Akathist Hymn to the Holy Martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Abibus
They are entreated for happiness in family life.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, 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. Amen.
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. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and God. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.
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.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God; alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God; alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee.
O Christ God, who hast given us the wonders of Thy holy martyrs as an unassailable wall: by their supplications bring to nought the counsels of the heathen and strengthen the sceptre of the kingdom, for Thou alone art good and the Lover of mankind.
O chosen wonderworkers of Christ and confessors of the holy faith, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, noble in virtue, we who honour your memory with hymns of praise sing to you as intercessors for Christians, protectors of the suffering and those who have boldness before God. Deliver from every affliction and assault us who cry to you thus in faith and love: Rejoice, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, who endured torments for Christ, protectors of the oppressed!
Angels in the flesh and equal in number to the Holy Trinity, with fervent love for God ye cast down the idols, confirmed the faith of Christ and glorified the Holy Trinity; therefore we who praise your struggle cry to you thus:
Rejoice, lamps of godliness; rejoice, reprovers of uncleanness; rejoice, confirmers of the faith of Christ; rejoice, pillars of the Church of God; rejoice, hope and intercessors of the righteous; rejoice, ye who strike terror into the double-minded and wound them; Rejoice, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, who endured torments for Christ, protectors of the oppressed!
Seeing the uncleanness of the people of the city of Edessa, Gurias and Samonas withdrew from them into the desert, fleeing the prince of this world and his temptations, and served God with zeal, singing day and night: Alleluia.
O holy martyrs of wise understanding, ever labouring to the glory of God, reprovers of the uncleanness of the heathen, ye guide on the path of righteousness those who seek the truth and bring many who waver to the true God; therefore we cry to you thus:
Rejoice, planters of the true worship of God; rejoice, uprooters of the service of demons; rejoice, reprovers of the darkness of uncleanness; rejoice, overthrowers of the delusion of idols; rejoice, renowned confessors of Christ; rejoice, lamps of the Orthodox faith; Rejoice, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, who endured torments for Christ, protectors of the oppressed!
Blessed by the power of the Most High, the holy martyrs did not bow before the persecutors of the holy faith; they counted as nothing the will of the impious Antoninus and magnified the faith of Christ with a loud voice; therefore, cast into prison, they cried to God: Alleluia.
Having faith in Christ firmer than diamond, and armed with His power, ye courageously endured bonds and death itself, O holy martyrs; therefore, praising such valour of yours, we magnify you thus:
Rejoice, confessors of the true faith; rejoice, heirs of the kingdom of heaven; rejoice, praise of martyrs; rejoice, glorious sufferers of torments; rejoice, strength of the holy Church; rejoice, adornment of the Christian people; Rejoice, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, who endured torments for Christ, protectors of the oppressed!
Seized by the tempest of arrogant thoughts, the impious king Licinius stirred up a fierce persecution against the Christians; but thou, O Abibus, sufferer of torments, didst not yield to him, and didst cry in faith to Christ God: Alleluia.
When the king Licinius heard of thy struggle, O worthy wonderworker Abibus, and of the firm confession of thy faith, he raged with anger and willed thy death as an enemy of his kingdom; but thou, seeing this, didst take sufferings upon thee and with joy didst endure burning by fire; therefore, amazed at thy great courage, we magnify thee thus:
Rejoice, unbending defender of the faith of Christ; rejoice, invincible warrior of Christ; rejoice, thou who wast hung upon a tree for the sake of Him who stretched out His hands upon the Cross; rejoice, thou who wast torn with iron claws; rejoice, comforter of the sorrowful; rejoice, swift hearer of all who hasten towards the truth; Rejoice, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, who endured torments for Christ, protectors of the oppressed!
Ye became like a star that moveth by God’s will in the firmament of heaven, O holy martyrs, enlighteners of an unclean people who led many to the way of truth; therefore we who piously honour your memory sing with thanksgiving to God: Alleluia.
The people of the city of Edessa, seeing the many wonders wrought from the shrine of the holy martyrs Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, rejoiced greatly and glorified the Lord with all their heart; and we too, who honour your holy memory, O holy martyrs, cry to you with compunction thus:
Rejoice, intercessors for the unjustly persecuted; rejoice, friends of the faithful servants of Christ; rejoice, protectors of those in bonds and prisons; rejoice, ye who bring persecutors and oppressors to their senses; rejoice, comforters of those who mourn; rejoice, deliverers from a bold and cruel death; Rejoice, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, who endured torments for Christ, protectors of the oppressed!
Having received wisdom and grace from on high, ye became intercessors for those in trial, O all-praised ones, and ye delivered that maiden from a bitter death, O holy ones; truly ye are the glory of the city of Edessa and the joy of the whole world; therefore we sing to God: Alleluia.
Deliver us from slavery to the enemy, O Jesus, Giver of life, we entreat Thee through the prayers of Thy martyrs, that, delivered from the slavery of the passions of soul and body, we may praise their swift help, as did that woman sealed in the tomb by her husband and swiftly set free; and together with her we too cry thus:
Rejoice, deliverers of that innocent woman from death; rejoice, ye who by her wondrous deliverance trampled on the savagery of the tormentors; rejoice, reprovers of the cruel deed of that wicked man; rejoice, ye who taught him also the faith, the faith of the God of the Christians; rejoice, givers of mercy to those in affliction; rejoice, unsleeping guardians of those who call your name to mind; Rejoice, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, who endured torments for Christ, protectors of the oppressed!
When God, the Lover of mankind, willed to show forth His mercy before His people, He kept incorrupt the bodies that pour forth wonders, and through them those who call upon God find at all times fountains of healing: Alleluia.
The people of the city of Edessa, seeing in you new intercessors and wondrous wonderworkers, built a holy church in your memory and laid in it your holy relics, which pour forth help for all the suffering; and we too, who have an unshaken faith in you, cry thus:
Rejoice, physicians of our wounds of soul and body; rejoice, ye who drive out demons in the name of the Lord; rejoice, good heralds of the goodness of truth; rejoice, bearers of divine grace; rejoice, ye who for the name of the Lord met with many sorrows; rejoice, ye who shine wondrously among His saints; Rejoice, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, who endured torments for Christ, protectors of the oppressed!
Fearful and strange it is for unbelievers to hear what wondrous works are wrought through your holy relics: wounds are healed and passions are loosed; and we too, who have unshaken hope in you and offer thanksgiving, cry in faith: Alleluia.
Ye who were filled with all good works and through them were honoured with the glory of God, receive, O holy martyrs, the prayers of the righteous who honour your holy memory, and hear these their cries:
Rejoice, ye poor in spirit, for yours is the kingdom of heaven; rejoice, ye who mourn in heart, for ye have been comforted; rejoice, ye meek, for ye shall inherit the earth; rejoice, ye who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for ye have been filled; rejoice, ye merciful, for ye have obtained mercy; rejoice, ye pure in heart, for ye shall see the Lord; Rejoice, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, who endured torments for Christ, protectors of the oppressed!
Ye averted all the assaults that came upon the city of Edessa, O holy martyrs; forsake not us, lowly and sinful, at this time also, but establish all the peoples of this inheritance in Orthodoxy and in oneness of mind, that with one mouth and one heart we may cry to God who glorified you: Alleluia.
Eloquent orators are as voiceless fish before you, O holy martyrs, unable to comprehend how ye were exalted in spirit in the desert and yet laboured among men in the unsleeping struggle; and we too, rejoicing that we have gained such teachers and intercessors, magnify you, crying thus:
Rejoice, cymbals of the word of God; rejoice, fervent intercessors for us before God; rejoice, enlighteners of Jews and Greeks; rejoice, heralds of the Godhead in three Persons; rejoice, teachers of meekness and self-restraint; rejoice, reprovers of liars and thieves; Rejoice, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, who endured torments for Christ, protectors of the oppressed!
Though ye delivered the people of the city of Edessa from that crafty wolf, ye also firmly instilled in them to stand fast in the true faith, that they might not yield to the chastisement of the enemy, but in the time of sorrow and assault might give thanks to God, singing to Him: Alleluia.
A firm wall and a trusty shelter are ye, O holy martyrs, to all who flee to you seeking your swift help; therefore with compunction of heart we cry to you:
Rejoice, joy of all who sorrow; rejoice, haven and deliverers of all the oppressed and imprisoned; rejoice, intercessors for widows and orphans; rejoice, defenders from heresies and schisms; rejoice, for all sinners are amazed at your struggle; rejoice, for all the godly are gladdened by your memory; Rejoice, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, who endured torments for Christ, protectors of the oppressed!
Offering a hymn of thanksgiving to the Lord, we entreat you, our fervent intercessors, not to withdraw from us for ever because of our sins, but to ask of the Lord mercy for all who sing: Alleluia.
Glorifying the holy martyrs of the Trinity of radiant beams, let us, O righteous ones, flee all punishment and strife at every time of this life; let us wall ourselves about in Orthodoxy against turmoil and schism, and, keeping the peace of one spirit, let us cry from the depth of our heart thus:
Rejoice, loud trumpets of the proclamation of the Gospel; rejoice, sweet-sounding lyres of the saving preaching; rejoice, steadfast fighters for righteousness; rejoice, unshaken destroyers of falsehood; rejoice, ye who bring down peace and grace on God-fearing families; rejoice, stern punishers of cruel and lawless spouses; Rejoice, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, who endured torments for Christ, protectors of the oppressed!
Beholding the grace given you by God, we keep the feast of your memory, O holy martyrs, fleeing with fervent prayer to your firm help before your precious icon, guarded as by an unassailable wall; therefore we praise you, sufferers for Christ, and zealously cry to God: Alleluia.
Singing of your wondrous life and martyr’s end, we entreat you, sufferers for Christ, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus: be good helpers to us in all things, bless us with peace and love, and grant us unshaken faith, purity of life and the fear of God, that all of us who seek spiritual peace may cry to you with joy:
Rejoice, for your names were magnified even among unbelievers; rejoice, givers of consolation and joy to the sorrowful; rejoice, ye who amaze and terrify oppressors; rejoice, deliverers of the innocent woman from a cruel death; rejoice, just punishers of her wicked husband; Rejoice, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, who endured torments for Christ, protectors of the oppressed!
O holy sufferers of Christ, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, accept this our hymn of praise, and, hearing our zealous supplications, by your fervent intercession before God set us free from every evil, from strife and discord and from all fierce afflictions and sicknesses, that we who honour you with love may ever cry to God: Alleluia.
Angels in the flesh and equal in number to the Holy Trinity, with fervent love for God ye cast down the idols, confirmed the faith of Christ and glorified the Holy Trinity; therefore we who praise your struggle cry to you thus:
Rejoice, lamps of godliness; rejoice, reprovers of uncleanness; rejoice, confirmers of the faith of Christ; rejoice, pillars of the Church of God; rejoice, hope and intercessors of the righteous; rejoice, ye who strike terror into the double-minded and wound them; Rejoice, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, who endured torments for Christ, protectors of the oppressed!
O chosen wonderworkers of Christ and confessors of the holy faith, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, noble in virtue, we who honour your memory with hymns of praise sing to you as intercessors for Christians, protectors of the suffering and those who have boldness before God. Deliver from every affliction and assault us who cry to you thus in faith and love: Rejoice, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, who endured torments for Christ, protectors of the oppressed!
O holy martyrs, confessors of Christ, Gurias, Samonas and Abibus! Fervent intercessors and prayer-makers for us before God with a compassionate heart, looking upon your all-holy icon we humbly entreat you: hear the voice of your sinful and unworthy servants, who are in afflictions, sorrows and trials, and overlook our grievous and countless sins. Send down upon us your rich mercies, raise us up from the depths of sins, enlighten our minds, soften our evil and accursed hearts, put an end to all envy, enmity and division that is among us, send down upon us peace, love and the fear of God; entreat the compassionate God that in His mercy He may cover the multitude of our sins, keep His holy Church from unbelief, heresy and schisms, and grant our people prosperity and the land fruitfulness, love between spouses, obedience to children, patience to the oppressed, the fear of God to oppressors, magnanimity to the sorrowful and restraint to the joyful; that He may shelter us all by His almighty right hand from famine, pestilence, the snare, drowning, fire, the sword, the invasions of foreigners and strife among kin, and from vain death; that He may wall us about with the hosts of His holy angels, and at the hour of our departure from this world may through them set us free from evil punishment and from His secret and heavenly toll-houses, that we may stand at judgment before the glorious throne of God, where the ranks of the holy angels with all the saints ever glorify the all-holy and all-radiant name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
It is truly meet that we should magnify thee, O Theotokos, who art ever-blessed and all-immaculate and the Mother of our God. Thee, more honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the only Theotokos, we magnify in song.
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 prayers of Thy most pure Mother, of our venerable and God-bearing fathers and of all Thy saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
