.
Hastening at God’s prompting, blessed Gregory, thou didst leave thy parents and those close to thee, and with three ascetics, forsaking the corruptible affairs of this world, bound in oneness of mind by the love of Christ, ye signed yourselves with the sign of the precious Cross, and, reaching by the guidance of the Holy Spirit the region of Klarjeti laid waste by Marwan the Deaf, ye settled at Opiza with the blessed father George and zealously entered upon the arena of incorruptible struggle; therefore we offer thee this praise of thanksgiving:
Rejoice, thou who like Samuel the prophet wast offered to the Lord from thy mother’s womb; rejoice, thou who wast brought up holy and spotless in the princely house of the great eristavi Nerse; rejoice, thou who from infancy didst make thy soul Christ’s own dwelling; rejoice, thou who by unceasing prayer and vigil didst drive away the temptations of the devil; rejoice, destroyer of the many-woven wiles of the fierce enemy; rejoice, thou who didst offer thyself to God with many kneelings and the holy tears of thy sleepless eyes; rejoice, thou who didst shine with mighty spirit; rejoice, thou who wast learned also in the letters of many tongues; rejoice, thou who wast tried in the divine Scriptures and made perfect in wisdom; rejoice, thou who wast kindled with love of the fatherland and set aflame with the spirit of the unity of the faith; rejoice, thou who with honey-dropping tongue pourest forth divine teachings; rejoice, thou who didst flee the honour of the episcopate and courageously take upon thee harsh struggles; Rejoice, all-radiant lamp and shepherd of the Georgian people, wonderworking father Gregory of Khandzta!
Made worthy of that most high grace, thou didst lay the foundation of monasticism not upon the sand but upon the rock of steadfastness, which is Christ, for thou didst take up His Cross upon thy shoulders, and in the expanse of the deserts didst gather the fathers who lived scattered in solitude, who were numbered with thy first disciples, O blessed one, and, being well guided, sang to the Lord: Alleluia.
Thou didst appear divinely wise, blessed by the power of the Most High, and on a rocky place impassable to men thou didst build glorious Khandzta in the name of the great-martyr George, for the salvation of souls and as a haven for the fathers, and with mercy thou didst teach all and show mercy to those who fled to thee in faith; and thy disciples became like their good teacher, and ye were of one soul by the power of Christ; now intercede for us before Him, that He may plant in us the fear and hatred of sin and the love of virtue, that by thy help we may boast and call thee blessed with zeal and longing:
Rejoice, thou who didst endure manifold afflictions and sorrows for Christ; rejoice, thou who didst visit the holy fathers in the desert and keep in thy heart the way of life of each of them; rejoice, thou who didst gather good ways from the solitary desert-dwellers who had drawn near to God; rejoice, thou who in the harshest deserts didst settle men equal to the angels in place of wild beasts and plant many virtues; rejoice, thou who didst receive with joy the obedient who were humble without murmuring and drive away the disobedient; rejoice, thou who with mouth speaking of God didst speak above the orators and utter heavenly teachings; rejoice, perfecter of the divine books and interpreter of all the rules; rejoice, thou who didst give heart to Christians long terrified by the lawless; rejoice, thou who makest the speechless eloquent and strengthenest the weak; rejoice, thou who by the grace of thy precious words awakenest the people from spiritual sleep; rejoice, thou who bringest to life the enfeebled spirit of the fatherland; rejoice, thou who didst train monks by the strictest monastic rule and prove them in every good work; Rejoice, all-radiant lamp and shepherd of the Georgian people, wonderworking father Gregory of Khandzta!
Grace was poured out upon thy lips, and thou didst utter all-desirable hymns full of sweetness, and, adorning the splendour of divine service with the praises of the saints, thou didst treasure up spiritual books for our churches; and those who saw thy divine manner of life and the rivers of richest teachings, the signs and wonders wrought by thee, had their hearts filled with love for thee, and they gave thanks to God that He had looked upon His beloved people and sent them a man of heaven, and they glorified Him who strengthened thee: Alleluia.
As the Lord blessed the house of righteous Noah and of the patriarch Abraham, so didst thou make the same blessing dwell, O blessed one, in the house of prince Gabriel, and thou didst appear as a fervent intercessor before God; and Gabriel granted thee much wealth for building the monastery, for ye were in great straits; so now also look upon us and pour out upon us the blessings of thy fatherly compassion, that we may pass well along the road of our life and be made worthy to offer a hymn:
Rejoice, shining star that showeth the way to those who seek salvation; rejoice, preacher of love for God and neighbour; rejoice, thou who callest to the service of the fatherland and of God; rejoice, thou who by courage of spirit gavest an example to the faint-hearted and the slack; rejoice, thou who in trials receivest from heaven the grace of help; rejoice, feeder of the hungry and merciful one to the poor; rejoice, looser of curses and giver of blessing; rejoice, thou who by the rivers of thy wisdom softenest hardened hearts and turnest the guilty to repentance; rejoice, teacher of divine zeal and reverence to the obedient; rejoice, destroyer of the sorcery of magi, who exposest their mockery by victory; rejoice, thou who humblest the proud and exaltest the humble; rejoice, thou who cuttest off the lawlessness of kings and the mercilessness of judges; Rejoice, all-radiant lamp and shepherd of the Georgian people, wonderworking father Gregory of Khandzta!
When thou hadst attained the great measure of monasticism, O blessed one, the Lord crowned thee with the gift of foretelling things to come as though present, and of converse with the angels; and thy disciples, gathered by toil and spiritually begotten, were like the holy bodiless ones, and the fragrance of your prayers, like sweet incense, ever rose up before God: Alleluia.
When the pious King Ashot heard thy much-praised name, he understood the grace of thy worthiness, and, longing to see thee, he summoned thee with honour to Artanuji and met thee with humility; and when he saw the radiance of thy face, like that of Moses the prophet, he received thee with joy and presented to thee his three sons, all-good and valiant, that they might be blessed by thee, and he offered builders and all that thou didst need; and we keep thy memory year by year and open our mouths to sing to thee:
Rejoice, angel of the desert and preacher of repentance like John the Baptist; rejoice, teacher of reverence; rejoice, knower of hidden things, abyss of understanding; rejoice, divinely wise physician of spiritual blindness; rejoice, thou who knewest well the order of all the feasts; rejoice, thunder of the divine preaching; rejoice, courage of patience and purity; rejoice, shield that guardeth piety; rejoice, sword that cutteth off impiety; rejoice, unshaken tower of Orthodoxy; rejoice, adornment and glory of the Church of Iberia; rejoice, unsleeping guardian and champion of the lands and waters of the Kartlosians; rejoice, divine intercessor for our people; Rejoice, all-radiant lamp and shepherd of the Georgian people, wonderworking father Gregory of Khandzta!
Remembering the lineage of Ashot the kouropalates, thou didst confess the anointed of the Lord to be thy son, and, foreseeing things to come, thou didst promise his kin the kingship for ever; now entreat God to make us worthy of the good fulfilment of thy prophecies and to raise up for us an anointed one from the root of David, to serve the people after the custom of our forebears and ever glorify Christ God: Alleluia.
Thou didst radiantly receive the grace given by God that enlighteneth souls, and didst wall about thy people with divine teaching; and King Ashot, emboldened by thee, overcame the lawless Hagarenes and raised up again the kingdom of Kartli shaken by the attacks of enemies; so now also send down upon us strength, courage, wisdom and victory over all enemies and oppressors, that, kept unharmed, we may praise thee as a helper and fervent intercessor:
Rejoice, thou who didst adorn the borders of Kartli by thy struggle; rejoice, thou who didst pour out unfailing graces from the deserts of Klarjeti; rejoice, strengthener of ascetics in deserts and clefts of the rocks; rejoice, thou who by thy teaching settest disorders right; rejoice, cleanser of defiled and much-sinning souls; rejoice, deliverer from worldly tumult and war; rejoice, thou who smitest the servants of the devil with the sword of reproof; rejoice, thou who drivest heretics and transgressors of the law out of the Church; rejoice, thou who with the dawn of piety enlightenest all; rejoice, thou who establishest us in the Orthodoxy handed down by the holy fathers; rejoice, nurturer of venerable desert-dwellers and great hierarchs; rejoice, thou who strikest terror into those who have turned from the rule of God and seek the rule of men; Rejoice, all-radiant lamp and shepherd of the Georgian people, wonderworking father Gregory of Khandzta!
When the King willed to make manifest thy divine glory, He granted thee the grace of healing sicknesses and of casting out and driving away demons; and when thou didst hear the weeping of a mother and see her child suffering from the enemy, thou wast moved with great pity and didst drive away that evil spirit by prayer; and when thou hadst granted healing, they rejoiced greatly and confessed their thanks and offered glory to God, wondrous in His saints: Alleluia.
As the Lord sent from time to time prophets to the kings of Israel as their boast, as a rampart of the law and as intercessors before Him, so He showed thee as the boast of the Bagratids, that wondrous and glorious God-bearing father and blessed ascetic, and thou didst labour for them spiritually before God for deliverance from trials and escape from every harm; and kings and princes with the peoples honoured thee and praised thee, emboldened by thy struggle:
Rejoice, thou who by thy ineffable holiness gavest an example to the clergy; rejoice, teacher of spiritual steadfastness and reverence to women; rejoice, companion of the angels together with mother Febronia, and blotter-out of every foul way of life; rejoice, thou who movest kings and princes to mercy and welcome; rejoice, reprover of those overcome by the evil sin of adultery; rejoice, thou who teachest us to live watchfully and soberly; rejoice, thou who blessest God-fearing families and bringest wrath upon unfaithful spouses; rejoice, tamer of the unbridled, who quenchest the delusion of superstition; rejoice, thou who deliverest innocent children and maidens from every uncleanness and vice; rejoice, destroyer of unjust judgments and shamer of those who hate righteousness; rejoice, thou who tramplest on the pride of tyrants and the mockery of the devil; rejoice, protector from the snares of Satan and from the invasion of foreigners; Rejoice, all-radiant lamp and shepherd of the Georgian people, wonderworking father Gregory of Khandzta!
By thy resolve and with the help of Bagrat the kouropalates thou didst build Shatberdi by divine revelation, and didst unite all the monasteries in brotherly love and establish them in holy struggle; and the bishops and desert-dwellers together with the sovereigns appointed thee archimandrite of the desert of Klarjeti, and as a watchful shepherd thou didst labour well for thy flocks; so now also multiply for us shepherds and leaders of the people adorned in deed and word, that like thee they may serve the holy Church and the people worthily and righteously and ever sing to Christ, King and God: Alleluia.
The sacristan saw the brightness of light in thy dwelling, and, thinking that a fire had broken out in it, he swiftly told the archdeacon; and he had many times seen the good Spirit resting upon thee; and when he looked through a crack in the cell and again saw thee brighter than the sun, he gave glory to God, who helpeth and exalteth those who love Him, and called thee blessed as the sun of the Georgians set on the height of the Church of Iberia:
Rejoice, wondrous man of heaven and spotless angel of earth; rejoice, boast of priests and all-radiant luminary of piety; rejoice, dweller of the desert who didst shine in the light of the vision of God; rejoice, holy fountain of theology; rejoice, friend of Christ and labourer in His vineyard; rejoice, plant of paradise that bringeth forth good fruit; rejoice, great intercessor and advocate of the assembly of monastic elders; rejoice, cross-bearer and raiser of the fallen people; rejoice, strength and strengthener of the sceptre of kings; rejoice, fellow-struggler and companion in all the ways of the pious King Ashot; rejoice, grace-filled leader and invincible champion of the chosen people; rejoice, luminary of the land and of the faith; Rejoice, all-radiant lamp and shepherd of the Georgian people, wonderworking father Gregory of Khandzta!
When the shameless Tskiri seized the see of Anchi by force, thou didst ever reprove his disorder; but he would not listen and commanded a certain man, a mighty archer, to pierce thee with a spear; and he, seeking to kill thee, saw in a vision a pillar of light and a cross like a rainbow around thee, and at once the sinews of his arms withered; and with streams of tears he fell down before thee and asked forgiveness; and thou, becoming like Christ, didst heal him by mighty prayer, and with joy he thanked thee and praised God: Alleluia.
As a valiant and brave soldier of Christ thou didst show the manifold treachery of Tskiri to be vain, foretelling to him divine vengeance and death, and didst guard that glorious church of Khandzta from destruction; so now also bring wholly to nothing the treacheries of those at enmity with our much-labouring people, humbled and despised until now, and cast down the foul heretics who have evilly gone astray and speak lies loftily, that we, the assembly of the Orthodox, may rejoice and adorn thy deeds with praises:
Rejoice, good shepherd of the chosen lambs; rejoice, rule of monasteries living in common; rejoice, guide of solitaries and of all who are directed towards heaven; rejoice, choice of monks and boast of fasters; rejoice, steadfastness of the Orthodox granted from heaven; rejoice, thou who art mighty in spirit, conqueror of sovereigns mighty in the flesh and looser of the passions; rejoice, merciful one to all the faithful and helper of hierarchs; rejoice, adornment of ascetics and protector of priests who keep themselves well; rejoice, true father of all who flee to thee and feeder of orphans; rejoice, swift helper of the fallen and healer of those condemned to death; rejoice, comforter of travellers and calm haven of the storm-tossed; rejoice, good mediator between God and men; Rejoice, all-radiant lamp and shepherd of the Georgian people, wonderworking father Gregory of Khandzta!
When the fathers of the council of Javakheti saw thee, they were struck with awe at the grace of thy holiness, for thy poor garment shone with unapproachable light, and upon thy head was as it were a royal crown adorned with precious stones and pearls; then all obeyed thee with fear, and, confirming the catholicosate of the great Arsenius, who appeared as a rule for hierarchs and poured out divine joy upon the Church of Iberia, they called thee blessed as the hope of our people and at all times glorified the might of Christ: Alleluia.
Thou didst pass through this fleeting life blamelessly like an angel of God, and didst ever pray to Him that the stirrings of heretics might cease from the flocks of Christ; and when the day of thy departure from this world was made known to thee, thou didst gather the elders of Khandzta and exhort and bless thy flock, and, hearing the longed-for voice that Christ the King of heaven was calling thee to dwell in that blessed glory, thou didst depart from the flesh in a good old age, and, joined with the angels and choirs of the saints, thou singest to the Almighty; entreat Him to turn away trials and the assaults of demons from those who revere thee and sing:
Rejoice, thou who showest mercy to Christ-loving authorities and armies; rejoice, conqueror of raging haters of God; rejoice, thou who strikest terror into those who lead many astray and sow enmity among brothers; rejoice, thou who blottest out those who dishonour churches and slay the righteous with bestial rage; rejoice, thou who bringest wrath upon the destroyers of our native land and the ravagers of the fatherland; rejoice, thou who castest down and scatterest priests who come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are wolves; rejoice, shamer of lovers of money and seekers of gain; rejoice, thou who bringest to nothing the disobedience and ingratitude of the stiff-necked and self-willed; rejoice, thou who castest down wrathful deceivers who craftily destroy their own kinsmen; rejoice, thou who divinely instructest true shepherds and great luminaries of the Church; rejoice, deliverer of the people from ruinous sloth; rejoice, thou who strengthenest the true confession of the Orthodox; Rejoice, all-radiant lamp and shepherd of the Georgian people, wonderworking father Gregory of Khandzta!
In the time after thy repose, the infirm and those held by unclean spirits touched thy holy bones and were healed and filled with joy; and from thy tomb there came forth an ineffable fragrance, and all were filled with grace and wonders, and all the infirm received healing and, made glad, glorified the God of wonders with hymns and spiritual songs: Alleluia.
The land of Iberia hath gained thee as a divine rampart, a strength and a good intercessor, and thy people, the lot of the Theotokos, ever ask help through thee; and thou, O holy and glorious father Gregory, portrayed in icons and remembered in prayers, again healest those who flee to thee, and swiftly helpest those in sorrows and bonds, and deliverest from trials those who sing to thee:
Rejoice, thou who didst receive from the Lord authority over unclean spirits; rejoice, thou who stretchest out a hand to the afflicted and to those who have seen evil; rejoice, thou who bestowest abundantly spiritual gifts from the treasuries of the Holy Spirit; rejoice, thou who by the teaching of thy instructions didst guide many fathers and bishops in wisdom; rejoice, sweet of word and longed-for in counsel, who calmest turmoil and disputes; rejoice, thou who by a virtuous life wast likened to the bodiless and bestowest wonders abundantly; rejoice, thou who by thy struggle didst finish well the divine course; rejoice, thou who art adorned with the crown of victory and joined to Abba Paul and Anthony the Great; rejoice, thou who by thy signs and wonders confoundest unbelievers; rejoice, thou who bringest wrath upon those who corrupt the Lord’s people with guile; rejoice, thou who terrifiest and humblest all who are at enmity with the Iberians; rejoice, thou who for the glory of the name of Christ castest down the insolence of the fighters against God and tramplest on unclean spirits; Rejoice, all-radiant lamp and shepherd of the Georgian people, wonderworking father Gregory of Khandzta!
Thou didst become like those godly fathers by strengthening the divine teaching, and didst commend thy people to the Theotokos; so now also commend us to her motherly grace, that, being merciful, she may fulfil the words she spoke concerning her lot, and until the end of the age guard Iberia and the people of Iberia, that we may be saved in love and peace and praise God in spirit and in truth: Alleluia.
Though the desert of Klarjeti hath fallen silent, we cannot forget that divine manner of life of thine, for ruined Khandzta and Shatberdi boast of thy labours accomplished in them and proclaim thy glory; yet, burning with divine zeal, we grieve for the loss of the monasteries of Klarjeti; but now show mercy to us as befitteth thy holiness, and entreat Christ the Deliverer to restore justice and to settle the Georgian people in those holy and God-pleasing places, that we may ever serve the dwelling of thy precious bones and with our sweet-sounding tongue say “Rejoice”:
Rejoice, monk, imitator of the angels, for the radiant advance of thy life is above human nature; rejoice, reprover of those inward hidden passions, for many times thou didst hear the voice of an angel to the father equal to the angels, and didst rejoice greatly; rejoice, great helper and teacher of kings and princes, the flocks of Christ, for thou didst make them sharers in thy labour by the abundant giving of wealth and offerings; rejoice, thou who didst undo wars without warfare, for by thy prayer God gave the Hagarenes into the hands of the Christians; rejoice, thou who wast chosen for the courage of monasticism and art radiant with the grace of prophecy, for thy help was invisibly a weapon mightier than hosts and armies; rejoice, faithful servant of Christ, who didst lay the cornerstone for the new building of the land of Kartli; rejoice, unbending and most valiant ascetic, who didst raise high the crown of the Orthodox; rejoice, all-good one, who didst teach many fathers and mothers the order of marriage and the measure of goodness; rejoice, priest chosen of Christ, for thou didst show mercy to that lost woman as befitted thy holiness, and becamest the cause first of the exposure of sins and then of forgiveness; rejoice, desert-dweller likened to Elijah and John, for the venerable George Merchule telleth us thy deeds after thy repose; rejoice, boast of true Christians and joy of monks, who hast the grace to help the faithful; Rejoice, all-radiant lamp and shepherd of the Georgian people, wonderworking father Gregory of Khandzta!
O wondrous father among the saints and glorious ascetic, wonderworker Gregory of Khandzta! Receive our hymns and offer them before Christ God, and ask for us that in delusions and in the furnace of afflictions the dew of thy grace may sprinkle us too, that our heart may not be cold to hear divine teachings and to glorify and sing to God: Alleluia.
Say this kontakion thrice, then:
Thou didst bow thy neck to the good yoke of Christ, and, directing thy steps to the service of God, thou becamest a shepherd of rational sheep and didst feed them by divine word and deed; so now also look upon us and deliver us from a faith that is lifeless and lukewarm, that we may not bow to lawlessness at the will of the godless and may zealously praise thy deeds, worthy of praise:
Rejoice, man who art the soul’s desire; rejoice, chosen vessel and dwelling of holiness; rejoice, inexhaustible fountain of divine wisdom; rejoice, true servant of Christ the Saviour, who didst shine forth in comeliness; rejoice, thou who wast sent from on high for the sanctification of our beloved people and the strengthening of the holy kingdom; rejoice, organ that didst radiantly adorn the Church with the harp of hymns; rejoice, good labourer in the struggle of piety; rejoice, good ruler and ascetic, who didst make the desert a city; rejoice, great archimandrite of the monasteries of Klarjeti and teacher of all Georgia; rejoice, strengthener of the faith brought to growth by the virgin Nino; rejoice, true image of the piety of our forebears; rejoice, glory and strength of our fatherland; Rejoice, all-radiant lamp and shepherd of the Georgian people, wonderworking father Gregory of Khandzta!
With praises we sing of the boast of priests and the glory of Khandzta, and we make thee our intercessor before God, that He may drive every evil away from us and deliver us from every affliction and delusion, that we may escape the wrath stirred up by God and call thee blessed according to our strength: Rejoice, all-radiant lamp and shepherd of the Georgian people, wonderworking father Gregory of Khandzta!
O dawn-bright star of the desert, enlightener of the lands and waters of Iberia and of all who dwell in them, steadfastness of the Orthodox granted from heaven and great archimandrite of the monasteries of Klarjeti, companion and fellow-dweller of the angels and guide of monks, boast of the fathers, glory of princes and strength of warriors, bold reprover of sovereigns and instructor with the rod of teaching, worker of many wonders, our venerable father Gregory of Khandzta!
O all-blessed father and holy ascetic, wonderworker Gregory of Khandzta! When thou hadst finished thy course and passed over before God, thou didst not leave orphaned thy disciples and those who love thee, but by thy fatherly intercession thou swiftly helpest those held by unclean spirits and givest consolation to all who entreat thee; but now the rulers of lawlessness have risen against us and labour for the corruption and destruction of our people, while we have given ourselves over to sleep and slackness and cannot withstand them. But we have thine intercession before Christ, that He may make us worthy of the fulfilment of thy prophecies and give us a faithful and righteous king, ruler and leader, as David was to Israel, who will govern well and care for our people, the lot of the Theotokos, which beareth the Cross of the Lord upon the earth, and will restore the unity of our fatherland and raise up the dignity and strength of our land and people. Strengthen in their ministry the Most Holy and Most Blessed Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazeti, the great lord, our father Ilia, the most reverend metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, the honourable priests, the deacons in Christ and all the monastic orders, the members of the Orthodox Church, and keep our benefactors and all Orthodox Christians by thy honourable intercession.
O true shepherd of the flocks of Christ and great guide of the fathers, luminary of the Church of Iberia, intercessor and strength of those who fall down before thee in faith, holy Gregory of Khandzta! Help us to rise up out of the depths of sins and entreat God with compunction, that He may grant glory to the churches, honour to the clergy, good shepherding of the people to rulers, courage to soldiers, sinlessness to the laity, chastity to women and good upbringing to children; and that He may restore to us love of righteousness, courage of spirit, many children, mercy to widows and orphans and standing by one another; and that He may grant us love of a holy life, hatred of unseemly deeds and contrition of heart, crowning with the saints and the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, that we too with thee may glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and all-spotless, and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the intercession of Thy most pure Mother, the grace and prayers of our venerable father Gregory of Khandzta and of all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Author and compiler: Tinatin Mchedlishvili
