Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos
To thee, my champion leader and invincible defender, we thy servants, delivered from dangers through thee, offer thanksgiving, O Virgin Theotokos; but as thou hast invincible might, set us free from every calamity, that we may sing to thee, O blessed one: Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.
An angel who standeth before God was sent from heaven to say to the Theotokos: Rejoice! And beholding Thee, O Lord, the bodiless Word, becoming embodied, he was amazed and stood crying to her thus:
Rejoice, thou through whom joy shall shine forth; rejoice, thou through whom the curse shall cease; rejoice, restoration of fallen Adam; rejoice, redemption of the tears of Eve; rejoice, height hard to climb for human thoughts; rejoice, depth hard to see even for the eyes of angels; rejoice, for thou art the throne of the King; rejoice, for thou carriest Him who carrieth all; rejoice, star that showest forth the Sun; rejoice, womb of the divine incarnation; rejoice, thou through whom creation is renewed; rejoice, thou through whom the Creator is worshipped; Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.
Seeing herself in purity, the holy one said boldly to Gabriel: The wonder of thy words seemeth hard for my soul to accept, for thou foretellest a birth from a seedless conception, crying: Alleluia.
Seeking to know the knowledge that cannot be known, the Virgin cried to the minister: Tell me, how can a son be born of a pure womb? And he spoke to her in fear, yet crying thus:
Rejoice, initiate of the ineffable counsel; rejoice, fountain that holdeth the faith; rejoice, beginning of the wonders of Christ; rejoice, crown of His commandments; rejoice, heavenly ladder by which God came down; rejoice, bridge leading those of earth to heaven; rejoice, wonder much renowned among the angels; rejoice, wound much lamented by the demons; rejoice, thou who gavest birth to the ineffable Light; rejoice, thou who didst teach none the how; rejoice, thou who surpassest the knowledge of the wise; rejoice, thou who enlightenest the minds of the faithful; Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.
The power of the Most High then overshadowed her who knew not wedlock, that she might conceive, and showed her fruitful womb as a sweet field to all who wish to reap salvation, singing thus: Alleluia.
Bearing God in her womb, the Virgin went up to Elizabeth; and the babe in her womb, straightway knowing her greeting, leapt, and with leaps as with songs cried to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, vine of the unwithering branch; rejoice, land of the immortal fruit; rejoice, thou who bringest forth the Husbandman of our life; rejoice, thou who tillest the Tiller who loveth mankind; rejoice, field yielding a harvest of mercies; rejoice, table laden with an abundance of forgiveness; rejoice, for thou preparest a haven for souls; rejoice, for thou makest the flower of delight to blossom; rejoice, acceptable incense of intercession; rejoice, propitiation of all the world; rejoice, God’s good will towards mortals; rejoice, boldness of mortals towards God; Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.
Having within him a storm of doubting thoughts, the righteous Joseph was troubled; for seeing thee unwed he suspected a secret union, O blameless one; but learning that thy conception was of the Holy Spirit, he cried: Alleluia.
The shepherds heard the angels singing of Christ’s coming in the flesh, and running as to a shepherd they beheld Him as a spotless lamb, nourished in Mary’s womb; and singing to her they said:
Rejoice, mother of the Lamb and the Shepherd; rejoice, fold of the rational sheep; rejoice, thou who drivest away the invisible beasts; rejoice, thou who openest the gates of paradise; rejoice, for the things of heaven rejoice with the earth; rejoice, for the things of earth join in chorus with the heavens; rejoice, never-silent mouth of the apostles; rejoice, invincible courage of the victorious martyrs; rejoice, firm foundation of the faith; rejoice, radiant token of grace; rejoice, thou through whom hell was stripped bare; rejoice, thou through whom we are clothed with glory; Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.
Beholding the star that moved at God’s will, the Magi followed its radiance, and holding it as a lamp, by it they sought the mighty King; and having reached the Unattainable, they rejoiced, crying thus: Alleluia.
The children of the Chaldeans saw in the hands of the Virgin Him who with His hand fashioned men; and knowing Him to be the Master, though He had taken the form of a servant, they hastened to serve Him with gifts and to cry to her who is blessed:
Rejoice, mother of the star that never setteth; rejoice, dawn of the mystical day; rejoice, thou who hast quenched the furnace of deception; rejoice, guardian of the initiates of the Trinity; rejoice, thou who hast cast the inhuman tyrant out of his dominion; rejoice, thou who hast shown forth Christ the Lord who loveth mankind; rejoice, thou who redeemest from barbarous works; rejoice, thou who loosest the law of the barbarians; rejoice, thou who hast quenched the worship of fire; rejoice, thou who quenchest the flame of the passions; rejoice, teacher of purity to the Persians; rejoice, gladness of all generations; Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.
Having become God-bearing heralds, the Magi returned to Babylon, fulfilling thy prophecy; and they preached Thee as the Christ to all, leaving Herod as a trifler who knew not how to sing: Alleluia.
Having shone in Egypt the light of truth, Thou didst drive away the darkness of falsehood; for its idols, O Saviour, unable to bear Thy strength, fell; and those delivered from them cried to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, uplifting of men; rejoice, downfall of demons; rejoice, thou who hast trampled down the delusion of error; rejoice, thou who hast exposed the fraud of the idols; rejoice, sea that drowned the spiritual Pharaoh; rejoice, rock that givest the drink of life to the thirsty; rejoice, pillar of fire guiding those in darkness; rejoice, shelter of the world wider than the clouds; rejoice, food succeeding the manna; rejoice, minister of holy delight; rejoice, land of promise; rejoice, thou from whom floweth milk and honey; Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.
When Simeon was about to depart from this age of deception, Thou wast given to him as an infant, but Thou wast made known to him as perfect God also; wherefore he marvelled at Thine ineffable wisdom, crying: Alleluia.
A new creation was shown to us when our Creator appeared to those made by Him: He sprang from a seedless womb and kept it incorrupt as it was, that seeing the wonder we might sing to her, crying:
Rejoice, flower of incorruption; rejoice, crown of chastity; rejoice, radiant image of the resurrection; rejoice, thou who showest forth the life of the angels; rejoice, tree of glorious fruit whereby the faithful are nourished; rejoice, well-shaded tree of goodly leaves under which many find shelter; rejoice, thou who hast conceived the Deliverer of captives; rejoice, thou who gavest birth to the Guide of those astray; rejoice, supplication before the righteous Judge; rejoice, forgiveness of many sins; rejoice, incorrupt robe of the naked; rejoice, desire that overcometh every longing; Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.
Seeing a strange birth, let us become strangers to the world, transporting our minds to heaven; for this the Most High appeared on earth as a lowly man, wishing to draw to the height those who cry to Him: Alleluia.
Wholly present with those below, yet in no way absent from those above, was the uncircumscribed Word; for it was a divine condescension and not a change of place, and a birth from a Virgin full of grace, who heareth these words:
Rejoice, container of the uncontainable God; rejoice, door of the solemn mystery; rejoice, doubtful hearing of unbelievers; rejoice, undoubted boast of the faithful; rejoice, all-holy throne of Him who resteth upon the Cherubim; rejoice, all-glorious dwelling of Him who resteth upon the Seraphim; rejoice, thou who bringest opposites into one; rejoice, thou who yokest virginity and childbearing; rejoice, thou through whom transgression is loosed; rejoice, thou through whom paradise is opened; rejoice, key of the kingdom of Christ; rejoice, hope of eternal good things; Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.
All the nature of angels was amazed at the great work of Thine incarnation; for they saw the unapproachable God as a man approachable to all, dwelling among us and hearing from all: Alleluia.
We see many-voiced orators voiceless as fish before thee, O Theotokos; for they are at a loss to tell how thou remainest a virgin and couldst give birth; but we, marvelling at the mystery, cry in faith:
Rejoice, vessel of the wisdom of God; rejoice, treasury of His providence; rejoice, thou who showest the philosophers to be fools; rejoice, thou who exposest the wordlessness of the skilled in words; rejoice, for the subtle disputers are made foolish; rejoice, for the makers of myths have withered; rejoice, thou who breakest the webs of the Athenians; rejoice, thou who fillest the nets of the fishermen; rejoice, thou who drawest us from the depths of ignorance; rejoice, thou who enlightenest many with knowledge; rejoice, ship for those who wish to be saved; rejoice, haven for the storm-tossed of this life; Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.
Willing to save the world, the Creator of all came to it of His own will; and being Shepherd as God, for our sake He appeared as a man like us; for by the like He called the like, and as God He heareth: Alleluia.
Thou art a wall to virgins, O Virgin Theotokos, and to all who flee to thee; for the Maker of heaven and earth prepared thee, O immaculate one, dwelling in thy womb, and taught all to cry to thee:
Rejoice, pillar of virginity; rejoice, gate of salvation; rejoice, beginning of spiritual re-creation; rejoice, bestower of divine goodness; rejoice, for thou hast made wise those who erred in mind; rejoice, for thou hast given understanding to those once led astray; rejoice, thou who makest the corruption of the senses to vanish; rejoice, thou who gavest birth to the Sower of purity; rejoice, bridal chamber of a seedless marriage; rejoice, adornment of the faithful of the Lord; rejoice, fair beauty of virgins; rejoice, bridal adornment of holy souls; Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.
Every hymn is overcome that would match the multitude of Thy many mercies; for though we offer Thee psalms and odes numerous as the sand, O holy King, we accomplish nothing worthy of what Thou hast given to us who cry to Thee: Alleluia.
We behold the holy Virgin as a light-bearing lamp, shining for those in darkness; for kindling the immaterial light she guideth all to divine knowledge, a dawn that enlighteneth the mind, and she is honoured by our cry thus:
Rejoice, ray of the spiritual Sun; rejoice, lamp of the unsetting Light; rejoice, lightning that enlightenest souls; rejoice, thunder that strikest down enemies; rejoice, for thou makest to shine an illumination of many lights; rejoice, for thou makest to spring forth a river of many streams of nectar; rejoice, thou who depictest the image of the font; rejoice, thou who takest away the stain of sin; rejoice, laver that washest the conscience; rejoice, cup mingled with joy; rejoice, myrrh of the fragrance of Christ; rejoice, supper of the mystical life; Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.
Willing to grant grace, He who forgiveth the ancient debts of all men came of His own accord to those who had departed from His grace; and having torn up the handwriting, He heareth from all thus: Alleluia.
Singing of thy childbearing, we all praise thee as a living temple, O Theotokos; for the Lord who holdeth all things in His hand dwelt in thy womb, sanctified and glorified thee, and taught all to cry to thee:
Rejoice, tabernacle of God the Word; rejoice, holy one greater than the Holy of Holies; rejoice, ark gilded by the Spirit; rejoice, inexhaustible treasure of life; rejoice, precious crown of pious kings; rejoice, venerable boast of reverent priests; rejoice, unshaken tower of the Church; rejoice, indestructible wall of the kingdom; rejoice, thou through whom trophies are raised; rejoice, thou through whom enemies fall; rejoice, fulfilment of my light; rejoice, hope of my soul; Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.
O all-praised Mother, who didst bear the Word, holiest of all the holy, accept this present offering, deliver all from every calamity, and rescue from the torment to come those who cry thus: Alleluia. (This thrice)
After this, Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1.
