Akathist Hymn to the Holy Hieromartyr Cyprian and the Martyr Justina

He is entreated for protection from sorcery and for the healing of the possessed.

Thou didst become like the apostles in deed and wast made worthy of their throne; thou didst find in practice, O blessed one, the ascent to divine vision; therefore thou didst rightly proclaim the word of truth and didst contend for the faith even to the shedding of blood, O holy hierarch Cyprian; entreat Christ God to have mercy on our souls.

From the art of magic thou didst hasten, O divinely wise one, to divine knowledge, and didst show the world thy wisdom, O all-wise one, and thou grantest healing to those who honour thee. O Cyprian, with Justina be our intercessors before the Master who loveth mankind, that by your supplications He may have mercy on our souls.

Chosen from the service of the devil for the service of the true God and united with the company of the saints, O holy hieromartyr Cyprian, entreat Christ God to deliver us from the nets of the evil one and grant us victory over the world, the flesh and the devil; and thus we cry to thee: Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls!

The powers of the angels marvelled when thou didst hasten from the art of sorcery to divine knowledge, O divinely wise Cyprian, and by thy repentance didst attain an angelic, passionless life; and now we too, amazed at thy conversion, cry to thee:

Rejoice, thou who by thy conversion didst amaze the angels; rejoice, thou who didst gladden the company of the saints; rejoice, thou who didst show forth thy wisdom; rejoice, thou who didst receive a crown for Christ; rejoice, for through thee demons are put to flight; rejoice, for through thee all sicknesses are healed; Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls!

When the Lord saw how from a tender age he had been given by his lawless parents to learn the service of the devil, He willed his conversion, that he might sing to Him with the angels and all the saints: Alleluia.

With a mind not yet perfect he zealously strove to know the truth, and, searching out the devices of the demons, when he saw their weakness and their fear of Christ, he hastened to the church of the Lord for divine knowledge. Therefore we cry to thee:

Rejoice, thou who didst learn the devices of the demons; rejoice, reprover of the delusions of their service; rejoice, thou who didst put that evil serpent to shame; rejoice, thou who magnifiest the Christians; rejoice, wiser than the wise of this world; rejoice, more understanding than the understanding; Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls!

The power of the Most High made thy mind wise when thou foundest no success in sorcery for Aglaidas against Justina. The demons said to him: We fear the cross and lose our power when Justina prays. And he said to them: If ye fear the cross, the Crucified is mightier than it. And knowing this weakness of the demons, he entered the church of the Lord to sing with all the righteous: Alleluia.

Having a mind enlightened by power from on high, Cyprian hastened to the priest and asked him for baptism, but he, terrified, would not hear him. Yet Cyprian ran to the house of the Lord, and, standing at the Liturgy, he did not go out of the church when the deacon cried: “Catechumens, depart.” Cyprian said: “I will not go out unless ye baptise me.” And we, rejoicing at such wisdom of thine, sing to thee thus:

Rejoice, thou who wast enlightened by power from on high; rejoice, thou who wast made wise by the Lord; rejoice, thou who didst know the power of the Cross; rejoice, thou who didst drive the demons away from thyself; rejoice, thou who didst amend thy life; rejoice, thou who didst direct thy steps to the church; Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls!

A storm of thoughts surrounded thee as to how thou mightest receive baptism by force. And gathering his books of sorcery, he carried them out and burned them in the midst of the city, singing to God: Alleluia.

When the priest heard of thee and of thy good resolve, that thou didst desire Christianity, he baptised thee and they appointed thee reader in the church. Therefore we sing to thee:

Rejoice, conqueror of evil spirits; rejoice, burner of the books of sorcery; rejoice, thou who didst long for Christianity; rejoice, receiver of holy baptism; rejoice, thou who wast instructed by the priest; Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls!

Having received the God-woven garment of holy baptism, thou didst zealously entreat God for forgiveness of thy past sins, and for all Christians thou didst sing to God: Alleluia.

When the priest saw thy struggles and labours, O holy hieromartyr Cyprian — fasting, much vigil, kneeling, repentance and the shedding of tears in prayer — after some time they made thee a deacon. And we give thanks to God and praise thee thus:

Rejoice, thou who criest to God day and night; rejoice, suppliant for the forgiveness of sins; rejoice, thou who sheddest tears in prayer before God; rejoice, thou who didst know the way of the Saviour; rejoice, thou who didst show forth burning love for God; Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls!

Imitating the maiden Justina in the pattern of Christian piety, O holy hieromartyr Cyprian, thou hast shown thyself to us as a truly perfect Christian; thou didst renounce godless teaching, wast baptised, and with thy lips and a pure heart didst sing with thanksgiving to God: Alleluia.

When the light of divine perfection shone in thy heart, thou didst attain the rank of the priesthood, and after this that of the episcopate. We entreat thee: by thy prayer enlighten our hearts too, who fervently pray to thee thus:

Rejoice, thou who wast consecrated bishop; rejoice, city set on a hill; rejoice, lamp kindled before God; rejoice, tireless intercessor before God; rejoice, teacher given to us by God; Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls!

When the Lord willed the salvation of all, He granted us this intercessor, helper and physician against the evil spirits of this world. By thy counsels and words thou didst bring many to repentance and to turn from a sinful life, and didst teach them to sing to God thus: Alleluia.

Thou didst appear to the world as a new wise physician, O hieromartyr Cyprian, for by the power of thy prayer sorceries of many kinds cannot withstand us, but those sent by wicked men and crafty demons are at once shattered and driven away; and we, beholding the divine power granted to thee, sing to thee thus:

Rejoice, destroyer of the devices of sorcery; rejoice, banisher of dreadful demons; rejoice, for through thee evil spirits vanish like smoke; rejoice, for through thee they at once depart from the much-tormented; rejoice, deliverer from afflictions and sorrows; rejoice, thou who turnest torments into joy; Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls!

A wondrous miracle it seemeth to those who flee to thee in faith, O holy hieromartyr Cyprian, that by the grace given thee by God unclean spirits that torment men are driven out from on high; demons are cast out, the sick are healed and sing to God: Alleluia.

Lifted up before God with thy whole heart and loving Him with thy whole soul, thou didst strive with all zeal and longing to fulfil His will; and as a good shepherd thou didst not abhor those weighed down by sorrows, but leading them in prayer before God thou grantest them healings and consolations; and we, praising thy love for God, sing to thee thus:

Rejoice, thou who lovest Christ with thy whole heart; rejoice, thou who didst fulfil all the virtues; rejoice, help of the sick and infirm; rejoice, consolation in sorrows and griefs; rejoice, thou who drivest away all slanders and temptations that come from this world, the flesh and the devil; rejoice, healer of all sicknesses of soul and body; Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls!

All the powers of the angels were gladdened, beholding him who unshakeably and boldly confessed Christ, when he was led out with Justina to be beheaded; and Cyprian, compassionate lest Justina should fall away from Christ when she saw him beheaded, said: It is better that thou be beheaded first, and I after thee. And laying their heads beneath the sword, they sang to God: Alleluia.

Not even eloquent orators can worthily tell of your sufferings for Christ; ye did not fear the fierce threats, but with radiant faces ye stood before the judgment-seat of the lawless, and thereby ye stir all the righteous to sing to you:

Rejoice, unshaken confessors of the faith of Christ; rejoice, bold preachers of the all-holy Trinity; rejoice, ye who laid down your souls for Christ; rejoice, ye who counted fierce tortures as nothing; rejoice, for your sufferings are praised by the right-believing; rejoice, for your names are glorified in the church of God; Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls!

Since thou desirest the salvation of all souls held by evil spirits, cease not to entreat the Lord, O hieromartyr Cyprian, for the grace of prayer hath been granted thee for us all, that, shown mercy and cleansed, we may sing to God: Alleluia.

Be to us a firm wall and an unshaken rampart against all enemies visible and invisible, to us who flee to thee with fervent faith and love, O hieromartyr Cyprian, that, guarded and delivered by thee, we may sing to thee:

Rejoice, thou who by thy humility burnest up the arrows of evil spirits; rejoice, wall and rampart against enemies visible and invisible; rejoice, all-glorious adornment of the Orthodox Church; rejoice, most beloved consolation and gladness of the sorrowful; Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls!

Since thou wast well pleased to be counted worthy, from thy unworthiness, and joined to the flock of the all-holy Trinity, thou didst surpass others in unceasing hymnody to Him for mercy upon all sinners, O hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls. And we, for such mercy towards us, thank God and cry to Him: Alleluia.

Thou wast sent to the Church of Christ as a candle bright as the dawn, O divinely wise one, who with immaterial light enlightenest the souls of the righteous; we entreat thee, enlighten now also our hearts darkened by sin, who sing to thee thus:

Rejoice, thou who wast snatched from among the lost like a strayed sheep; rejoice, thou who wast made worthy from thine unworthiness; rejoice, thou who wast joined by God to His holy flock; rejoice, thou who with immaterial light enlightenest the souls of the righteous; rejoice, thou who leadest the erring onto the true way; Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls!

By the grace given thee by God thou tramplest on the powers of the enemy and every assault of Satan. Having overcome thine enemy and been sealed with martyrdom before the throne of the King of glory, entreat God to grant us deliverance from the captivity of the devil, that, being delivered, we may sing to Him: Alleluia.

Singing of thy faithfulness to God and thy wondrous and most glorious miracles, we praise and magnify thee, O hieromartyr Cyprian, for such grace received from God, and we entreat thee: at the hour of our death, when a multitude of demons surroundeth our souls, send us thy help, that, delivered by thee, we may cry to thee thus:

Rejoice, swift helper against the assaults of the powers of the enemy; rejoice, deliverance from afflictions and sorrows of every kind; rejoice, thou who lovest Christ perfectly; rejoice, thou who didst lay down thy soul for Him; rejoice, thou who wast washed in the blood of the heavenly Lamb; rejoice, thou who dwellest in the courts of the Lord; rejoice, thou who art joined to the company of the saints; rejoice, thou who shinest with the light of the three Suns; Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls!

O all-wondrous and all-glorious one, well-pleasing to God, holy hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper of all who flee to thee, accept from us unworthy ones this our hymn of praise; heal us from sicknesses of many kinds, guard us from all enemies visible and invisible, and entreat God to deliver us from eternal torments, that we too with thee may sing to Him thus: Alleluia.

(This kontakion is read thrice, then Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1.)

O holy one, well-pleasing to God, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for all who flee to thee, accept from us unworthy ones this praise; entreat the Lord our God to grant us strength in infirmities and consolation in sorrows, and to bestow on us all that is profitable for our life; send up to the Lord thy mighty prayer, that He may guard us from all sins, teach us true repentance, deliver us from the captivity of demons and the devices of evil spirits and from all who afflict us. Be to us a guard, and unshaken against all enemies visible and invisible; grant us patience in temptation, and at the hour of our death send us help against our tormentors whom we shall meet in the aerial toll-houses, that, guided by thee, we may attain to the heavenly Jerusalem and be made worthy in the kingdom of heaven, with all the saints, to glorify the all-holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.