Akathist Hymn to the Holy and Righteous Job the Much-Suffering
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. 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.
When the enemy of the righteous saw the wealth of Job’s virtues, he plotted to steal it, and he broke down the tower of his body, but the undefiled treasure of his soul he could not steal, for he found it armed; but me, wretched as I am, he hath made naked and captive; therefore hasten before the end to deliver me from that deceiver, O Saviour, and save me.
We keep the feast of the memory of Thy righteous one Job, O Lord, and we entreat Thee: deliver us from the devices and snares of the evil devil, and save our souls, as the Lover of mankind.
As one truly meek and a counsellor with God, thou wast shown forth sanctified, O glorious Job, righteous servant, and didst enlighten the world by thy patience, thy bearing of afflictions and thy way of life; therefore we all praise thy memory, O thou who wast made wise by 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.
To the great righteous one of the Old Testament, chosen by the Lord, we the faithful sing, and commit ourselves to thy protection; and do thou, as one who hath boldness towards God, commend us to His goodness, that He may still the waves of our passions and guide to the haven of salvation us who extol thee and sing: Rejoice, much-suffering Job, all-wondrous teacher of the world!
Through the multitude of the ages thy holy name shineth, O righteous Job, who by the enduring of many sufferings and the defeat and shaming of the devil didst become a herald and foreshadowing of the Passion of Christ and of the shattering of hades by it; now we move thee to intercede with Him, that He may keep His Church and establish unshakeably the priests together with the people, that we all in unity may strive for His glory and call thee blessed according to our strength:
Rejoice, fifth from Abraham among the sons of Esau, who didst gain a good name; rejoice, courageous endurer of divine providence; rejoice, radiant star that guidest on the way those who seek salvation; rejoice, hope of the despairing and raiser of the fallen; rejoice, opener of the eyes of souls blinded by the passions; rejoice, thou who teachest sin-loving men the sweetness of self-restraint; rejoice, thou who mercifully receivest the prayer offered to thee; rejoice, calmer of hearts shaken and defiled by the waves of the world; rejoice, thou who by the power of thy spirit overthrowest the haughty and the proud; Rejoice, much-suffering Job, all-wondrous teacher of the world!
Being righteous and merciful, fearing God, true and eschewing every evil, thou wast loved by the Lord for thy virtues, and, having multiplied thy flocks, He blessed thee with a multitude of children; and when He had made the elders and princes obedient to thy word, O righteous Job, thou wast in the city as one of the rulers, and didst ever praise God: Alleluia.
When the prince of darkness saw thy righteous life, he presented himself before God with the angels, and, hearing thy praise, he was enraged and bore false witness against thee, that thou didst worship God for earthly goods; and lo, the Lord gave thy household and thy possessions into his hands, that he might refine thee like gold in the heat of the fire of sorrows and pains, but He forbade him to touch thee; wherefore we glorify the saving providence of God and offer thee a hymn of praise:
Rejoice, thou who wast called by the Lord Himself blameless and God-fearing; rejoice, thou who wast exalted in wealth and power; rejoice, thou who wast honoured for thy good deeds; rejoice, thou who wast favoured with grace above all who dwell on the earth; rejoice, comforter of widows and orphans and receiver of strangers; rejoice, clother of the naked and nourisher of the poor; rejoice, thou who didst judge with justice between servants and their masters; rejoice, thou who didst bring up thy children in godliness; rejoice, thou who didst receive from God all earthly good things; Rejoice, much-suffering Job, all-wondrous teacher of the world!
When the devil had received from God leave to try thee, he slew thy children, overturning the house upon them with a fierce wind, and in a short time he destroyed all thy substance and thy flocks; but thou didst rend thy garment and cast earth upon thy head, and didst cry out bitterly: “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away”, and thou didst bless His holy name: Alleluia.
O the wondrous steadfastness and love of thine towards God! When the evil spirit could not shake it, he presented himself again before Him and said boldly: “Put forth now Thine hand and touch his flesh, and Thou shalt see whether he will bless Thee as is his wont”; and lo, when the Lord gave thy flesh also to be tried, He forbade him to touch thy soul; and when the devil smote thee with leprosy, thou, tormented by bitter pains, didst not cease to glorify God; now intercede for us too before Him, that He may keep us from the snares of the evil one and stir us up to praise thy courage and steadfastness:
Rejoice, thou who wast clothed with faithfulness to God and with truth; rejoice, helper of the afflicted and follower of every good work; rejoice, thou who wast adorned with just judgement as with a garment; rejoice, thou who wast tormented in the flesh by the evil devil; rejoice, bearer of countless sorrows and pains; rejoice, thou who with humility didst endure cruel sores and the stench of worms; rejoice, thou who in the fear of God didst contain a comfortless grief; rejoice, thou who didst hope for everlasting joy; rejoice, thou who with humility didst receive dishonour from men; Rejoice, much-suffering Job, all-wondrous teacher of the world!
When the devil saw thine endurance, surpassing human nature, O blessed one, he beguiled thy wife and sent her to reproach thee, that she might not lighten thy pains, even as thou by prayer didst lighten her sicknesses; and she said to thee: “Speak a word of blasphemy against God, and die”; but thou didst perceive the craftiness of the evil one, and didst say to her with meekness: “It is meet that we, who have received much good from the Lord, should receive affliction also from His hands”, and thou didst glorify His all-honourable and majestic name: Alleluia.
When thy wife saw thee utterly fallen, she was not softened to pity thee, O righteous Job, but gave thee up by her tempting, for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men; but thou, drawing near to death, didst flee to the Lord and ask of Him consolation and help; now ask for us too from God, that He may grant us the wisdom to discern good and evil, that we may not incline to lawlessness, and may be made worthy to offer thee a hymn of thanksgiving:
Rejoice, thou who with guileless mind didst trust in the lofty will of God; rejoice, thou who didst follow the way of His commandments; rejoice, thou who didst see true goodness with God alone; rejoice, thou who didst count as nothing the beauty of the visible heaven apart from Him; rejoice, thou who didst taste the fear of being forsaken by God for the afflictions sent from on high; rejoice, thou who in hope of Him didst endure torments of many kinds; rejoice, thou who in sorrows didst behold the preparation for eternal life; rejoice, thou who didst understand that endless life; rejoice, thou who didst call on the Lord for that undying blessedness; Rejoice, much-suffering Job, all-wondrous teacher of the world!
When thy three friends learned of the evils that had come upon thee, O blessed one, they hastened, and, seeing thee sitting on the dunghill outside the city, they were wounded by thy grief, rent their garments and sat with thee in silence; but thou didst call to mind all the afflictions that men endure in the world, and didst give thanks to God who made death a rest for the weary, and didst call blessed those who dwell in His mansions, where all serve and sing to the Creator: Alleluia.
Those men, not understanding thy holiness and the height of thy soul, showed themselves lofty before God, and fervently besought thee to confess to Him thy hidden faults and bow Him to mercy; but thou didst answer firmly: “I am blameless before the Lord, for I have kept His ways and have nowhere turned aside from His commandments”; now help us too before God, that He may deliver us from soul-destroying teachings and grant forgiveness of faults to us who extol thee:
Rejoice, all-unshaken pillar of courage, who didst destroy the devices of Beliar; rejoice, thou from whose lips no falsehood came forth; rejoice, thou who didst confess with humility that thou couldst not know the divine providence; rejoice, thou who didst long for the light to shine upon the life of the righteous of the Old Testament; rejoice, thou who didst await with all thy soul a new heaven and a new earth; rejoice, thou who didst long to stand without fear at His judgement; rejoice, thou who with tears didst ask His protection; rejoice, wise interpreter of the divine ways; rejoice, deliverer from destroying defilements; Rejoice, much-suffering Job, all-wondrous teacher of the world!
Thy many-worded friends, truly lacking in righteousness, reproached thee in thy torment and falsely accused thee, as though thou hadst lent silver at usury and oppressed widows and orphans; O thy great patience, great sufferer, for thou didst answer with meekness: “There is no falsehood in my tongue, and if He hath so judged, who shall answer God?”, and thou didst glorify His might: Alleluia.
Those men, not discerning thy faithfulness to the Lord, smote thee with this unjust word: “Thou sayest a terrible thing; doth God judge the righteous and smite the holy? Had thy sins not been great, He would not have brought this upon thee”; but their reproach did not dismay thee, O blessed one, and thou didst teach them to pass their days in obedience to the Lord; entreat Him now to shelter our people from all passions and to enlighten the senses of us who praise thee:
Rejoice, humble servant of God, who in thy mind didst ever remember death; rejoice, beholder of the providence of God in the end of man; rejoice, seeker of true wisdom; rejoice, loud-voiced proclaimer of thy righteousness; rejoice, thou who didst see flattery towards God in the reasonings of thy friends; rejoice, thou who didst humbly endure their evil-speaking; rejoice, thou who didst bear witness to thine uprightness before the whole earth; rejoice, thou who art unbroken in spirit, conqueror of the spirits of darkness; rejoice, thou who didst show forth a truly martyr-like courage; Rejoice, much-suffering Job, all-wondrous teacher of the world!
Then thou didst open thy lips to praise the unsearchable ways of the Lord and His unattainable providence, who, having granted life to thee that wast made of clay, visited thy spirit every day, and thou didst cry to Him: “Though I be righteous, I cannot lift up mine eyes, for I am full of shame; but renew not Thy judgements against me, nor be wroth with one who trusteth in Thy holy will”; now grant us too fervency of faith and stir us to sing to God: Alleluia.
Refined in the furnace of sorrows and pains, thou didst shine like gold with the beauty of thy soul, and, remembering all the mercies of God Most High, thou didst sing to Him again with hope: “My lips shall not speak iniquity, for the fear of God, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding”; now be for us too a guide of life and an intercessor with God, that He may grant purity and contrition to our hearts, who sing to thee and utter thy praises:
Rejoice, thou who didst tremble in heart before the Judge on high; rejoice, thou who in uprightness of heart didst ever long for the vision of God; rejoice, thou who didst seek delight and consolation with Him; rejoice, thou who didst not count thyself worthy to reason with God; rejoice, thou who didst accept the cruel trials sent by Him; rejoice, thou who didst foresee and confess the truth made known by the Gospel; rejoice, thou who by thy hope of the heavenly life art made equal to David, Isaiah, Ezekiel and the other prophets; rejoice, preacher of joy above the world for all the righteous; rejoice, strengthener of those who fall down before thee in faith; Rejoice, much-suffering Job, all-wondrous teacher of the world!
Past the grasp of the mind are thine obedience and thy wisdom, clothed with grace and power, for not only didst thou teach thy friends, O blessed one, but thou fillest us also with hope, saying: “Earthly good things and afflictions alike abide in the right hand of God, and He alone woundeth and raiseth up by His unsearchable wisdom and providence, which the mind of man cannot attain; but it is meet for man to receive all things with thanksgiving and to bless God”: Alleluia.
When thy friends were put to shame by thy righteous words and fell silent, O thou who wast made wise by God, another who conversed with you, Elihu, was moved to reprove thee, that thy reasoning might not be counted iniquity before the Judge; but the Lord accepted not his praise, for he bore false witness against thee, and He Himself appeared to His well-pleasing one; now help us too, that we may become a host of God, withstanding and overthrowing all His enemies, and may praise thee as His true servant:
Rejoice, Job, made wise by God and clothed with light; rejoice, thou who by wisdom didst understand the courses of the heavenly luminaries; rejoice, thou who couldst receive no good comfort from men; rejoice, thou who didst hope in the divine and eternal love; rejoice, thou who didst await the good things of paradise; rejoice, thou who didst foresee the true Intercessor in the heavens; rejoice, wise reprover of hypocrisy; rejoice, thou who didst instruct thy friends in godliness; rejoice, thou who in weakness didst show forth thy God-given strength; Rejoice, much-suffering Job, all-wondrous teacher of the world!
When the Lord spoke to thee out of the whirlwind and the cloud of the great mysteries hidden from men, He discoursed with thee of the creation of the world, and reproved and instructed thee, holy Job, and healed thee wondrously; and thou didst sweeten thyself with thanksgiving by those divine teachings and didst not cease to glorify God and sing: Alleluia.
Not even men of golden tongue can worthily praise thee, O blessed Job, for when the Lord called thee righteous, thou didst count thyself dust and ashes, and didst answer: “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth Thee, and I know that Thou canst do every thing, and nothing is impossible with Thee”; so now grant us too the perception of our own sins and guide on the way of repentance us who extol thee:
Rejoice, thou who with obedience and humility didst hearken to the reproving voice from on high; rejoice, thou who didst understand the almighty and wondrous works of the Lord; rejoice, thou who with all thy soul didst bow thy neck before His wisdom; rejoice, thou who didst count human wisdom as nothing; rejoice, thou who with tears didst confess all thy bold words; rejoice, thou who with contrition of heart didst acknowledge thine own lack of understanding; rejoice, faithful servant of the Lord, who didst repent before Him in dust and ashes; rejoice, unfailing fountain that pourest forth teachings profitable to souls; rejoice, opener of the gates of repentance for sinners; Rejoice, much-suffering Job, all-wondrous teacher of the world!
When God, who knoweth all things, willed to make thy righteousness manifest, in the wrath of His anger He said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “Thou hast sinned, thou and thy friends, for ye have not spoken of My servant Job the thing that is right”, and He commanded them to bring thee seven bullocks and seven rams, that thou mightest offer sacrifice and pray for them; and lo, when they had done all, the Lord forgave them, and together you praised His might: Alleluia.
O the wondrous providence of God Most High, for after those trials of the enemy He made thee worthy of His revelation, and, having healed thee wholly, thou didst flourish greatly, and as much as thou hadst before, He gave thee all twofold for thy patience; now commend us too to God, that He may be gracious to our nation and drive away vain troubles and trials from us who revere and praise thee:
Rejoice, thou who wast shown forth by virtue and faithfulness to God; rejoice, thou who wast scourged in the flesh and set free from sins; rejoice, thou who wast strengthened by power from on high; rejoice, thou who didst shine with a holy life and union with God; rejoice, thou who didst behold joy and truth with God alone; rejoice, thou who by love for Him didst conquer despair; rejoice, thou who didst attain to the mysteries above the world; rejoice, thou who by thy patience and virtue enlightenest the world; rejoice, thou who guidest well on the way of the kingdom; Rejoice, much-suffering Job, all-wondrous teacher of the world!
When thou didst set thy hope on the Creator, O holy one, in place of those great sorrows He granted thee earthly good things of many kinds, for He gave thee seven sons and three daughters, fairer than all, and lengthened greatly the days of thy life; and when thou didst die in old age, thou didst inherit the eternal good things according to the promise of the Lord; and now, having the grace to help, stir our lips to sing to Him: Alleluia.
While thou didst live upon the earth before Moses and before Christ, thou didst eagerly fulfil all the divine commandments, having them in thy heart; and when the Lord had enlarged thy soul through torments, He made thee a vessel of great mysteries, that thou mightest be a teacher of hope and of love for God to all the generations that followed; now fill us too with faith like thine and with courage of soul and mind, that we may overcome all who assail us and betray us, and offer thee praise according to our strength:
Rejoice, thou who art worthily honoured among all the nations of the earth; rejoice, thou who didst live in the commandments of God before the Law was written on tables of stone; rejoice, thou who, before the Saviour laid down the love of God and of neighbour as the greatest commandment, wast kindled like fire with divine love; rejoice, thou who didst nurture orphans and the afflicted with fatherly compassion; rejoice, thou who by divine vision didst understand beforehand the mysteries made known to men by Christ and the holy apostles; rejoice, thou who wast named by James the brother of the Lord an example and image of the enduring of fierce torments; rejoice, for the same apostle praised the glorious end of the Lord foreshown by thy life; rejoice, for the Church of Christ appointeth the reading of thy holy book in the week of the Passion; rejoice, for holy John Chrysostom calleth us to imitate thy courage; Rejoice, much-suffering Job, all-wondrous teacher of the world!
When thou wast courageous and strong in every contest, the assailant and evil spirit was moved to destroy thee, and he asked for thee from God, O righteous Job, not once only but twice, that he might try thee through thy children and thy substance; and though he laid upon thee an evil sickness, he could not master thee, for thou hadst the wings of righteousness, and his arrows could not reach thee; now grant us too the light of thy wisdom, that we may escape the snare of the world and ever praise God, who is wondrous in His saints: Alleluia.
All-honourable and glorious is thy memory, holy Job, for in those terrible torments thou didst overcome the tempter by true humility and stop the mouth of the folly of thy friends, who knew not the mystery of thy suffering, O all-praised one, and thou didst cry: “Happy is the man whom the Lord correcteth”; entreat Him now to grant victory over enemies and temptations to us who extol thee:
Rejoice, great righteous one of the Lord, praised in all the earth; rejoice, thou who wast called by God His faithful servant and didst draw near to His holiness; rejoice, thou who dwellest with the righteous of the Old Testament; rejoice, invincible fighter, crusher of the snares of the enemy; rejoice, thou who by thy life instructest all tribes and nations; rejoice, thou who amazest all by the height of thy courage; rejoice, ever-comforter of those tossed by the waves of many misfortunes; rejoice, swift helper and upholder of those who call upon thee in all sorrows; rejoice, thou who turnest our sorrows into joy; Rejoice, much-suffering Job, all-wondrous teacher of the world!
O all-praised Job, chosen by God, who didst endure countless sorrows and show forth perfect hope in divine providence, accept now this our praise and help us before God, that He may heal our infirmities and keep us from the snares of enemies invisible and visible, that we may pass this time of our life in holiness and worthiness, and in the heavens be made worthy to glorify the All-Holy Trinity: Alleluia.
This kontakion is read thrice. Then Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1.
O holy Job, well-pleasing to God, righteous and merciful! Clother of the naked, receiver of strangers and nourisher of the poor, comforter of the afflicted, and refuge, wall and firm shelter of all who are given up for lost and flee to thee!
O righteous Job, endurer of many sufferings! While thou didst live wisely upon the earth, evil trials surrounded thee by the devices of the devil and the permission of God; and when thou didst take those sufferings upon thee, not only in this passing world didst thou receive the reward of thy hope, but in the heavens thou didst gain the crown of righteousness which the Lord hath prepared for all who love Him. Now commend us too to His goodness and ask for us the remission of sins, that He may not judge us according to our iniquities, and may deliver us from all infirmities of soul and body. By thy mighty power strengthen the Most Holy and Most Blessed Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazeti, our father Ilia, and the most reverend metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, the abbots of monasteries, pastors and teachers, ascetics and confessors, the multitudes of monastics and all members of the Orthodox Church; enlighten the Christ-loving authorities and their armed forces; keep our benefactors and all Orthodox Christians.
O great righteous one of the Old Testament, much-suffering Job, who didst endure countless sorrows and show forth perfect hope in divine providence, hearken now to our supplication and help us before God, that He may keep us from famine, pestilence, ruin, fire, the sword, the assaults of enemies and strife among brothers, and grant us fruitfulness of the earth, peace in the land and a Christian ending of our life, that we may attain to those longed-for mansions, the kingdom of heaven, and with thee glorify the All-Holy Trinity, 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. 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, by the grace and prayers of righteous Job, and of all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Compiled by Tinatin Mchedlishvili
Editor: Nona Namgaladze
