Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos for Her Kazan Icon
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, now and ever and unto 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.
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.
O fervent intercessor, Mother of God Most High, who entreatest for all thy Son, Christ our God, and makest salvation spring forth for all who flee to thy mighty shelter: be the intercessor for us all, O Queen Theotokos, for in all calamities, sicknesses and sorrows, weighed down by many sins, with contrite spirit and broken heart we stand in tears before thy holy icon and have invincible hope in thee; deliver us from all evils, grant what is profitable to all and save us all, O Virgin Theotokos, for thou art the divine shelter of thy servants.
O thou chosen out of all nations, intercessor of the Christian people, cover our Orthodox fatherland with the shelter of thy grace; we offer thee a hymn of thanksgiving, O Theotokos, for the appearing of thy wonderworking icon. Be the intercessor of us all who flee to thee, as the all-merciful helper at every time of sorrow and affliction, trial and calamity, that we may cry to thee: Rejoice, O fervent intercessor of the Christian people.
An angel of the presence was sent to cry to the Theotokos: Rejoice, for the Word of God hath become flesh in thy womb; and we sinners, magnifying the appearing of her holy icon and of the divine Child, Christ the Saviour, sing with compunction to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, God-chosen maiden; rejoice, Mother of God; rejoice, Queen of heaven and earth; rejoice, radiant adornment of the heavenly and earthly Church; rejoice, thou who art honoured by the angels; rejoice, thou who art hymned by the Seraphim; rejoice, radiant fulfilment of prophecy; rejoice, praise of the apostles; rejoice, thou who art confessed by the martyrs; rejoice, crown of the venerable; rejoice, gladness of the righteous; rejoice, hope of sinners; Rejoice, O fervent intercessor of the Christian people.
Beholding from on high, from thy heavenly dwelling where thou restest in glory with thy Son, O all-incorrupt one, the sorrow of thy servants in the newly enlightened city, where for the wrath of God the faith of Christ was reviled by the Hagarenes, thou wast well pleased to reveal thine icon glorified by miracles, and the Christ-loving people, strengthened by the signs of thy grace, rightly sing to God: Alleluia.
Having thrice received the appearing of the Theotokos, the wise maiden went seeking to the authorities and told them of the wondrous appearing and the dread warning; and we too, amazed at the wisdom from on high granted to the maiden, cry piously to the most blessed one:
Rejoice, thou who fulfillest the praise of God by pure lips; rejoice, thou who revealest to the righteous the mysteries of God’s grace; rejoice, zealous praise of the righteous; rejoice, lightning that smitest the unbelieving; rejoice, thou who enlightenest the minds of thy righteous by the majesty of miracles; rejoice, thou who exposest the evil faith of the Hagarenes; rejoice, thou who overthrowest their pride; rejoice, thou who strengthenest the faith of Christians; rejoice, thou who blessest the veneration of holy icons; rejoice, thou who turnest our sorrows into joy; rejoice, thou who gladdenest us with sure hope; Rejoice, O fervent intercessor of the Christian people.
By the grace of the power of the Most High, O Theotokos, the maiden was made wise and strengthened by thee to seek the God-given gift, and with bold faith she followed the Lord, and finding under the earth the buried treasure, the icon of the Theotokos, she sang to God: Alleluia.
Having good purpose towards the people of the newly enlightened city of Kazan, thou didst make fountains of miracles spring forth from thine all-holy icon, O Theotokos; thou didst grant sight to eyes blinded in the flesh and didst enlighten the spiritually blind with the light of the knowledge of God and with godliness. By the blessing of thine icon thou didst grant a quiet haven to the innocent; wherefore we call to thee thus:
Rejoice, thou who by the appearing of thy holy icon dispellest bitter afflictions; rejoice, thou who makest all radiant with the beams of miracles; rejoice, sight of the blind; rejoice, enlightenment of darkened minds; rejoice, glory of Orthodoxy; rejoice, quiet haven of those who desire salvation; rejoice, Mother of innocence; rejoice, wall and shelter of virginity; rejoice, for through it the multitude of the righteous rejoiceth; rejoice, for over it the ranks of demons lament; rejoice, longed-for helper of all Christians; Rejoice, O fervent intercessor of the Christian people.
Striving to still the storm of turmoil and rebellion stirred up by the enemy in our fatherland, the blessed Hermogenes, O Queen, who wrote of the miracles wrought by thine icon, prayed before it with tears and saw that thine icon was given to the Orthodox army as a shield and sign of victory; and, strengthened in faith, until the end of his life he sang to God: Alleluia.
When the Orthodox army heard the mystery revealed by St Sergius to the hierarch Arsenius, that through the intercession of the Theotokos the punishment that had come upon our fatherland was turned to mercy, they took up the icon of the Theotokos as a sign of victory and wrested the mother of our cities from the hands of the enemy, and sang to the intercessor of Christians:
Rejoice, Mother of God Most High; rejoice, for thou entreatest for all thy Son, Christ our God; rejoice, for thou makest salvation spring forth for all who flee to thine almighty icon; rejoice, intercessor of all who are in sorrow and sickness; rejoice, giver of good things to all who entreat with contrite heart before thy holy icon; rejoice, deliverer from evil of all who have unfailing hope in thee; rejoice, quiet and good haven; rejoice, swift helper; rejoice, fervent and ready haven of salvation; rejoice, thou who bountifully makest mercy spring forth; rejoice, thou who art ready beforehand to help; rejoice, deliverer from all afflictions; Rejoice, O fervent intercessor of the Christian people.
Thine icon hath appeared to our fatherland, O Theotokos, as a star leading to God, and by the beams of thy miracles thou hast enlightened all who are sunk in the sea of the passions, hast driven away the darkness of distress and the gloom of all infirmities and sorrows, and hast directed the path of life for those who flee to thee in faith and sing to God: Alleluia.
When Tsar Peter saw that by the grace of God many miracles were wrought from the holy icon of the Theotokos, he set it as the leader, shield and shelter of his army on the day of that dread battle, and he utterly overcame the enemy by the help of the Theotokos; and at the time of the building of the new capital he laid thy wonderworking icon as a chief cornerstone, as a blessing, and set it as a shield and wall in the midst of that city; wherefore we sing to thee, O all-holy one:
Rejoice, abode and dwelling of Christ our God; rejoice, habitation of His ineffable glory; rejoice, spiritual city, royal city; rejoice, all-adorned palace; rejoice, joy of cities and villages; rejoice, guardian and invincible rampart of Christians in afflictions; rejoice, praise of the Orthodox Church; rejoice, thou who strengthenest all the land; rejoice, helper of the Christian army; rejoice, thou who drivest away enemies; rejoice, deliverer from afflictions; rejoice, thou who lookest upon all with thy motherly bounty; Rejoice, O fervent intercessor of the Christian people.
The ranks of hierarchs and all the people, monks and laity, standing before thy holy icon, proclaim thy great mercies, O Queen Theotokos, for thou hast walled about cities, sheltered monasteries and guarded villages; and all who see thee as a truly mighty and invincible helper offer thee their prayers with tears. Now also stretch out thy God-bearing hands to thy Son for this thy people, and through Him deliver us from all afflictions and calamities, that we may sing to God in thanksgiving: Alleluia.
Thou who makest the true light shine forth, who of old didst drive the falsehood of the Hagarenes from the land of Kazan and in this time enlightenest all cities with the lights of miracles and mercies: all who flee in faith to thy healing icon obtain deliverance from sorrows, healing from infirmities and fullness of every joy, singing fervently to thee:
Rejoice, inexhaustible fountain of holiness; rejoice, river abounding in divine grace; rejoice, thou who reconcilest sinners with the Lord; rejoice, thou who cleansest our sins; rejoice, leader in godliness; rejoice, helper and strengthener in good works; rejoice, thou who acceptest good vows; rejoice, thou who directest good thoughts; rejoice, thou who crushest evil beginnings; rejoice, thou who dispellest the enemy’s punishment; rejoice, swift helper of men; rejoice, thou who grantest us mercies twofold; Rejoice, O fervent intercessor of the Christian people.
The Orthodox people, wishing to proclaim the mercy of the most blessed Queen of heaven and earth and to offer thanks according to their strength for deliverance from the invasions of foreigners, dedicated a wondrous church built in honour of the all-wonderworking icon, for the victory and in remembrance of the mercies of the Theotokos, who delivered this city and their fatherland; and ever with their lips they all sing to the Lord in thanksgiving: Alleluia.
To the mother of the cities of Russia, O Theotokos, thou hast truly appeared as the good Hodegetria, as once to Constantinople: the people flee to thee, entreating thy help at the beginning of every work and journey, and offer thee a hymn of thanksgiving before thine all-holy icon for deliverance from all sorrows and calamities, and they see thee as a helper and firm intercessor. Wherefore we sing to thee in thanksgiving:
Rejoice, protectress of the people; rejoice, thou who plantest and strengthenest Orthodoxy in it; rejoice, unbreakable sword of our army; rejoice, invulnerable armour; rejoice, thou who exposest the punishment of the enemy; rejoice, for thou didst scatter them like chaff; rejoice, thou who exposest impurity; rejoice, deliverer from rebellion; rejoice, thou who turnest youths from their errors; rejoice, comfort of monks; rejoice, thou who humblest teachings harmful to souls; rejoice, thou who grantest teachings profitable to souls; Rejoice, O fervent intercessor of the Christian people.
It is strange and doubtful for unbelievers to hear how fountains of grace spring from thine icon, and how the stench of cattle giveth forth a sweet fragrance. But we believers trust in thy words, which thou didst speak, O Queen, of thine icon painted first: “My grace and power are with thee”; for upon this icon too thy grace ever resteth; wherefore standing before it with godliness we venerate it, we fall down before it as before thee thyself, for the honour of the prototype passeth to the icons, and grace also...; through this icon thou workest signs and wonders for all who flee to it in faith and sing to God: Alleluia.
Thou callest all who are in sorrow up to heaven and never forsakest those on earth, O Theotokos, by thy holy intercession, having a mother’s boldness before Christ our God. Establish in peace the life of the Orthodox and grant thy servants ever all that is profitable, that we may magnify thee in song:
Rejoice, thou who didst contain the Uncontainable; rejoice, blessed by the power of the Most High; rejoice, thou who makest the heavenly bread spring forth; rejoice, deliverer of all the world from soul-destroying hunger; rejoice, ever intercessor of our people; rejoice, for thy prayer availeth much before thy Son and God; rejoice, thou who didst adopt us before the cross of thy Son; rejoice, thou who ever sendest down upon us thy motherly love; rejoice, intercessor for eternal good things; rejoice, thou who grantest good things in this temporal life also; rejoice, our manifest haven in every sorrow; rejoice, sure hope of all the afflicted; Rejoice, O fervent intercessor of the Christian people.
Thou didst appear higher than all the nature of angels, O all-holy Virgin, for thou didst conceive God in the flesh, didst contain in thy womb Him whom all cannot contain, and didst bear on thine arm Him who by His will beareth all the world; wherefore we magnify thee as more honourable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, and through thee we sing to God: Alleluia.
We see orators of many words as voiceless as fishes before thee, O Theotokos, for all tongues are powerless to praise thee fittingly, and understanding cannot attain to hymning thee, O Theotokos; but as thou art good, accept the hymn we offer with the voice of the angel:
Rejoice, thou full of grace; rejoice, for the Lord is with thee; rejoice, blessed among women; rejoice, thou who wast clothed with grace by God; rejoice, thou who didst bring the Saviour of the world in the flesh; rejoice, Mother of the Son of God; rejoice, Mother of the eternal King; rejoice, thou who didst nurture for us the fruit of life; rejoice, thou who wast sanctified by the Holy Spirit; rejoice, thou who wast blessed by the Holy Spirit; rejoice, faithful handmaid of the Lord; rejoice, for thou art blessed by thy childbirth; Rejoice, O fervent intercessor of the Christian people.
Desiring the salvation of those who are in many evil sorrows and sicknesses, thou hast granted us thy wonderworking icon, O Theotokos, through which the blind see, the lame walk, the paralysed rise up, the possessed are delivered from their torments, cities and all houses are rescued from fire; wherefore, magnifying God, who hath granted us such mercies, we cry to Him with zeal: Alleluia.
Thou art a wall of our people, O Theotokos, guardian and glory of cities, strengthener of the Orthodox army against enemies; wherefore we sing to thee in thanksgiving:
Rejoice, thou who enrichest those who magnify thee; rejoice, thou who smitest those who honour thee not; rejoice, terror of the enemy; rejoice, deliverer from the invasions of foreigners; rejoice, strength of armies; rejoice, helmet and wall in time of battle; rejoice, thou who gladdenest the hearts of the righteous in time of peace; rejoice, weapon at which the demons tremble; rejoice, saving oil poured upon the wounds of sin; rejoice, our fervent intercessor; rejoice, our sure hope; rejoice, our haven, quiet and good; Rejoice, O fervent intercessor of the Christian people.
All who fall down before thine icon offer thee a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, O Queen, and the choirs of virgins who venerate it with honour attain, beneath thine almighty shelter, a quiet and peaceful monastic life, and, entrusting themselves to thee with all hope, they sing with joy to God: Alleluia.
We behold thy precious icon as a light-bearing lamp, O all-holy Theotokos, for it hath received the immaterial fire of thy grace, and in like manner it kindleth new lamps for those who partake of the power of grace, and by miracles it enlighteneth all who have set out on the path of salvation and sing to thee thus:
Rejoice, Bride unwedded; rejoice, God-chosen maiden, Virgin Mother; rejoice, good guide of incorrupt virginity; rejoice, guardian of those zealous for purity; rejoice, praise of women; rejoice, glory of virgins; rejoice, intercessor of widows; rejoice, nurturer of orphans; rejoice, feeder of the poor; rejoice, clother of the naked; rejoice, comforter of the afflicted; rejoice, thou who gladdenest the sorrowful; Rejoice, O fervent intercessor of the Christian people.
Thou who bestowest grace upon all who desire to honour thee with love, O Theotokos, hast granted the power of the Most High through thy holy icons, for the divine grace that resteth upon those icons maketh signs and wonders spring forth for all who ever flee to thee in faith, and granteth healing of infirmities of soul and body through thy divinely maternal unceasing prayer to the Lord for those who sing: Alleluia.
Singing of thy miracles, which thou hast wrought of old and in this time, we praise thee as the life-giving fountain of grace, as the unfailing river of miracles, as the abyss of mercy and bounty, and we set all our hope in God upon thee, in this life and in that which is to come, and magnifying thee we sing to thee:
Rejoice, unashamed hope of Christians; rejoice, haven that savest the righteous; rejoice, hope of the hopeless; rejoice, salvation of the despairing; rejoice, font that washest the conscience; rejoice, dew that revivest souls; rejoice, swift healing of sicknesses; rejoice, swift deliverer from all afflictions; rejoice, comforter of all the sorrowful; rejoice, thou who drawest up from the depths of drowning; rejoice, comforter in the day of death; rejoice, only hope after death also; Rejoice, O fervent intercessor of the Christian people.
O all-holy Mother, who gavest birth to the Word, holier than all the saints, accept this our small entreaty, and by thy great mercy and the abyss of thy bounty remember not the multitude of our sins, but fulfil our petitions for good; grant us health of body and salvation of soul, deliver us from all afflictions and sorrows, and make us all heirs of the heavenly dwelling, as we rightly sing to God: Alleluia.
This kontakion is read thrice, and then Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1.
O all-holy Lady Theotokos, falling down with fear, faith and love before this thy holy icon, we entreat thee: turn not thy face from any who flee to thee; entreat, O compassionate Mother, thy Son and our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, to keep this our fatherland in peace and to preserve His holy Church unshaken from all heresy, unbelief and schism. We have no other helper, we have no other hope but thee, O all-holy Virgin; thou art the almighty helper and intercessor of Christians: deliver all who pray to thee in faith from falling into sin, from the slander of evil men, from all trials, sorrows, afflictions and sudden death; grant us a contrite spirit, a humble heart, purity of thoughts, amendment of a sinful life and remission of sins, that all of us, piously singing thy glory, may be made worthy of the kingdom of heaven and there with all the saints glorify the all-honourable and all-glorious name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 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 prayers of Thy most pure Mother, of the holy great-martyr Queen Ketevan, luminary of Georgia, and of all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
